Virginia Latino Advisory Board: Overview
The Virginia Latino Advisory Commission (VLAC) was created by executive order in October of 2003 by former Governor Mark R. Warner to provide information about the growing Latino community in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VLAC was signed into law and made a permanent board two years later on October 15, 2005.
Today the Virginia Latino Advisory Board (VLAB) serves at the pleasure of Governor Tim Kaine so that his administration can best serve the Latino constituents of Virginia. The VLAB meets four times a year to hear from local communities across the state, discuss issues facing Latinos in Virginia, and develop reports articulating their recommendations to the Governor on matters such as health, business, and education.
The Board consists of 21 citizen members appointed by the Governor, 15 of whom must be of Latino descent. The initial appointments of VLAB members are staggered to include seven members for a one-year term, six members for a two-year term, five members for a three-year term, and three members for a four-year term. After the initial staggering of terms, board members will serve a term of four years.
The Virginia Latino Advisory Commission, which then became the permanent Virginia Latino Advisory Board, was created in recognition of one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in Virginia and the nation as a whole. Latinos in Virginia are native-born U.S. citizens from all parts of the country and foreign-born residents from all over the world. The Latino community represents a diversity of cultures and languages, unique needs and skills, countless contributions, and endless potential for the Commonwealth. The mission of the VLAB is to serve these Virginians who enrich our state and to call upon government officials, local communities, and all constituents to take part in the positive changes that are making Virginia an even better place to live.