| Our Mission and Core Values | Our History | Board of Directors | Executive & Leadership Teams | Annual Report and Forms | Funding Sources |

Our Mission

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 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.

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, expand the geographic service area, and strengthen the organization’s service provision and financial stability.

Board of Directors

The MAPS Board of Directors provides expert governance and fiscal oversight.

Our diverse, engaged leaders reflect the Portuguese-speaking communities we serve, bringing a series of specialized skills to the organization.

The Board meets every month, except for July and August. If you are interested in becoming a member, please e-mail Lucinda Morais, Director of HR and Administration, at [email protected].

Officers

Patricia de Oliveira, President
Pet Concierge, MonumenTails
Edna Monteiro Leith, Ed.D, Vice-President
Distric Multilingual Instructional Coach, Boston Public Schools; Doctoral student at Boston University
Elizabeth Chaves, Treasurer
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, Rosie’s Place
Susan Pacheco, Secretary
Executive Director, Cambridge Council on Aging

Directors

Maria Dickinson
Economic Development Specialist, City of Lowell
Raymond Estrella, MBA
Chief Financial Officer, Palmer Management Corp.
Victoria Franco, MBA
Director of Digital Marketing, SRM
Steven Magalhaes, MA
Deputy Superintendent, Cambridge Police Department
Ricardo Martins, CIA, CISA
Vice President and Senior Internal Audit Manager, Liberty Mutual
Stephen Pereira, M.Ed.
Retired School Administrator
Jamila Xible, MALD
Director of Community Engagement, Health Care for All

Executive and Leadership Teams

The MAPS Executive Team directs the daily operations and strategic growth of the organization.

Our leaders provide dedicated, culturally competent management to serve the diverse Portuguese-speaking communities across Massachusetts.

Paulo Pinto, MPA

Chief Executive Officer

Paulo R. Pinto has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) for more than 20 years and has served the Portuguese-speaking community throughout his 30-plus-year career in the health and social services field. He began working at MAPS in January 1994, serving as Program Administrator for the organization’s Disease Prevention and Education Program until late 1995, when he was promoted to Deputy Executive Director. He served as the agency’s second-in-command until 2000, when he was appointed Executive Director by the MAPS Board of Directors.

A native of Portugal who grew up in Mozambique, Mr. Pinto immigrated to the US in 1980. He holds a BA in Political Science with a minor in English from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Suffolk University.

He received The Brazilian Times Community Service Awards in 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2019, the Diversity Council Award from Cambridge Health Alliance in 2017, the Portuguese Heritage Award from the Massachusetts Portuguese American Legislative Caucus at the State House in 2010 and 2024, and the 2024 Leadership Award in Community Service from the Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS). He was also selected as a Finalist for the 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Award in Leadership by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.

A founder of the Massachusetts White Ribbon Day (WRD) – a statewide annual campaign promoted by Jane Doe Inc. to engage men to be part of the solution in ending violence against women – Mr. Pinto was named a Co-Chair of the 2012 WRD Campaign.

During Mr. Pinto’s tenure as CEO of MAPS, the organization has greatly expanded its services and service geographic area. The organization has also received many distinguished awards for its leadership and capacity to address community needs.

He is a member of the Dr. Leitao Memorial Scholarship Fund advisory committee, and the Board of Directors of the Boston Portuguese Festival. He is also a Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Lucinda Morais

Director of Human Resources and Administration

Lucinda Morais is the Director of Human Resources & Administration at the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS). She joined MAPS in September 1999 as an Office Assistant, and thanks to her years of dedication, expertise, and deep commitment to the organization’s mission, she advanced through several leadership roles, including Office Manager and Administrative & Human Resources Manager, before being appointed Director.

Portuguese Cape-Verdean by heritage, Lucinda was raised between Angola and Portugal and immigrated to the United States in the 1990s.

Her multicultural upbringing has strongly shaped her values and passion for community service. She studied Secretarial and Management in Portugal, establishing a solid foundation for her career in administration, operations, and leadership.

Outside of her professional work, Lucinda values balance and well-being. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, and has a deep love for traveling and exploring new places.

Alirio Pereira, MA

Chief Program Officer

Alirio Pereira was born and raised in Cape Verde and moved to Brazil at the age of 19 to pursue his academic goals through an educational partnership between the two countries.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education Science, a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, and a Master’s degree in Sociology from the Federal University of Goiás. All three degrees were later accredited in the United States by the Center for Educational Documentation (CED).

Before relocating to the United States in 2007, he served as Professor of Sociology and Social Thinking at Araguaia University and Professor of Operational Research in Administration at Ávila University in Brazil.

He joined the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) in 2008 as a Child and Family Counselor and Coordinator of the Court-Referred Services Program (MID/IPAEP). In 2016, he was promoted to Director of the Immigrant Integration and Elder Services Program.

Six years later, he advanced to the role of Chief Program Officer (CPO), where he continues to lead program development, strategic initiatives, and the expansion of services to meet the evolving needs of the communities MAPS serves.

Kit Jenkins, MA

Director of Development

Kit Jenkins grew up in a small coastal town in Connecticut and spent a year in Ireland, cycle touring and doing theater with adolescents in divided Derry City during The Troubles.

One of the first performing arts graduates at her university, she later traveled to Senegal to study African dance, where an experience using art as healing with children inspired her to earn a master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapy from Lesley College.

