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In 1977 El Museo was made a member of the Cultural Institutions Group of the City of New York by an act of public policy of the Mayor of New York. This organization encompasses 31 cultural institutions housed in city-owned buildings, from large, world-famous ones like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, to small, community-based ones like El Museo. Through substantial funding, CIG membership acknowledges the importance of the cultural services these institutions render to the population of New York City. El Museo's educational mission continues to drive its collections and programs. At the same time, El Museo has broadened its mission, collections, and programs in response to substantial growth in the Mexican, Central and South American, and Caribbean communities, both in New York and nationally. El Museo's permanent collection remains a treasured resource for developing exhibitions and education programs. In recent years the public programs have been developed to address the educational needs of diverse populations,seniors, adults, adolescents, public school students, and very young visitors. Currently, El Museo has in place an experienced, professional staff, including the first generation of Latinos/as to specialize in the arts and to be trained in curatorial practice. In 1994, El Museo completed an intensive, searching institutional self-study and long range plan. Board, staff, and consultants reviewed and re-affirmed El Museo's mission and program, setting out concrete objectives for institutional and program development through the year 2000. In 1995, El Museo's staff, in concert with a board committee, prepared an overview of capital construction priorities to be addressed over the next 10-15 years. In addition, El Museo has developed its first Long Range Financial and Fundraising Plan. The board and the director have established several task forces, composed of board, staff, and advisors, to focus the museum's efforts and to ensure systematic application of professional standards to each of El Museo's core programs and special initiatives.