Smithsonian Latino Center

At the time of its creation, the Smithsonian Institution had other entities dedicated to other minority groups: National Museum of the American Indian, Freer-Sackler Gallery for Asian Arts and Culture, African Art Museum, and the National Museum of African-American Heritage and Culture. The opening of the center was prompted, in part, by the publishing of a report called "Willful Neglect: The Smithsonian and U.S. Latinos". On December 27, 2020, Congress approved the creation of the National Museum of the American Latino. In early 2022, the Smithsonian Latino Center merged with the new museum. ==Young Ambassadors Program==

The Smithsonian Latino Center's Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) is a program within the Latino Center that reaches out to Latino high school students with the goal of encouraging them to become leaders in arts, sciences, and the humanities. Students selected for the program travel to Washington, D.C. for an "enrichment seminar" that lasts approximately five days. Afterwards, students return to their communities to serve in a paid, one-month internship. According to the Latino Center, O'Leary told the press in 2007: "Our goal is to help our Young Ambassadors become the next generation of leaders in the arts and culture fields. This program encourages students to be proud of their roots and learn more about their cultural heritage to inspire them to educate the public in their own communities about how Latinos are enriching America's cultural fabric." ==Staff==

• Eduardo Díaz - Director • Adrián Aldaba - Manager of Education and Public Programs • Diana C. Bossa Bastidas - Program Manager • Melissa Carrillo - New Media & Technology Director • David L. Coronado - Senior Communications Officer • Natalia M. Febo - Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator • Gail Holmes - Management Support Specialist • Emily Key - Director of Education ==References==