Laura Torres is a third year la student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from DISD's Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet in 2007 and studied Political Science and Spanish at SMU. She is an alumna of the Upsilon chapter at SMU and is married to Jake Torres. Together they are attending the SMU Dedman School of Law and raising their daughter Angie.
By Dianne Solis for Dallas News
When news of the mass eviction of hundreds of West Dallas residents began to spread, Laura and Jake Torres sprang into action.
The SMU law students knew that the rippling impact of HMK Ltd.’s decision to shutter 305 of their low-cost rental homes would create an immediate need for free advice on renter rights for people who would be dislocated by the landlord’s decision.
But the young law students were also just helping their neighbors. They, too, live in West Dallas, with their 2-year-old daughter.
Laura, a 27-year-old third-year student at the law school, grew up in West Dallas, surrounded by a huge family and neighbors who became like family.
“Nothing would hurt our community more than uprooting so many,” says Laura Torres, who lives in the Los Altos neighborhood, an area of small homes, big trees and tight bonds. “We will be broken. They are members of our church, of our schools.”
She and her husband Jake, also 27 and also a third-year student, are among the law professors and platoon of translators helping to run the series of of quick legal clinics for tenants. The basic message is that tenants have rights, too, they say.
In letters to some tenants being asked to clear out of about 305 homes, HMK said they had three days to vacate at the legal end of their lease term. “Failure to vacate may force us to commence eviction proceedings. We appreciate your support of HMK and your years of tenancy; we tried to do our best. The City of Dallas is forcing us to take this action.”
The city has been pressuring landlords who own dozens, if not hundreds, of shabby properties to improve conditions there. The City Council approved a stricter city housing code in late September.
In late September, HMK told the city it would shutter the bulk of its properties, with most of those lying in rapidly gentrifying West Dallas, where property values are soaring. After the announcement, Jake Torres went to the university with the idea for the legal clinics.
To read the rest of this article please click here
Below is a student spotlight from SMU Dedman School of Law that was first posting in 2015 about Laura. To also ready about her husband Jake please click here
SMU Law Students Among Those Helping West Dallas Neighbors Face Eviction
Kappa Delta Chi Unveils
New Branding Initiative
Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has worked in partnership with Hot Dog Marketing Inc. of Austin, Texas to develop a new award-winning logo and brand identity to reflect the evolving needs of our community service and professional organization. Led by Kappa Delta Chi's Vice President of Public Affairs Gina Garcia, with the help of our National Administrative Council and members of the Board of Directors, the branding initiative began taking shape over the course of 2015.
KDChi’s National President Melanie Rodriguez is excited about the opportunities the rebrand offers, “KDChi is growing and evolving. This is the perfect time to update our visual identify to reflect who we are as a sisterhood."
The branding process started with polling of our membership to gain insight as to what characteristics and visual brand they felt our organization represented and in what direction they wanted to see the organization go. Garcia then produced a request for proposals based off of the feedback that was shared with 15 marketing companies from across the country including Los Angeles, California, Georgia and New York.
Hot Dog Marketing, located in Round Rock, Texas, was chosen based off of initial consults, feedback and their portfolio. Hot Dog Marketing has worked with over 200 local and small businesses in the past three years and has come to be known as a service-oriented agency, a cause that hits close to home for the KDChi family. KDChi was Hot Dog Marketing’s first national rebranding project led by creative director Brandon Cornwell. KDChi leadership worked hand-in-hand with the marketing company to craft a logo and branding initiative that exceeded the expectation.
Once the branding project was near finished, terrific news came that for its branding and graphic design project for KDChi, Hot Dog Marketing won a 2015 MarCom Award. The MarCom Awards recognize outstanding creative achievement by marketing and communication professionals. There were over 6,500 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and 15 other countries in the 2015 competition.
“Our KDChi family is thrilled to have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with Hot Dog Marketing on an award-winning rebrand that gives us the look and feel that best represents our community service organization,” said Gina Garcia, VP Public Affairs. “We went into the partnership and rebrand project with open minds about what the creative process would bring and we’re moving forward with all of our organization ecstatic about it. The new brand gets who we are and the message we’re trying to share with the public.”
This year, KDChi will unveil the logo and launch the rebrand over the course of several communication initiatives. Our members will be able to access the needed materials via a member-only access via our online portal. "As a sisterhood Kappa Delta Chi Sorority drives change in our communities everyday through service that blends education, professionalism, and cultural awareness,” Rodriguez shared. “We are proud to share this new brand that propels our visual identity.”
KDChi is also looking forward to growth and strengthening in all areas of the organization and is excited about the future, including a 30th anniversary in 2017. Kappa Delta Chi is available online at www.KappaDeltaChi.org and at @KDChi.
Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. is a Latina founded, 501 c 7, national sorority who aims to achieve professional development, academic excellence, and graduation of all its members; an organization dedicated to community service to their local university communities with an emphasis on the Hispanic/Latino population.
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SMU law students and West Dallas residents Laura (Upsilon Almuna) and Jake Torres say the threat of mass evictions among their neighbors inspired them to push to get tenants help. A clinic was set up at nonprofit Mercy Street Mission on Thursday. (Ben Torres/Special Contributor)
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT - LAURA TORRES
Laura Torres, a second-year law student in the evening program, was born in Mexico and raised in West Dallas. She graduated from DISD's Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet in 2007 and studied Political Science and Spanish at SMU. After that, she taught for three years with Teach for America in Memphis and Dallas. Now, Laura works full time in SMU Dedman College as a recruiter.
1. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO COME TO SMU LAW?
I knew that SMU would provide a great and supportive network during school and once I graduated. All of the SMU alums I have met have been extremely proud of their affiliation because they recognize the quality of the education they received at SMU.
2. WHAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT THE LAW SCHOOL HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST AND WHY?
I have enjoyed being a part of Women in Law because it has proven to be a great way to get involved at SMU, even as an evening student. Being a woman is a huge part of my identity, and this organization is a great way to surround yourself with amazing women law students and alumna who are there to help you in your career as a lawyer.
3. HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR EXPERIENCE OF BEING A MARRIED COUPLE IN LAW SCHOOL MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES?
There are a few married students with families in my evening class, and we share a lot of the same experiences. What makes our experience a little unique is that some days our "family time" consists of studying and reading Contracts cases to our daughter, Angie.
4. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE LAW SCHOOL MOMENT SO FAR?
My most memorable law school moment thus far has been our daughter being born two weeks into our first year of law school! It was a huge blessing for our family, and she is our motivation to do our best in school.
To read the rest of this interview along with her husband Jake's interview please click here.