Foundation for Community Health Podcast

Louise - Grew up in Fairfield, CT, but did not feel as though she fit in.  Lived in the backwoods of Maine and in lower Manhatten for a while until she married and built a house in Salisbury, CT.  She worked as an RN in Sharon Hospital's ICU until her second child was born.  Missing the hippies and hipsters of Maine and Manhatten, she brought her Project Troubadour to The Grove in Lakeville in 1989.

Larry - Grew up in the Western NY state of Gary; has been licensed funeral director for 34 years and has owned the funeral parlor in Dover Plains, NY, for 17 years.

Jose - Immigrated to the United States from Ecuador in 1989.  He worked as a landscaper, in construction and as a busboy in Mount Kisco, NY.  He decided he wanted to own his own restaurant so he bought a pizzaria in Dover Plains.  He also helps his family run the Dover Cafe and in 2002, he opened a deli.

Ibis - Moved to the United States from Mexico as a child.  He changed schools many times first in Texas and then in New York until his family settled in Pine Planis, NY.  He was a troubled child, but was mentored by a friend's mother who was a college professor.  She convinced him to go to college, which he did and earned a Bachelor's degree.  He is now a Customer Service Representative with the Bank of Millbrook and holds many volunteer positions in town.

Gabriela - Immigrated to the United States from Peru when she was 23 years old as Peru was in social, political and economic chaos.  She needed to help her family with their finances.  In the US she worked in a vegetable garden and in construction before starting her own cleaning business while she went to school in Poughkeepsie, NY, to learn English.  After she married, she moved to Clinton, NY.  She is now the Executive Director of Somos La Llave Del Futuro helping Latino immigrants in Dutchess and Sullivan counties of New York access healthcare and navigate the system to better themselves.

Evelyn - Born in New York City and moved to Staten Island when she was 4 years old.  She stayed in Staten Island until her children were grown.  She moved to Millerton in 2008 and commuted back and forth to the City for work.  Once she retired, she was doing some volunteer work when an opportunity to be the Latino Outreach Coordinator with Grace Smith House came about.  A few years later, she willingly accepted a request to coordinate the Food of Life Food Pantry in Amenia.

Ed - Immigrated to Columbia County, NY from Belize.  Prior to that, Ed worked as an agricultural extension agent in the Peace Corps in El Salvador.  Ed now works for Hudson River Healthcare for their migrant and seasonal farm worker health program.

David - Immigrated to New York City from Buenos Aires to work at the UN as a language and legal officer; now involved in the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI)

Alexander - Immigrated to Bridgeport, CT from Italy.  Is an artist with a school in Millerton, NY.