The LGBTQ Center Long Beach Welcomes New Executive Director
The LGBTQ Center Long Beach names Carlos Torres as executive director following a competitive nationwide search.
LONG BEACH, CA (February 26, 2021) – The LGBTQ Center Long Beach ("The Center") has named Carlos Torres to the position of Executive Director following a nationwide search led by executive search consultants McCormack + Kristel. Mr. Torres joins The Center from the Persad Center in Pennsylvania, where he headed Pittsburgh's leading human service organization focused on improving the well-being of both the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS communities.
Mr. Torres will work alongside Andrew Dorado, current Center interim executive director, during a leadership transition period beginning March 22, 2021. Mr. Torres, a native of Puerto Rico and a veteran of the United States Army, brings over 15 years of professional experience working in the nonprofit sector. His experience includes working with marginalized individuals and communities in the areas of domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, syringe exchange, harm reduction, viral hepatitis, education and advocacy, civil rights, mental health, and substance use disorders.
Mr. Torres is bi-lingual in Spanish and one of the founding members of the Pittsburgh Latino Community Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of and advocating on behalf of Latinos in Pennsylvania's Allegheny County. He holds a graduate degree in Public Administration from the University of Arizona. "After an extensive recruitment and selection process, we are thrilled to have Carlos join The LGBTQ Center as our new executive director," stated Stella Ursua, board chair for the Center. "Carlos will be instrumental in leading the organization towards our ambitious strategic plan, including enhancing our programs and services and expanding our physical space to meet the Center's current and future growth needs," she added. "While we are excited for Carlos to start, we want to thank Andrew Dorado for his stewardship of the Center over the past eight months. He provided strong leadership through a period of change, and for that, we are incredibly grateful. We anticipate Mr. Dorado will continue with the Center in a senior role." The nationwide search, which considered a strong selection of both local and national candidates, was led by McCormack + Kristel, a provider of executive search consulting services for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. "We worked closely with experts at McCormack + Kristel to conduct a thorough and thoughtful search. We are confident after considering such a qualified and diverse candidate group that Carlos' deep breadth of experience working with marginalized communities/LGBTQ members makes him the perfect fit for our community and us," concluded Ms. Ursua. In a letter to The Center, Marty Healy, board president of The Persad Center, emphasized Mr. Torres' positive impact during his tenure there and wished him well in his new role, "Congratulations on your selection of Carlos Torres as your new Executive Director. During his time with us at Persad, Carlos brought stability and leadership as our Interim Executive Director and we are sorry to see him leave. […] Carlos worked closely with our Board of Directors and myself and leaves Persad in a solid position for continued growth, and we wish him and his husband Matt nothing but the best of luck as they embark on their next chapter."
Mr. Torres will begin his tenure on March 22, 2021 and shared his enthusiasm for the new role and his new home in Long Beach. "I am humbled by the opportunity to join The Center as its new executive director. I am excited that I get the chance to work alongside dedicated and passionate staff, board and volunteers and believe my experience, especially with marginalized groups, will help the Center achieve its short and long-term goals. My husband Matt, our dog Scotty and I, look forward to joining the Long Beach community." The Center will hold a virtual Community Conversation with Mr. Torres on Tuesday, April 8, 2021 at 6 pm and looks forward to our entire community getting to know him.
About The LGBTQ Center Long Beach:
Since 1977, The LGBTQ Center Long Beach has provided support and community to LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies in the Greater Long Beach, CA area. The Center focuses its work in five major areas which include youth and family support, older adult programs, health testing and mental health treatment, and legal services for victims of discrimination and crime including one of the nation’s few LGBTQ+ domestic violence clinics. Each month The Center offers more than two dozen free community workshops, meetings, and programs that appeal to folks of each Pride rainbow color. It also produces several annual events including QFilms Long Beach, an annual LGBTQ+ film festival, AIDS Walk Long Beach, and Transgender Week of Visibility celebrations. For Long Beach Pride, The Center hosts the annual Teen Pride Dance and creates the Family Fun Zone, a sober area for people of all ages. Follow The LGBTQ Center Long Beach @CenterLB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or visit www.CenterLB.org.