THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH, TO PERFORM STUDIES, TO COLLECT DATA, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC DISCUSSION FORUMS, CONFERENCES, AND SEMINARS, TO EVALUATE AND DISSEMINATE, AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC REGARDING GENERAL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND DATA REALTING TO PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES BEING ENCOUNTERED WITHIN AND BY THE LATINO POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TO SUGGEST POLICIES, PLANS, AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT ADDRESING SUCH PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY AT LARGE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.