Chapter 3 explores how Dominican American leaders began to get their feet wet in the political arena. It traces the events, environments, and individual experiences that shaped the Dominican entry into the halls of power in New York City. In most cases, getting elected or appointed came after individuals earned the trust of established power circles and followed sequential, and sometimes hybrid, trajectories that may be years in the making. Training in public service, and forging politically useful network connections, was achieved by taking part in community organizations, religious groups, student activism, political campaigns, labor unions, and community service in nonprofits institutions. In essence and practice, these became laboratories for leadership and training grounds that allowed the Dominican community to get in the fight for representation. Whether their political journeys began in churches, on college campuses, within community organizations, or through family legacies of activism, this chapter demonstrates that the rise of individuals who have shaped the pace of Dominican political incorporation into New York City power structures is directly tied to enduring legacies of activism, strong communal identities, and mentorship.