Washington, D.C. – Congressman Charles B. Rangel congratulated Juan Villar-Ojito, a resident of Morningside Heights, for his participation in the Smithsonian Institution's Young Ambassadors Program. Participants in the program spend a week at the Smithsonian’s Latino Center in Washington, D.C. and complete their program at museums close to their homes. Mr. Ojito is performing his internship in New York at the George Gustav Heye Center, part of the National Museum of the American Indian.

"Juan's heart-warming story reaffirms why we need to support arts programs in our schools," Rangel said. "It is great that he has found such a passion for theater. Juan and students like him are crucial to our nation's cultural development and I wholeheartedly congratulate him on his achievement in participating in this fine program." 

Mr. Ojito, originally from Miami but now residing in New York City, cites his participation in a middle school play, the award-winning Into The Woods, as rekindling his passion for theater. He now hopes to study theater in college. Mr. Ojito has wide interest in the arts, from theater to literature to film and photography. 

The Young Ambassadors Program seeks to foster the next generation of Latino leaders in the arts, sciences and humanities. Students spend a week in Washington attending seminars and workshops and visiting Latino collections at D.C. museums and cultural organizations. Each student then spends four weeks interning in a museum or cultural center in a local community. 

"Latinos represent a crucial part of my Manhattan Congressional District and an essential piece of our nation's growing population," said Rangel. "Initiatives like the Smithsonian's Young Ambassadors Program represent the path to a richer national culture and I am proud that Jose is participating. His broad interests - traveling and sailing, in addition to his love of the arts - and activities - Model UN and theater - show his passion and intellect. I wish him luck in his very promising future." 

Rangel's 15th Congressional District is home to many Latinos who make integral contributions to its rich culture. While the primarily Puerto Rican East Harlem is famous for its rich 'Nuyorican' culture, Washington Heights stands as the largest and most prominent Dominican community in the country. National pride parades each summer highlight the importance of the two neighborhoods' contributions to the district's cultural fabric. The district is home to El Museo Del Barrio, New York City's only Latino museum dedicated to Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Latin American art and one of the premier institutions in the country showcasing Latino visual arts.