The Goldin Institute is staffed by a diverse group of talented and committed individuals around the world working towards a common goal of creating real local and global change rooted in the power of communities determining their own futures.
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Omar Torres-Kortright
Executive Director, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center

After extensive work in the field of culturally-appropriate healthcare as Manager of Language Services at Lurie Children’s Hospital (2004-2015), Torres-Kortright joined Segundo Ruiz Belvis C.C. (SRBCC) as Executive Director in April, 2015. Under his leadership, SRBCC took on a pivotal role in the diaspora-lead recovery efforts after Hurricane María, serving as fiscal sponsor for the Puerto Rican Agenda’s 3R’s for PR Campaign (Rescue, Relief, Rebuild) which raised over $400K. As the COVID-19 pandemic disproportinally affected black and brown communities in Chicago and Puerto Rico, Torres-Kortright produced Abrazo Virtual (June 2020-January 2022), a monthly streaming arts series with the objective of keeping youth and artists of color presenting, rehearsing, and working safely when few arts spaces in the city were open. During Omar's time as Director, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center has been recognized with various prestigious awards, including Chicago Cultural Treasures (2021).