TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County School District is opening a new museum to educate its students and the community about different cultures in Latin America.

It's called the Educational Multicultural Museum, housed at Jefferson High School.

Chairperson of the Hillsborough School District, Karen Perez, says it’s a project they’ve been working to establish for a year now.

“One thing that we don’t sometimes understand is where we come from and who in essence we are, what makes us the Latinos that we are, so I’m hoping this will build some passion in our students,” she said.

This museum was developed in partnership with the Nuestra America Foundation, a nonprofit focused on bringing cultural education to the community.

Zoe Batista Salinas founded the nonprofit, wanting to keep her Cuban culture close to her heart.

“When you have to migrate out of your country and you have to be living in another country, even though you’re trying to find the freedom and to preserve your dreams, you’re trying to keep and preserve your culture with you,” she said.

For the last 10 years, they’ve established roots in the community, hosting back to school events and standing behind people who need support.

“We have been helping the community since day one,” said Batista Salinas. “Since we started with those forums that were covering topics in health, human trafficking and domestic violence.”

Now they’re hoping to touch more lives through this multicultural museum.

It’s an immersive experience but also a library.

“It is very important to have all the artifacts, documents and books here available to the community so they can learn more about the history of the human being, what it is behind that, about our ancestors,” said Batista Salinas. “This museum represents the inclusion, how the different parts of the world interact.”

The museum is open Tuesdays and Thursdays at Jefferson High School at 4401 W. Cypress St. in Tampa.