Ezra C. Escudero, Director Office of Ohio Latino Affairs

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The Office of Ohio Latino Affairs is administered by the Director of Hispanic/Latino Affairs, who together with the staff is accountable to the Commission.

The Office is responsible for compiling and providing the Commission information about, and advice on, solutions to the problems of Hispanic and Latino people. The Office shall execute the tasks assigned by the Commission which shall include but not be limited to:

• Serve as a clearinghouse to review and comment on all proposals to meet the needs of Hispanic and Latino people that are submitted to it by public and private agencies
• Apply for and accept grants and gifts from governmental and private sources to be administered by the office or subcontracted to local agencies Office of Hispanic/Latino Affairs
• Monitor and evaluate all programs subcontracted to local agencies by the Commission
• Endeavor to assure that Hispanic and Latino people have access to decision-making bodies in all State and local governmental departments and agencies
• Submit a full written annual report of its activities, accomplishments, and recommendations to the Commission
• Establish advisory Committees on special subjects as needed to facilitate and maximize community participation in the operation of the Commission. The Committees shall be composed of persons representing community organizations and charitable institutions, public officials, and such other persons as the office determines
• Establish, with state and local governments and private business and industry, relations that promote and assure equal opportunity for Hispanic and Latino people in government, education, and employment.

{Ohio Revised Code §121.33 (A-G)}

In addition, the Director works with the Commissioners to develop programs and initiatives to fulfill the statutory mandates of the Commission, which are to:

• Gather and disseminate information and conduct hearings, conferences, investigations, and special studies on problems and programs concerning Spanish-speaking people;
• Secure appropriate recognition of the accomplishments and contributions of Spanish-speaking people to this state;
• Stimulate public awareness of the problems of Spanish-speaking people by conducting a program of public education;
• Develop, coordinate, and assist other public and private organizations that serve Spanish-speaking people, including the conducting of training programs for community leadership and service project staff;
• Advise the governor, general assembly, and state departments and agencies of the nature, magnitude, and priorities of the problems of Spanish-speaking people;
• Advise the governor, general assembly, and state departments and agencies on, and assist in the development and implementation of, comprehensive and coordinated policies, programs, and procedures focusing on the special problems and needs of Spanish-speaking people, especially in the fields of education, employment, energy, health, housing, welfare, and recreation;
• Propose new programs concerning Spanish-speaking people to public and private agencies and evaluate for such agencies existing programs or prospective legislation concerning Spanish-speaking people;
• Review and approve grants to be made from federal, state, or private funds which are administered or subcontracted by the office of Spanish-speaking affairs;
• Review and approve the annual report prepared by the office of Spanish-speaking affairs;

{Ohio Revised Code §121.32 (A-I)}

In order to maximize the accountability of the Office in its execution of the Commission's mandates and initiatives, the Office has taken the above sixteen mandates and split them into three categories - to advise, to connect, and to build - and created Program Offices focused specifically on these mandates. The Program Offices of the Commission are:

• Public Policy Center
• Latino Community Network
• Organizations Development Center

Program Directors for each Program Office answer to the Executive Director, and together with the Office Secretary, comprise the full-time staff of the Office of Hispanic/Latino Affairs.