She has spent her entire career working with communities on housing and neighborhood investment initiatives. With Vita Nuova, Ms. Torres led the Parkville Arts and Innovation efforts in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in Hartford, CT, served as project manager for the Mad River Development in Waterbury, and is working on several other projects in NY, Puerto Rico, and Indiana. Since 2018, she has focused on building the capacity of neighborhoods and nonprofit organizations to create and preserve affordable housing.
During her career, she has supported the development of almost 400 affordable housing units, leveraging financing from traditional banks, CDFI’s, the U.S. Department of Housing, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the state of Connecticut, and local municipalities. In addition, she led the Lead Safe Program in Bridgeport, creating thousands of lead-safe units within the city. Previously, Ms. Torres served on the Board of the City of New Haven Board of Education, CT Trust for Historic Preservation, Connecticut Housing Coalition, and Bridgeport Regional Business Council. She is known for launching social enterprise businesses, including a full-service property management firm and a thrift store. Ms. Torres embodies an understanding and commitment to placemaking—ensuring that all communities have a space that promotes health, happiness, and well-being.
