Maricela Torres is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Esperanza. Through advocacy, partnerships, and strategic fundraising, Maricela has successfully implemented community outreach events to foster a community for West Palm Beach migrant families. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Esperanza, nurtures stakeholder relationships, and oversees all operations. 

Maricela has been featured in Latino Rebels, The Sun Sentinel, and The Palm Beach Post. She is a frequent commentator for community and immigration issues for WPTV, WPBF, and WFLX. Maricela sits on The City of West Palm Beach’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, she also serves on the board of Neighborhood Renaissance, a non-profit development corporation dedicated to building and supporting strong economies and diverse communities.

She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Organizational Management and a Master’s of Science in Psychology, both from Palm Beach Atlantic University.