OLA was established in 1976 when the District Council passed the "Latino Community Development Act, DC Law 1-86." It was the Council's intention for OLA, which is part of the Executive Office of the Mayor, to work with the Mayor, the Council, District Government Agencies as well as private, community based organizations and businesses to ensure that "a full range of health, education, employment and social services" are available to all Latino residents living in the District of Columbia.
The law also mandates OLA to strengthen the infrastructure of community based agencies and businesses serving the Latino community and to seek funding and provide grants for special programs and demonstration projects related to its mandate. OLA also assists District Government agencies in complying with the provisions of the Language Access Act of 2004.
