María Torres (Marilu), a Mexican immigrant, has been dedicated to promoting Mexican culture since 1991.

She had the opportunity to be part of the FORLASTE Folkloric Ballet from 1991 to 1993. Her love for teaching her culture led her to found the San Juan Diego Mission Folkloric Ballet in Palatine in 2001. Later, in 2008, she founded the Girasol Folkloric Ballet in Elgin, a non-profit organization where she continues to teach.

Her commitment is to foster unity, build leadership, and cultivate confidence. She promotes a love of culture among young adults in the community, teaching them to love, respect, and be proud of their roots. She wants to show the community that, as Mexicans, they have strong values. Her desire is to keep the Elgin community and surrounding communities united, so that everyone can feel safe expressing their culture without judgment.

In 2023, she took the initiative to bring together young adults in a concert at the ECC to showcase their talents through singing and dancing, an event full of legacy, history, and tradition.