[5] The opening of the center was prompted, in part, by the publishing of a report called "Willful Neglect: The Smithsonian and U.S.
The website's quality was poor, and the center did not have a public affairs manager, a programs director, adequate human resources support, or cohesive mission statement.
According to the Smithsonian, the center "support[s] scholarly research, exhibitions, public and educational programs, web-based content and virtual platforms, and collections and archives.
[7] Students selected for the program travel to Washington, D.C. for an "enrichment seminar" that lasts approximately five days.
[8] 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.