Hispanic Heritage Month Eileen Torres

Eileen Torres built a career based on entertainment laced with education. She is hired by government agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, museums, libraries, civic organizations, the military etc. She is contracted to create events to engage diverse audiences. Her programs are interesting, unique, and memorable. Eileen Torres a Lorain, Ohio native is best known for her work in the salsa music and dance industry. She is one of two female salsa historians in the country. Eileen has presented the multimedia program “The Origins and Development of Salsa” on over 400 occasions to corporations, government agencies, countless universities and colleges, as well as Salsa Congresses and festivals throughout the country and in the Netherlands.

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As a public speaker Eileen has spoken on the Hispanic market, Latino culture, and Latin music history. Engagements at many venues including The Kennedy Center, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, The Pentagon, Federal Reserve Board, Veterans Administration and AARP were attended by enthusiastic audiences.

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Eileen designed and directed dozens of Latin-flavored special events that took place at various Smithsonian Museums including the Celia Cruz Exhibit opening, Artisphere arts complex in Arlington, VA and National Geographic. She co-wrote and co-directed “Remembering the Palladium” a music and dance revue presented in 2013 and 2014 at the Atlas Theater in Washington, DC.

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As a free-lance writer for several magazines she was contracted by Starbucks Coffee Company to collaborate on the Mambo Mio CD. She wrote the liner notes and assisted in the music selection.

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Ms. Torres was a recipient of the Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund Award. She was chosen based on the scope of her business. She received the First Annual Jose Ruiz Lifetime Achievement Award for fostering understanding of Latino culture and the Capital Congress Lifetime Achievement Award for leadership in Washington, DC. She received the Andy Award for her work as a salsa historian and events' producer at the World Salsa Congress in Puerto Rico. She was a recipient of the Somos Award during its inaugural year of 2010. Eileen was the first recipient of the Salsa Crusader Award given in March 2014.

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Involvement in film production resulted in an Associate Producer credit for the short film, MANO. She is an Executive Producer of SHINE, a full length feature film that premiered in October 2018. It deals with gentrification in Spanish Harlem set against a backdrop of authentic Latin music and dance.

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At a time when friends and peers are preparing for retirement Eileen is beginning a new and zesty chapter in life. In addition to films Eileen is embarking on a new venture as an author. Ten years of research, observation, and experience led to the completion of her first book. It deals with the various inequities that exist between the genders. It is scheduled to be published in 2021.

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Ms. Torres worked with the National Council of La Raza, HACR (Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility) Latino Sports Ventures, ZGS Communications, and helped launch Latina Style Magazine. She is an alumnus of National Hispana Leadership Institute, Leadership Lorain County, received training at the Centers for Creative Leadership in Greensboro N. Carolina and at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Eileen was a consultant to the National Hispanic Corporate Council.

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After a 28-year absence in Washington, DC, Eileen has returned to Lorain. She is a member of the Roberto Ocasio Foundation Board of Trustees, has a seat on the Community Foundation of Lorain County and is president of the Hispanic Fund-an affiliate fund of the Foundation. She serves on the advisory board of the historic Lorain Palace Theater.

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