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Duarte honors Ada Torres for 22 years leading DART youth program
Summary
The City of Duarte recognized Ada Torres for more than two decades of work leading the DART youth program, presenting a plaque and public tributes at a council meeting where multiple former interns, public‑safety staff and elected officials described lasting impacts on local youth.
The City of Duarte on Monday presented a plaque and extended public tributes to Ada Torres, who for more than 20 years led the city’s DART (Duarte Area Resource Team) youth programs through the Duarte Public Safety Department. City officials and dozens of former program participants praised Torres’s mentorship and longtime work with at‑risk youth.
Torres’s recognition drew personal stories and testimonials from current and former DART participants, public‑safety staff and community leaders who said the program helped young people pursue careers in nursing, social work, public safety and education. Director Brian Villalobos said Torres “took it above and beyond anything we could have ever imagined” after the program was created in 2002. Director Bracida told the council Torres has helped secure “over $3,000,000 in grants for our community.”
“‘This work was never about me. It was about us,’” Torres said during her remarks to the council, adding she plans to remain involved as a volunteer. Former interns described the program as transformational; Aranzazuca Gallero said DART “gave me a family, a place where I learned to lead, to serve, and to believe in myself.” Several speakers noted DART’s role in improving relations between youth and public safety staff.
The ceremony included a video of alumni testimonials and a council presentation that underscored Torres’s role in program expansion, community events and youth leadership activities. City staff and speakers emphasized Torres’s intention to continue volunteering with the Duarte Public Safety Department after leaving full‑time employment.
The council presented the plaque and took photos with Torres and attendees; no formal council vote was required for the recognition. Staff noted the program’s long history and the city’s intent to maintain community support for DART as the city searches for a permanent staff replacement.
