2007

•  Dr. Carlos Crespo, Dr. Rebecca Hernandez and Consuelo Saragoza began discussing health disparities in the Latino Community at a meeting convened by the Hacienda CDC Community Engagement Department directed by Dr. Hernandez.
• A meeting was held with interested organizations: Multnomah County, City of Portland, Portland State University and individuals about health/education disparities, the growing Latino community, and the need for a Latino voice within the Latino Community.
• The report Salir Adelante (1999) was identified as a starting point for further discussion.  Salir Adelante, commissioned by former Multnomah County Commissioner Serena Cruz-Walsh, identified services provided to the Latino Community by Multnomah County.
• Inclusion of education, employment, immigration, health care, and housing (among other issues) and involvement of the tri-county area and statewide participation were encouraged.

2008

• The State of Oregon Governor’s Office staff became involved in providing statewide contacts and outreach to interested individuals and organizations.
• Oregon Consensus, housed at Portland State University, offered to convene and support a meeting process. [See OLAA archives on: www.orconsensus.pdx.edu]

2009

• Salon 1 was held February 18th, 2009 with sixty attendees, from which a core group volunteered to serve on the initial visioning committee. With a professional facilitator from TACS, the group evolved into several working groups within a Planning Committee to organize OLAA's development.
• The Planning Committee honored the request by the Salon 1 group to report back within 6 months.  Salon 2 was convened October 13, 2009. This gathering affirmed the work to date and authorized further work for OLAA and a statewide summit for 2010. The planning activity was now consolidated into three committees: Leadership & Development, Communications & Outreach, and Program.  Funding for the initial stages of OLAA's development was provided by Oregon Consensus; TACS provided facilitation and a planning grant.

2010

• The committees continued their planning through the spring and further funding and resources were sought.
• On May 6, 2010, Salon 3 informed stakeholders of progress.
• On June 1^st, the Summit Facilitation Team was convened to staff the implementation of planning for the  OLAA Summit, slated for October 17th and 18th, 2010, at the Salem Conference Center.