At the closing plenary luncheon, Proyecto Visión director Kathy Martinez bid conference attendees farewell by thanking the representatives from diverse communities for joining forces to support and provide opportunities for Latinos with disabilities. The event, which joined policymakers, Latino and disability advocates, jobseekers and employers, was the first conference in North Carolina addressing issues of employment for Latinos with disabilities. "This is just the beginning," said Martinez. "Please make [Latinos with disabilities] a part of every infrastructure, every plan, every dream in your communities from here on out."

Keynote speaker Jackie Sheppard, assistant secretary for Long Term Care and Family Services, Office of the Secretary for the North Carolina Division of Health and Human Services, said that the conference was a ground-breaking event. "Use the Bridge to Employment conference as a springboard to future events that deal with the issue of Latinos with disabilities and employment," Sheppard told the crowd. "We need to keep pace with the demands of the increasing population, and maximize opportunities for people with disabilities so that they can realize their dreams and fully participate in society."

Plenary speaker Andrea Bazan-Manson, executive director of El Pueblo, Inc. - the largest Hispanic advocacy group in North Carolina - said that the Bridges to Employment Conference is aptly named because its goal is building bridges to the fast-growing Latino population in North Carolina and other communities.

"Latinos in North Carolina have been organizing rapidly," Bazan-Manson said. "We started organizing here in the early 90s, now we have over 100 agencies throughout North Carolina. Today we're in government, the corporate sector and we have Spanish-language media. Nevertheless, we need to continue expanding our involvement into all areas of society, and increase Latino advocacy to bring out long-term change for the community."

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