"I joined SLF because I saw a great need in the Latino population especially in the rural areas where lack of transportation and language barrier are prevalent. I am an immigrant too and I understand. I want to serve my community with my knowledge and experience. I want to be there if they need me." -- Gabriela Pragman

"I am involved in SLF because I believe in its mission: for all Latinos to fare better in this country, we need more Latinos in leadership positions. SLF is grass-roots and its members have varied backgrounds, which hopefully helps to enrich its scope. La Voz tries to empower through information, SLF empowers through action, like educational programs for adults." -- Mariel Fiori

"I joined SLF because I was concerned about the lack of empowerment I saw in the immigrant population that I served in my position as a family nurse practitioner at Hudson River HealthCare. My patients more often seemed like victims of society rather than beneficiaries of the public services that could be tapped to help them. We Americans have greatly benefitted by all the vibrant energy that these people offer. By giving them a voice and some tools, as with the Somos Salud community health promoter program, SLF has helped bridge this gap in NE Dutchess and begun to cultivate a group of leaders within the Latino and other immigrant communities that is spreading an ethos of pride and proactivity." -- Louise Lyndenmeyer

"My work at Hudson River Community Health gave me the chance to meet and to work with the Hispanic community. Over the years the network of people I work with brought me into contact with the current members of SLF. We saw the opportunity to revive the foundation as a way that we could work together to help identify and advocate for issues that are important in the new immigrant community." -- Ed Frederick