The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) is looking for new individual and organizational members for Fiscal Year 2018, in an effort to promote the involvement of community members, businesses and organizations in the agency’s mission of improving the lives of Portuguese-speaking individuals and families from Massachusetts and help them become contributing, active participants in American society.

Individual and organizational members are entitled to a series of benefits, including receiving all MAPS newsletters and being eligible to vote at the MAPS Annual Meeting. Organizational members will also receive promotional opportunities on the MAPS website and social media pages, and, most importantly, the opportunity to build a closer relationship with MAPS and show their commitment to the community.

“We feel that this is a great opportunity for potential members to show that they are determined to contributing to empowerment of the communities they serve and are a part of,” said Lois Josimovich, MAPS Director of Development. “We hope to significantly expand the number of individuals and organizations who are connected to MAPS.”

Individuals can become members for only $25 per fiscal year ($15 for seniors and students), and businesses and organizations can choose between two levels: Extraordinary Partner ($500/ year) or Community Partner ($100/ year).

“Although people do not have to be members to receive services from MAPS, membership is an important way of showing support for our work,” said Paulo Pinto, MPA, MAPS Executive Director. “Our goal is to get community members and organizations directly involved in our mission to empower Portuguese speakers in Massachusetts.”

MAPS currently has close to 140 individual members and 4 Community Partners: East Cambridge Savings Bank, Lowell General Hospital – Circle Health, Cambridge Community Television and Community Teamwork Inc..