Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Torres. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Cynthia Torres, LMFT (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist), is a Colombian American who has resided in our local community for over 25 years, leaving an indelible mark in service to our vibrant and dynamic Latinx population. Her professional journey is nothing short of remarkable: she not only founded the local for-profit business, New Dawn Counseling & Consulting, Inc., but also recently assumed leadership of the beloved thirty-year-old nonprofit organization, City Impact, Inc. As the visionary at the helm of both a for-profit and nonprofit entity, Cynthia’s influence extends far and wide. She tirelessly serves those most in need within our community, employing a therapeutic and affordable service model. Cynthia’s overarching mission for both New Dawn and City Impact is to diversify their funding sources, thereby creating a stable and distinctive operational model where the nonprofit ethos of “benevolence” guides every decision. But what truly sets Cynthia apart is her ability to blend the business-minded perspective with a deep commitment to social impact. City Impact now seamlessly functions as the nonprofit lens of a holistic and synergistic clinical for-profit business, resulting in stable and robust income streams for both entities. Bottom line, Cynthia has a keen ability to quickly respond to market opportunities, pivot using AI and innovative technology to solve issues, and empower all of her team to make choices to win as “one.”
Cynthia’s life mantra has always been “to enhance opportunities for economically vulnerable Latinx individuals, empowering them to raise their voices and take control of their destinies.” As a community leader and change-maker in Oxnard, she firmly believes in implementing evidence-based and data-driven business-minded solutions to deliver impactful clinical services to our community. In 2021, Cynthia was bestowed from the Pacific Coast Business Times the award for “Top Latino Business Award” recognition.
Cynthia’s dedication shines like a localized beacon, illuminating the path toward a stronger, more compassionate community for all of us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I immigrated to America 25 years ago from Colombia after earning an undergraduate degree in Psychology. There were multiple reasons I made that journey, but mostly, it was due to the political strife and drug violence at that time in Colombia. My entire family was under threat due to the drug cartels, where we had to have bodyguards to maintain our ongoing safety. I wanted a fresh change in life and followed my intuition to come to America, knowing that my ambitions could be realized with hard work and sweat equity; I was right in that assumption.
In America, I have suffered acts of discrimination due to both my accent and my darker hue skin tone. I know better now how to “tolerate” episodes of discrimination, but I am nonetheless always riveted by the ignorance of others. I am learning more and more how to use my “differentness” in both my business and personal milieus. My being Colombian American is a gift to me now.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have had 3 men who inspire me to be my best every day (Dr. Claudio Selame, Dr Felipe Santana & Joey Zumaya who works for LinkedIn). Each has impacted my career in different ways and at different points along the journey. I believe that none of us operates in a silo, and I am always open to feedback, mentoring, and working in a coaching relationship to better myself and to enhance what I want to accomplish in the world. My career mantra, which these aforementioned men have guided me through, is to “give back and make a change” both in my local backyard and especially with other Diaspora from Colombia.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.cityimpact.com/staff.html
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-torres-26a42933/
