March 1, 2018

Dear Board Members:

Thank you for your contributions to the Virginia Latino Advisory Board (VLAB), and for your service to the Commonwealth. I enjoyed holding a dialogue with many of you last month at the Patrick Henry Building, when we discussed ways we can work together to expand economic opportunity for Latinos.

In order to expand economic opportunity for all Virginians, our Commonwealth must be open and welcoming: our doors must be open and our lights on. That is how my administration will operate, and we are eager to work with VLAB to further this goal. As you work to identify goals and make plans for the coming year, I ask you to consider a few issue areas in particular.

I would ask the Board to provide recommendations to expand avenues for Latinos to succeed in the new Virginia economy. Our dialogue with Latino leaders last month touched on issues such as state contract and procurement opportunities, the lack of affordable housing, and wage theft. I am interested in the Board's recommendations on what my administration can do to help address these issues.

Additionally, I would ask for your recommendations on strategies to open access to government and make it more accessible to Latinos. There are nearly 300 boards in state government and over the course of my administration I will appoint over 3,000 individuals to serve. State government belongs to all Virginians, and one of my top priorities is to make it reflect the Commonwealth's diversity.

I look forward to working with VLAB on these issues, and many others. Thank you for your commitment to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Latino Advisory Board.

Sincerely,

Ralph S. Northam