El Futuro es Ahora: Activism and Influences in the Arts

Eddie Torres most recently served as deputy commissioner of cultural affairs for New York City, where he played a leadership role in the development of the city’s long-term sustainability plan, the city's first cultural plan and a study of and efforts to support the diversity of the city’s cultural organizations. Prior, he was a program officer with The Rockefeller Foundation, where he worked on the foundation’s support for arts and culture, jobs access, and resilience. He has also served in the dean’s office at Parsons School for Design, on the arts and culture team at The Ford Foundation as well as on the staff of the Bronx Council on the Arts. Torres serves on the board of directors of United Philanthropy Forum, as well as serving on its Public Policy Committee. He holds a Master of Arts in Art History from Hunter College and a Master of Science in Management from The New School.

Rosalba Rolón is the Artistic Director of Pregones + Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (PregonesPRTT). She is an accomplished director and dramaturg specializing in the adaptation of literary and non-literary texts for stage performance with live music. Recent productions include TORCHED! – A People Ignited ¡Guaracha!, and We Have Iré in collaboration with Paul S. Flores and Yosvani Terry. Creative collaborations include Betsy! (in collaboration with Roadside Theater/KY), Brides (in collaboration with theaters in Belgium and the Slovak Republic) and many others. Distinctions include 2019 Creative Capital Award (with Paul Flores and Yosvany Terry) and 2018 Doris Duke Artist Award. She is a tenured member of the Tony Awards Nominating Committee (2018-2023) and co-Chair of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals 2021 National Conference. Rosalba is a Board Member of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) and of United States Artists. With PregonesPRTT Ensemble she has traveled to 37 states/500+ cities in the U.S., and 18 countries.