Andrés Torres, Ph.D
Dr. Andrés Torres wrote the foreword of The Heart of an Advocate.
“What begins as a coming of age story in an immigrant household evolves into a grand journey toward understanding and meaning as we follow Vilma’s later years. I think Vilma is speaking directly to her Latina sisters who have had to deal with domestic abuse. These women will connect powerfully with the personal history rendered here. But there are other audiences who will benefit from this remarkable account: practitioners and advocates in the field of gender-based violence who will learn of the specific experiences of Latina women. As someone who knows the joys of being a father, I so hope this story will reach many male readers. For the men, who after all hold up the other half of the world, this book just might help develop a sense of empathy with their hermanas and guide them to make sensible choices in this life.”
Author Vilma Luz Cabán had the great honor of meeting Labor Economist and author Dr. Andrés Torres when she was an undergraduate student at the State University of New York at The College of New Paltz. After organizing a SUNY New Paltz Latino Conference with his daughter Rachel, Vilma learned about his remarkable research and work as a lecturer and teacher of Economics as well as professor of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies. At the time, Vilma was learning American Sign Language and was captivated when she learned that Dr. Torres was the only hearing son of two deaf parents. He is the author of the memoir “Signing in Puerto Rican” and the book Puerto Rican Movement: Voices from the Diaspora.
Over 35 years later, Vilma Luz is extremely grateful for the support, mentorship, and family friendship she has received throughout different stages of her educational and professional research journey.
VILMA LUZ CABÁN 