Board of Directors

Executive Officers

Maurice L. Bellfield, CLU, ChFC

Board Chairperson

Dr. Mercedes Valle

Vice Chairperson

Gil Boncy

Co-Treasurer

Jose Siberon, FSA

Co-Treasurer

Board of Trustees

Virgilio Alomar

Johnny Restrepo

Veronica Nelson, Esq.

                    Peg Wright

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Wilma Torres to ‘Interim’ Executive Director of El Club del Barrio, Inc. effective April 16, 2008.  Ms. Torres brings a wealth of experience to nearly every facet of El Club’s current mission, and a deep understanding of the value the organization and particularly the staff contributes to the Newark community.

Ms. Torres has a very established track record of success in social services connected to her work at the Coalition for Hispanic Family Services, The Children’s Center for Early Learning, Jersey City Medical Center and has served as the Director of Social Services and School Based Health Centers at the Horizon Health Center where she currently is the Director of F.A.C.E.S. and Special Projects Coordinator.

 “After meeting Ms. Torres nearly four years ago during an extensive executive search her professional character exuded a level of professionalism and sincerity to El Club’s mission that was so strong that we continued to follow her career. We knew that her leadership would contribute significantly to an organization that would be ready for what she brings to the table, and today we are very fortunate to have her with us”, said Maurice Bellfield, Board Chairperson.  “We have every confidence in Ms. Torres’ programmatic leadership, insight and we all stand in great comfort with her longstanding reputation of irreproachable integrity and compassion for her staff – she is a leader for the staff of El Club”, said Board Member Veronica Nelson, Esq.

“We look forward to the future growth of the Agency that Ms. Torres will bring and also wish to thank Ms. Joanne Rios for her dedication and leadership as Acting Executive Director over the past few weeks. We also need to acknowledge the prior administration for its part in creating the foundation by which we can better propel forward with our mission”, said Board Member Virgilio Alomar.

Ms. Torres is a licensed and certified social worker with a Masters in Social work from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Hunter College where she majored in psychology. Bilingual in Spanish/English she is solidly positioned to communicate the mission of what El Club will continue to deliver on into the future.

For more information regarding El Club del barrio visit us at elcubdelbarrio.com