Amy Torres (they/them or she/her) serves as the Executive Director of NJAIJ. In this position, they lead member organizations and staff to direct policy and organizational priorities. Prior to NJAIJ, Torres served for over seven years in immigrants’ rights and policy advocacy in New York City, with a focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander empowerment. Torres brings depths of experience in coalition-building, civic engagement, and from their personal life, grassroots organizing in Hudson County. Firmly rooted in Torres's identity is their experience as a second generation Filipinx American and the core belief that human rights and liberties should not be subject to change because of something as arbitrary as birthplace, border, or paperwork.

  • Like many other children of immigrants, I've spent my whole life being an advocate. From an early age, immigrants' kids are often the primary translator, the cultural broker, and the first generation to experience and navigate American systems. Fighting for visibility, fair representation, and justice is something we've grown up doing and I am proud to continue that work today in my role at NJAIJ.

  • One of our members used to be very nervous speaking in front of legislators. Over the years, I watched as she attended NJAIJ trainings, workshops, and use the toolkits on our Resource Hub in her work. Nearly two years later, we were on a trip to Washington DC to fight for citizenship for all. We were chatting outside an office building when she suddenly bolted down the street and grabbed Senator Durbin by the arm as he was walking by. She started grilling him citizenship for all. It was such a beautiful moment, witnessing her journey from once feeling "too nervous" to then running after a senior US Senator so that she could fight for her community.

  • Frantz Fanon's Wretched of the Earth. It's a timeless read. Decolonizing ourselves and empowering our communities go hand in hand.