Our mission is to improve the lives of Portuguese speakers in Massachusetts and help them become contributing, active participants in American society while maintaining a strong ethnic identity and a sense of community.

We work with and for the Brazilian, Cabo Verdean, Portuguese and other Portuguese-speaking communities to increase access and remove barriers to health, education and social services through direct services, advocacy, leadership, and community development.

Our History

MAPS was founded in 1970 through its two predecessor organizations: the Cambridge Organization of Portuguese Americans (COPA) and the Somerville Portuguese American League (SPAL) . These organizations merged in 1993 and changed their name to the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) to be more inclusive of all Portuguese-speaking immigrants and expand the geographic service area.

In addition to uniting Portuguese speakers and their families living in Massachusetts, the merger was undertaken to strengthen the organization’s service provision and financial stability.

Our Core Values

Respect

We value respect as a principal core value. We respect the identity, experiences, and wisdom of our community, clients, staff, volunteers, and partners. We practice respect through our words and actions.

Knowledge

We value and continuously seek knowledge through research, civic engagement, and listening to our community to improve its well-being and representation.

Dependability

We value dependability to one another and our community. Our dependability is rooted in transparency, integrity, and trust.

Human Rights

We value the rights of all individuals. We promote and protect the human rights of our community through advocacy and engagement.