Her passion for using the arts to support people’s growth led her to co-found RAW Space at Raw Art Works in Lynn, MA, where she spent more than 30 years working with youth, and leading and overseeing all fundraising for the organization. In 2024, she joined MAPS as Director of Development.

Outside of work, she de-stresses by rowing on the Charles River or swimming laps at her local YMCA—often before sunrise—and loves traveling with her twin sons. Since 2018, they have been exploring the country together,  most recently camping in Alaska and catching an unforgettable glimpse of Denali through the clouds on the “Jenkins Grand Tour,” their annual road trip to visit all 50 states.

Lynda Paris, JD, MSA

Chief Financial Officer

Lynda Paris has been the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) since 2000.

As CFO, she is responsible for managing MAPS’ $5 million annual budget and is the chief liaison with their external audit firm, as well as government agencies and financial institutions.

Before MAPS, Lynda worked at a public accounting firm for several years, where she conducted financial statement and single audits for nonprofit organizations, as well as preparation of individual, corporate, nonprofit, and estate and gift tax returns.

Before returning to her first love of accounting, Lynda was an attorney for 15 years. Her law practice primarily focused on litigation including class actions, business claims, collection actions and family law.

Lynda has a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of New Hampshire, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. She received her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. She is admitted to practice law in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Lynda is married and has one grown daughter. In her free time, she enjoys camping and hiking, especially in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Acadia National Park in Maine.

Isidro Fagundes

Director of Communications

Isidro Fagundes has been the Director of Communications at the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) since 2018. He joined the organization in 2014 as an Office Assistant and gradually stepped into several leadership roles before taking on his Director position.

Born in Lowell, MA, and raised in São Miguel, in the Azores, Portugal, Isidro moved back to the United States in 2013. He graduated from the University of Coimbra, in Portugal, in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and worked for several years in the Azores as a print and multimedia journalist, editor, graphic designer, and photographer.

He is a mission-driven storyteller who combines his passion for visual and multimedia communication with his dedication to serving his community.

In his personal time, Isidro loves reconnecting with family and friends during his yearly trips to the Azores, spending quality time with his partner, practicing his street photography, tending to his garden, swimming, and discovering new cities.

Administration Team

Maria Cerqueira – Finance Manager
Elena Joy – Development and Communications Manager

Program Leadership

Beatriz Maimone, LICSW – Director of Clinical Services
Dulce Almeida Ferreira, MA – Director of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services
Carlos Mattos – Manager of HIV/STI Services
Soledade Dinis, MS – Director of Child and Family Clinical Services
Maria Matos – Program Manager of Immigrant Integration Services and Case Worker

Annual Report and Forms

Our Annual Report provides a transparent overview of MAPS’ financial health and the life-changing services delivered to Portuguese-speaking individuals and families throughout the year.

  • Download the MAPS FY 2024 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2023 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2022 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2020 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2019 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2018 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2017 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2016 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2015 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2014 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2013 Annual Report (PDF)
  • Download the MAPS FY 2012 Annual Report (PDF)

    • Download our most recent 990 Form (PDF)
    Download the MAPS FY2022-FY2026 Strategic Plan (PDF)

    Funding Sources

    We maintain a robust, transparent funding model supported by government contracts, foundation grants, and generous individual donors.

    This diverse support ensures sustainable, high-quality social services for Portuguese-speaking communities throughout Massachusetts.

    MAPS receives additional funding from contributions to our Endowment Funds, Annual Awards Gala, Annual Holiday Appeals, and other sources.

    Updated November 2025

    • AgeSpan
    • Boston Community Development Block Grant
    • Boston Public Health Commission/ Ryan White CARE Act
    • Cambridge Community Development Block Grant
    • Everett ARPA
    • Framingham Community Development Block Grant
    • Lowell ARPA
    • MA Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP)
    • MA Dept. of Children and Families
    • MA Dept. of Public Health/ Bureau of Community Health and Prevention
    • MA Dept. of Public Health/ Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS)
    • MA Dept. of Public Health/ Bureau of Substance Addiction Services
    • MA Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
    • MA Health Connector Authority
    • MA Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA)
    • MA Office for Refugees and Immigrants
    • Mystic Valley Elder Services
    • Portuguese Government, Comunidades Portuguesas
    • Regional Government of the Azores
    • Somerville ARPA
    • Somerville Community Development Block Grant
    • Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services
    • US Dept. of HHS, Admin. for Children and Families
    • US Dept. of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women
    • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
    • Americo J. Francisco Charitable Trust
    • Amigos da Terça
    • Bushrod H. Campbell & Adah F. Hall Charity Fund
    • Cambridge Community Foundation
    • Cambridge Redevelopment Authority
    • Charles H. Farnsworth Trust/ Bank of America N.A., Trustee
    • Commonwealth Corporation
    • Community Foundation for MetroWest
    • Everett Citizens Foundation
    • Fish Family Foundation
    • Greater Lowell Community Foundation
    • Greater Lowell Health Alliance of CHNA 10
    • Joe & Dorothy Chaves Foundation
    • Malden Industrial Aid Society
    • MetroWest Health Foundation
    • Parker Foundation
    • Perpetual Trust For Charitable Giving, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
    • Saab Family Foundation
    • Social Equity Fund
    • The Clowes Fund
    • Community Teamwork, Inc.
    • Trefethen Family Fund
    • Town Fair Tire