Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino

After all these years, where’s our National Museum of the American Latino? Even after years and years of advocates, leaders, and community members who have fought to get a national Smithsonian museum dedicated to our Latino contributions, culture, and history, we still don’t have a National Museum of the American Latino. Although Congress finally passed legislation in 2020 to establish the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution identified two optimal locations for the museums ON THE NATIONAL MALL in 2022, the Smithsonian doesn’t have the full authority to designate locations on the National Mall. So what’s the hold up? Well, for the Smithsonian to fully designate locations for the Latino Museum and the Women’s History Museum on the National Mall, Congress needs to pass legislation granting the Smithsonian the permission it needs. That’s why we’re working together to ensure our message to Congress is loud and clear: We belong on the National Mall. It’s time to #BuildItOnTheNationalMall!

Good news! #AmericanHistoria on PBS with John Leguizamo is NOW STREAMING on Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Hulu and Apple TV +! Join John Leguizamo on a journey into the rich and often overlooked history of Latinos. Directed & Exec Produced by Ben DeJesus ??

Guy Gabaldon was a member of the Second Marine Division during World War II. Nicknamed the "Pied Piper of Saipan," Gabaldon persuaded thousands of Japanese soldiers to surrender during the battle of Saipan and Tinian islands in 1944. He received the Navy Cross, the Marine Corps' second highest award, for his heroic actions at the age of 18. Gabaldon grew up in Los Angeles with his Mexican-American family until he moved in with a Japanese-American family at the age of 12 with whom he learned to speak Japanese. In 1990, he authored and self-published a book, "Saipan: Suicide Island." He was honored by the Mayor of Los Angeles in 2006.

Congratulations to the winner of our 13th annual #LatinoMuseumDesignContest, Sueey Gutierrez!! Sueey is a New York-based artist who creates mixed-media drawings and acrylic paintings influenced by her Salvadoran, Mayan and American identity. Her piece, "Renacer en las aguas de Moncagua,” reflects her Salvadoran-Mayan heritage and invites viewers to reflect on loss, renewal and healing. Thank you again to all that submitted their amazing designs! We're incredibly proud of the amazing artistic talent in our Latino community! ???

Estuardo Rodriguez, president and CEO of Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, will be joining a delegation of Latino leaders across the non-profit, corporate and entertainment media sectors in Mexico City for the inauguration of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. This delegation serves as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico and highlights the importance of Latino representation in positions of power. We are honored to have Estuardo V. Rodriguez join the delegation as he continues to lead the advocacy efforts for the museum! #BuildItOnTheMall

This week, Friends of the American Latino Museum co-hosted a special screening and panel of American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos with actor John Leguizamo and director Ben DeJesus. The three-part docuseries explores the rich history of Latinos spanning thousands of years, from ancient empires to present-day. We want to thank NPR, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) and the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association for partnering with us on this important event. And we want to give a special thank you to John and Ben for sharing our important history with the world. You can catch episode one of?American Historia on PBS this Friday, September 27, at 9 pm ET. #AmericanHistoria #LatinoHistoryisAmericanHistory

Amigos, Friends! I’m beyond proud of my partner in purpose, board member for the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino y amigo John Leguizamo who is fearless about elevating the voice of our community and now he is pioneering a new series that is uncovering the FACTS about the great contributions of Latinos since the inception of America. Don’t miss it! Patricia Pacheco Estuardo V. Rodriguez Sergio Fernandez de Cordova https://lnkd.in/gUWvH_ZE

TODAY is the LAST day to vote for your favorite design! The winner will have their art showcased as part of our advocacy campaign efforts and win a $500 Target gift card. Vote now!????? https://lnkd.in/gCgquW_G

Have you voted for your favorite design in our #LatinoMuseumDesignContest yet? There are only a few days left to vote for your favorite design. Check out all of the submissions and vote before the deadline!??? https://lnkd.in/gCgquW_G

Carmelo Anthony is regarded as one of the best basketball players in the NBA. Anthony played for 19 seasons and is still one of the highest scorers in the league. He was named to the NBA All-Star 10 times and represented the USA during the Olympics, winning three consecutive Gold medals. Anthony won a National Championship his freshman year at Syracuse in 2003. That same year, he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets as the third pick overall. In addition to the Nuggets, Anthony would also play for the New York Knicks where he averaged nearly 25 points per game during his time with the team. He also played for the Houston Rockets, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers. This year, Anthony was honored with the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Award for Sports for his work in social justice. Anthony is the co-founder of the Social Justice Change Fund, an organization that addresses issues directly impacting the Black community. He continues to be an advocate for athletes to venture into entrepreneurship, starting several business ventures of his own.