By: Editorial Office Updated 23 May 2022, 6: 00 am EDT
In December of 80, Congress passed legislation creating the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino to foster representation, understanding, and appreciation of Latino history and culture in the United States.
Now the Coca-Cola Company, as part of its commitment to recognize, support, and partner with the Latino community to celebrate its diversity, has donated $2 million to support the Molina family’s Latino museum and gallery, which is the first at the Smithsonian to dedicate itself to the Hispanic experience.
The generous donation will allow visitors to explore the diverse history of Latinos in the United States -past, present and future- through dynamic and multidisciplinary exhibitions and programs.
Alfredo Rivera, president of The Coca-Cola Company in North America and who is a founding member of the museum’s advisory committee, said that The Smithsonian is shining a light on the contributions of Latinos in this country, and Coca-Cola is proud to contribute to this effort.
“Through our collaboration, we want to highlight these communities by celebrating their history, encouraging learning, and shaping a better future where diversity, equality, and inclusion play an essential role.”
Alfredo Rivera
For his part , Eduardo Díaz, interim deputy director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino, pointed out that donations as generous as this one make the urgency of this mission recognized.
“This support It will allow us to share centuries of history with visitors of different generations who come from all over the country and the world,” he said. “Both the Molina Family Latino Gallery and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino will strive to fill the gaps that exist in American history and culture, gaps that omit the struggles, successes, and contributions of Latino Americans.”
The Hispanic experience will be palpable at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino .The galery The Molina family’s Latin art is an interpretation of what the public will be able to see and learn in the future museum. The inaugural exhibition called, “Present! A Latino History of the United States”, introduces visitors through bilingual content to critical concepts, moments, and biographies of Latinas and Latinos that have illuminated the historical and cultural legacy of the United States.
Both the gallery and the exhibition will open this summer at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino in Washington DC.
You can get more information by visiting latino.si.edu. You can also join @USLatinoMuseum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.