The new system will give community leaders one-stop access to policy issues information, including analyses and links to resources. Additionally, the Web page offers a new glimpse at Latino Ohioans, including demographic information from a number of sources and reports about the life and times of Latino communities across Ohio.

Florentina Staigers, Policy Liaison Officer of the Ohio Commission of Hispanic Latino Affairs (OCHLA).

“Our ultimate goal is to be a nationally-recognized policy research center for the benefit of all Ohioans, with a specific focus on policy for and about Latinos. Our new OLAnet Reports Database & Library is the first step towards that objective,” concluded Staigers.

The Ohio Latino Affairs Commission has among its statutory mandates a specific call to advise policy makers and officials including the Governor, the General Assembly, and Directors of the state's departments and agencies on issues affecting Ohio’s Latino population.

“So many challenging and multi-faceted issues are coming to the attention of state government - especially those dealing with Latinos and other new Americans. Our agency has a unique responsibility to provide well-researched, unbiased information about these concerns and giving counsel to executive and legislative government leaders as they deliberate policies and actions," said OCHLA Director Ezra C. Escudero.

“Think of this tool as a first step. We anticipate that the database will grow quickly. Think of it, also, as an opportunity for all Ohioans to learn more about our fellow Ohioans with origins from across the Americas, from México to Argentina and everywhere in between," said Staigers. “We hope that organizations and officials will contact us to request studies and research to gain a greater understanding about Hispanic Ohioans.”

The OLAnet Reports Database & Library will be updated and expanded regularly, as additional information is incorporated to the system.

The Ohio Latino Affairs Commission is a state government agency with a statutory mandate to advise policy makers and elected officials on issues affecting Hispanic Ohioans, to connect the diverse Latino communities across the state, and to build the capacity of community organizations so they may better serve the fast growing Latino population of Ohio.

For more information, contact the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission (OCHLA) or call (614) 466-8333.

Ezra C. Escudero