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About Us

Why SLF? Board of Directors Financial Information
Our History Board Members Biographies Our Mission and Our Vision
SLF Working in the Community Board Members Testimonials

Why SLF?

  • The Hispanic population increased by an average of 29% over the past six years in the counties of Orange, Dutchess, Sullivan, Columbia, and Ulster.
  • High school dropout rates are highest for Hispanics.
  • Almost 16 million Hispanics did not have health insurance in 2006.
  • About 10% of Hispanics are at or below the poverty line, the highest among the working poor.
  • SLF is committed to overcoming these challenges. Our vision is to achieve a social transformation of the immigrant communities in the Hudson Valley and Catskill regions by empowering, building leadership, nurturing our diversity, and working for the recognition of our human rights through education and action.

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    Our History

    SLF's was founded in 2001, in Sullivan County, NY by Sandra Cuellar Oxford, Angel Rivera, Marco Bocanumenth, Alberto Diaz, and Ariel Escobar as an activist group that addressed the most prevalent health crises among Latinos in the region: infant mortality, HIV/AIDS, and youth and domestic violence through community events, from health fairs and music festivals to workers' rights forums and educational programs. In 2003, Somos la Llave del Futuro, (SLF), Inc. was incorporated as a 503 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

    BUILDING LEADERSHIP IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES of the Mid-Hudson Valley is the mission of Somos La Llave. In October of 2007 we reorganized and moved to Millerton, NY, where a few concerned community members established a board of directors and, starting with $80, developed a network of 20 community health promoters in Sullivan and Duchess Counties, now operating with an annual budget of $57,000. This remarkable growth has happened because we are fulfilling a palpable need to bring immigrants above ground, into the light of day, where they can speak for themselves and function as responsible, respected, healthy, active members of our community.

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    SLF Working With The Community

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors SLF Board of Directors: Sandy Cuellar Oxford, Louise Lindenmeyr, Gabriela Pragman, Aspacio Alcantara, Zaida Chasi and Mariel Fiori.
    2011-2013
    President:
    Vice President:
    Treasurer:
    Secretary:
    Louise Lindenmeyr
    Carlos Orellana
    Sandy Cuellar
    Mariel Fiori
    Executive Director: Gabriela Pragman

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    Board of Directors Biographies

    Testimonials of Board Members

    Financial Information

    Form 990-N, annual reports, and by laws are available to public inspection upon request. Please call 845-675-8045 or write to info@somoslallave.org

    Mission & Vision of SLF

    The Mission is to build leadership in the Latino Immigrant Communities of the Hudson Valley and the Catskill regions of New York State.

    The Vision is to achieve a social transformation of the immigrant communities by means of empowerment and leadership nurturing our diversity, and working for the recognition of our human rights through education and action.

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