Rebecca Torres

Rebecca Torres is an emerging community activist based in Visalia, California who is passionate about creating spaces where people feel welcomed, connected, and seen. In recent years, she has begun organizing small community projects focused on fostering belonging and mutual support. Her work centers especially on supporting neurodivergent individuals and creating environments where people can feel safe expressing themselves and building genuine connection.

Rebecca’s path into community organizing is deeply personal. After experiencing the loss of her mother, she began to recognize how essential community and connection are in times of grief and healing. Creating spaces for others to gather, share, and support one another became a way for her to move through her own pain while helping others feel less alone. Her work grows from a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves to feel heard, valued, and welcomed.

Through the Acosta Institute Fellowship, Rebecca hopes to continue growing as a community builder while learning from others who are also committed to healing-centered leadership. She enters the fellowship with a thoughtful and observant presence—someone who listens deeply before speaking—and hopes to explore new ways to nurture belonging, support neurodivergent communities, and strengthen the spaces where people come together to care for one another.