Local Hero: Helen Iris Torres, Inspiring Latina Leaders
Nominee Name: Helen Iris Torres
Title: Chief executive officer
Organization/Business: Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
Website: Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
"Civic engagement and understanding of our political infrastructure is an overlooked necessity in our city and state. Ms. Torres has dedicated over two decades to the training and teaching of Latinas of all ages to be a part of our political system and understand the inner workings of the system. She has encouraged countless Latinas to throw their hats into an election for public office. From high school students to elders, Helen has changed many women's lives for the better. She helps Latinas achieve their goals of becoming engaged citizens and committed voters, to being elected to public office. She's kind, caring and truly a community leader and hero."Nancy De Los Santos, nominator
About Helen Iris Torres
As the CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) for 22 years, Torres has strategically built a Latina leadership and advocacy network composed of thousands of civically engaged Latina leaders serving in elected and appointed offices and as business, philanthropic and community leaders in California.
Torres leads coalitions that advocate for Latinas to hold key leadership positions. Her efforts helped catapult the first Latina to serve on the California Public Utilities Commission and the first Latina appointed to the California Supreme Court. She has created robust pathways to Latina leadership in high school, the United States, and Mexico. Torres has been instrumental in developing and implementing HOPE's four leadership programs, which have trained over 1,200 Latinas and helped fill more than 1,600 leadership positions. Torres serves on the Public Policy Institute of California board and is a member of The Trusteeship, the Southern California chapter of the International Women's Forum, a global organization of preeminent women with diverse achievements.