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To be seen and to be respected for my work and acknowledged as a true American Latina... means a lot to me.

It means to educate myself incessantly about the world around me.

I usually refer to myself as Hispanic.

'Hispanic' was the term adopted by the government - by the Nixon government in particular - and that made the community feel it was being branded.

It's an honor to represent a Latin culture.

'Hispanic' is English for a person of Latino origin who wants to be accepted by the white status quo. 'Latino' is the word we have always used for ourselves.

I think I'm representing a new generation of Latinos - bilingual, bicultural people.

We talk about what's important to Hispanics: education, family, creating an environment in which you can achieve what you want to achieve because there aren't going to be obstacles in your way.

The Hispanic community understands the American Dream and have not forgotten what they were promised - that in the U.S., a free market system, allows us all to succeed economically, achieve stability and security for your family and leave your children better off than yourselves.

Hispanic values are conservative values. Hispanics are highly religious, they're very strongly pro-traditional family... not only pro-family, but also pro-life. They are highly patriotic.