CT's Best

• Joe's Heroes
  • Tom Pandolfi
  • Blanca Santana
  • Kevin's Community Center
  • Stars of Life, CT's Outstanding EMS Professionals
  • Joan Mandzuk, CT School Nurse of the Year
  • Devine Bros, Inc. and Santa Energy, Inc.
  • Sergeant James Walsh
  • Cal Torres, Carmen Nieves, Angel Reyes
  • Donna Swanson
  • Dr. Burt Saxon
  • Linda Robak
  • Mary Fetchet
  • Edward S. Banas Sr.
  • Cammy Kaplan
  • Claire's Corner Copia
  • International Institute of Connecticut, Inc. & Myra M. Oliver
  • Sheridan Communication & Technology Middle School
  • Senator Lieberman Honors Our Heroes
• Youth Heroes
  • Sadie Hartell and Elizabeth Kelly
  • Mtani
  • Will Michael
• Media
• Museums
• Radio Stations
• Recreation

Cal Torres, Carmen Nieves, Angel Reyes

To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, Senator Lieberman honored Councilman Cal Torres of Hartford, Carmen Nieves and Angel Reyes of Bridgeport as "Joe's Heroes" for their outstanding leadership in their respective communities and to the state of Connecticut.

Senator Lieberman invited all three to participate in the 6th Annual Democratic Hispanic Leadership Summit. The summit united Hispanic leaders from around the country with their elected officials to discuss issues facing the Hispanic community. This year's summit was centered on the theme of "Emerging Communities: Perspectives, Values and Attitudes Regarding Emerging Latino Populations."

"Cal Torres, Carmen Nieves, and Angel Reyes are all outstanding leaders in their respective communities, said Lieberman. "I am pleased that they accepted my invitation to attend this year's summit to represent Connecticut and represent the concerns of the Hispanic community in our state."

Hartford City Councilman Cal Torres is in his first term, but already has extensive experience and major accomplishments in Hartford government. In 1981, he became Special Assistant to the City Manager and continued in executive level positions over the 19 subsequent years. He utilizes the knowledge acquired during this period in developing City of Hartford policy.

In addition to his overall responsibilities on City Council, he is Chairperson of the Public Safety and Quality of Life Committee, and a member of both the Operations, Management & Budget Committee, and the Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

Councilman Torres has lived in Hartford for 30 years. He continues to work to achieve his goal. He is able to accomplish this through his work on Hartford City Council and as Executive Director of the Connecticut Puerto Rican Forum, a multi-service not-for-profit organization.

Carmen Nieves is the Director of Programs at Dress for Success Mid-Fairfield County, a national non-profit organization that helps women in need transition into professional careers. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree at the University of Bridgeport majoring in business and minoring in human services.

Prior to working for Dress for Success she worked for the City of Bridgeport as the Executive Director of Career Resources. While in that position, Carmen developed the Community Network Center that served as a link between the CT department of Labor and the 211 Infoline, operated by Bridgeport Career Resources.

Most recently she is the recipient of the Community Spirit Award for Public Service from the Latino Foundation of Stamford, Inc., the Award of Excellence from Dress for Success of Fairfield County, the Outstanding Puerto Rican in Community Service from the Puerto Rican Day Parade Association, and the Excellence in Leadership Award from the Bridgeport Board of Education.

Angel Reyes is a native of the Dominican Republic and has resided in Bridgeport for the past 24 years. He graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a major in Business Administration.

He is the Owner/Operations Manager of TP & CS, LLC in Bridgeport, a check cashing company. Mr. Reyes is currently a member of the Hispanic Heritage Red Cross-Greater Bridgeport Relief Committee, a founder of the Dominican Cultural Society, Hispanic Business Association Treasurer of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce, founder of the Latinos Unidos Bridgeport Domino's Federation and also a founder of the Dominican Cultural Youth Group of Bridgeport. He was a former President for the Borinquen Softball League (2001-2002) and served as a Bridgeport Zoning Commissioner from (1999-2000). He was also a commissioner for the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commissioner for the past few years (2002-2204).

Mr. Reyes also writes for La Voz Hispana de CT, a bi-monthly Spanish language newspaper serving the Hartford area, and hosts a radio show called Angel Reyes and the Community on WCUM-Radio Cumbre, a Spanish language station serving the Bridgeport area.

Youth Heroes

Diner Stops

Delegation