February 05, 2004

Labor Economist to Discuss Latino Futures at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – Labor economist Andrés Torres will present the annual José Martí Freedom and Struggle in the Americas Lecture on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. in Holy Cross’ Rehm Library. His talk, titled “Latino Futures in a Changing Policy Environment,” is free and open to the public.

Torres is the director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy at UMass Boston, which was established by Latino community activists and academicians in response to a need for improved understanding of Latino experiences and living conditions in Massachusetts. The task of the institute is to inform policy makers about issues vital to the Commonwealth's growing Latino community and to provide this community with information necessary for effective participation in public policy development.

In addition, Torres serves as a professor at the UMass Boston College of Public and Community Service. Previously, he was the coordinator of the Latino Studies Program and the Center for Labor Research at UMass Boston.

Before joining UMass Boston, Torres worked in a number of community-based organizations and public agencies in New York conducting policy analyses and evaluations. He has published labor market analyses of urban populations, workforce development policies, and social movements. He is the author of Between Melting Pot and Mosaic: African Americans and Puerto Ricans in the New York Political Economy and co-editor of The Puerto Rican Movement: Voices from the Diaspora.

This lecture is sponsored by the Latin America and Latino Studies program.

For additional information contact Cristal Perriello at 508.793.2419