On Friday night, Nov. 18, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Aging Robert Torres, served as the keynote speaker for AL DÍA’s 2022 Top Lawyers event. During his speech, he emphasized the importance of recognizing and celebrating the excellence of the six top Latino attorneys honored by AL DIA on the night. 

According to him, this type of event is important because "we need to recognize and celebrate victories that are doing well in their fields and supporting communities.”

In addition, the secretary stressed the need for inclusion and diversity, arguing that the legal profession is not diverse. 

“People of color are underrepresented in the legal profession. So taking time to recognize and to celebrate accomplished lawyers, who have excelled in their areas of practice and demonstrated leadership and commitment is extremely important. And I commend you for doing so,” said Torres. 

As a Latino of Puerto Rican descent, Torres said he was proud to be a first-generation lawyer in his family. This is why he emphasized his interest in motivating more Latinos to enter the practice of law and enter the field to offer their unique perspectives in whichever branch of law they choose to focus their careers. 

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf appointed Torres to serve as the state’s Secretary of the Department of Aging on Jan. 5, 2019 and he was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate on June 4, 2019. Prior to his appointment, Torres served as acting secretary of the Department of State where he previously served as the executive deputy secretary.

In his current role as Secretary of Aging, Torres is responsible for administrating aging programs and services throughout the Commonwealth. Throughout his tenure, he has shown a commitment to ensuring that the department is responsive to older adults even during the most dire challenges. 

Torres holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Pace University and a law degree from Widener University School of Law. He serves on the board of directors of the United Way of the Capital Region and the Harrisburg Latino Hispanic American Community Center.