NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway have partnered to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) and recognize the numerous contributions from Sandra Torres, the Healthy Cabarrus Latino Outreach Coordinator at Cabarrus Health Alliance, to the Hispanic community of Cabarrus County.
The Hispanic Heritage Award recognizes the commitment of Hispanic leaders to their communities and promotes their efforts by honoring them in their local race market. As part of the recognition, each honoree receives a $2,500 donation for a non-profit organization of their choice. This year, Torres chose El Puente Hispano, whose mission is to connect and integrate the Hispanic community with available information and resources to foster self-sufficiency and productivity.
Torres will be honored on stage during the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 on Sunday, Sept. 29, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In addition to her job at CHA, Torres is a co-founder and vice-president of El Puente Hispano, a local nonprofit organization that aims to better the lives of the Hispanic population in Cabarrus County. Torres also serves as the chair of the Family Support and Social Services Committee for El Puente Hispano.
Through her roles at CHA and El Puente, Torres has used her managerial experience to identify gaps in services for the Latino community and assists with the development and implementation of programs that address those needs. Sandra is able to advocate and help be a part of the necessary change as she engages local agencies to create programs in Spanish.
She worked with local parks and rec departments, to create Spanish exercise programs including Zumba classes, and ensured that materials were available in Spanish. She developed a partnership with the Concord Police Department to offer programs historically offered only in English in Spanish, such as Coffee with a Cop, the Crime and Safety Briefing and a CommUNITY Conversation on opioids. She also established a partnership with the Concord Fire Department to offer hands-only CPR classes in Spanish. More than 70 people have been trained, understanding that they can make the difference between life and death.
With mental health as one of the community priorities, she implemented a monthly program named “Entre Amigas” or “Among Girlfriends.” This is a women’s group led by a volunteer therapist to discuss topics such as depression, self-esteem, and goal setting.
Torres partners with different organizations to volunteer their services to inform the Latino community about pressing topics. Programs include presentations from Present Age on trafficking, workshops by Cano Family Services on girl empowerment, and classes from CHA on parent-child communication. She has also developed a partnership with the Cabarrus Art Council to promote some of their activities among the Latino Community, utilizing Spanish material and enlisting bilingual volunteers. Sandra created and manages a Facebook page in Spanish for CHA.
A proud native of Colombia, Torres moved to New York City in the 1990s, where she held a managerial position at the citywide public school’s nutrition department. Ten years ago, she moved to Concord, where she lives with her husband and twin boys. Torres holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Communication Management from Baruch College in New York City.
Torres belongs to various local organizations such as Cabarrus Arts Council Board of Directors, Concord Rotary, Project Baseline Advisory Board and Steering Committee, Leadership Cabarrus Class of 2019 and CHA Ethics Committee. She makes sure that wherever she goes the voice of the Latino population is heard, further developing her commitment to the advancement of the Latino community and promoting inclusion and diversity throughout Cabarrus County.
“Sandra has an unwavering commitment to the Hispanic community of Cabarrus County,” said Greg Walter, the executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Her endless contributions to organizations like the Cabarrus Health Alliance and El Puente demonstrate her considerable passion for serving others. We are proud to salute her many achievements by bestowing Sandra with this prestigious honor.”
Past Charlotte Motor Speedway award recipients include Stefan LaTorre, president of LeTorre Law Firm, Norberto Sanchez, founder and CEO of Norsan Media and Pastor Rusty Price of Camino Church.
Celebrating years of partnership, Charlotte Motor Speedway and NASCAR are proud to celebrate outstanding Latino leaders who are making an impact in their communities.
CMS PR
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