Miriam Torres

Miriam Torres is an environmental justice advocate, urban planner, collaborator, and mother. Currently, Miriam is a Principal Environmental Planner in the Planning and Climate Protection Division of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. At the Air District, Miriam works on the development and delivery of innovative policies, programs and projects to accelerate emission and exposure reductions in communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution. Previously, Miriam worked as Program Manager for Resources Legacy Fund, where she developed, coordinated, and implemented projects for philanthropic programs. Prior to RLF, she was a Coastal Planner for the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, where Miriam worked to advance environmental justice policies and sea level rise planning. Miriam worked six years for the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water (EJCW) where she worked on local campaigns and statewide policy to address water quality concerns in low-income communities of color. As a consultant, she led a collaborative process to plan multi-benefit parks in Compton and Lynwood and worked to increase community participation in the Integrated Regional Water Management Plans. Miriam serves on the Young Professionals Board for Bresee, a youth center in Los Angeles that provides supportive services and educational resources for families to thrive. Miriam previously served as founding member of Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) to educate elected officials about water. Miriam holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Conservation and Resource Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. Miriam is Mexican with deep roots in Los Angeles and currently lives with her husband, three kids and dog in the San Francisco Bay Area.