Gabriela Vega-Matthews has served the Dutchess County Department of Health as an advocate and liaison to the Hispanic community for the past 20 years.

Ms. Vega-Matthews is an active member of the advisory board for the Dutchess County Community Foundations  of the Hudson Valley and The Poughkeepsie  Children’s Cabinet. Additionally, she played a key role as a coordinator representing the Hispanic community in Dutchess County.

For 14 years, Ms. Vega-Matthews coordinated  the La Guelaguetza Festival that disseminates the culture, food and traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico, making this festival one of the most well-known in New York State.

Currently, Ms. Vega-Matthews serves as a board member of Sun River Health. She also collaborates with numerous Latino churches in Dutchess County, fostering partnerships to support the needs of the immigrant community. She was nominated  by the Dutchess County Executive and the Mayor of the City of Poughkeepsie to serve on the Youth Opportunity Union Advisory Committee.

In 2022, Ms. Vega-Matthews founded Casa Comunitaria de Recursos (Community House of Resources) to enhance access to resources and services for Spanish-speaking families. In 2023, she spearheaded educational and awareness initiatives focused on mental health and support for parents of children with disabilities within the Latino community.

Ms. Vega-Matthews also acts as a liaison for many local businesses, sharing pertinent and timely information so that government opportunities and initiatives are accessed, which, in turn, strengthens and sustains economic growth in Dutchess County. She has worked closely with diverse political actors in the federal, State and local governments.

Ms. Vega-Matthews also works with Vassar, Marist and Bard Colleges so that students can have the opportunity to work in different locations and on community projects led by her.

Working internationally, Ms. Vega-Matthews has worked tirelessly to host the Consulates General of Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador to bring consular services to those communities in Dutchess County. She has also helped other organizations  to gain access to consular programs.

Ms. Vega-Matthews’s dedication and staunch advocacy have earned her numerous nominations and accolades from partner agencies and Latino churches that acknowledge her work as pivotal.