Shirley Torres

Shirley Torres is the co-chief executive officer of Homeboy Industries, a leading gang intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry program based in Los Angeles. Over her two decades with the organization, Torres has contributed to expanding Homeboy Industries from a single center into a multi-campus institution, including the Youth Reentry Center and Homeboy Art Academy, serving tens of thousands of formerly incarcerated and gang-involved individuals. Her leadership includes the co-creation of an 18-month reentry model that integrates healing, education, and job training to address cycles of violence and incarceration, reframing public health and safety through care-based solutions.

Torres’s expertise in community development and social work is informed by her experiences growing up in South Los Angeles amid gang violence and limited opportunities. As a first-generation college graduate, she earned her bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s in social work from the University of Southern California, focusing on community organization and public administration. Her personal journey informs her commitment to educational access, equity, and the role of supportive communities. Torres has led strategies to engage and retain individuals returning from incarceration, overseeing programs in education and workforce development.

Torres is a public speaker recognized for her impact and leadership, including being named Mt. San Antonio College Alumna of the Year and featured at the Aspen Ideas Festival. Her public speaking engagements and media appearances highlight her focus on breaking cycles of trauma and her belief in the potential for personal and community transformation through compassion, opportunity, and kinship.