The MAPS Jorge Fidalgo Community Service Award is presented to someone who has demonstrated a strong commitment to the social, educational, cultural and political welfare of the various Portuguese-speaking communities in the Greater Boston area. In 2001, the year of his untimely death, MAPS Board of Directors voted to name the annual Community Service Award in honor of Jorge Fidalgo, a distinguished member of Boston’s Cabo Verdean community.
Award Recipients:
2026: Talita Teixeira, Community Leader and Influencer, Bazar Boston
2024: Lenita Reason, Executive Director, Brazilian Worker Center
2022: Julia Evora, Former MAPS Senior Center Coordinator
2019: Cabo Verdean Police Association, Boston Police Department
2018: Dr. Lourenço Garcia, Principal, Revere High School
2017: Father Volmar Scaravelli, Pastor, St. Tarcisius Church in Framingham, Founder of BRACE (Brazilian American Center)
2016: Aminah Fernandes Pilgrim, Ph.D., Executive Director of CVC UNIDO, Founder of H.I.P.H.O.P. Initiative and Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at UMass Boston
2015: Natalicia Tracy, Executive Director, Brazilian Immigrant Center (BIC)
2014: Barbara and Ira Smith, Founders, Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts
2013: Airam da Silva, President of the Icla da Silva Foundation
2012: Dayanne Leal, Outreach Manager at Health Care for All
2011: Sister Elisete Signor, Volunteer, Scalabrini Community Center at St. Anthony’s Parish Church of Everett
2010: Helena Santos-Martins, MD, Physician, Cambridge Health Center; Eduardo Siqueira, MD, ScD, Assistant Professor, Community Health and Sustainability of UMass Lowell
2009: Rhea Tavares, Federation for Children with Special Needs; Maria Jose Soares and Maria dos Santos, Volunteers, Saint Patrick’s Church, Roxbury
2008: Dr. James Nolan, Cambridge Health Alliance and Aderito (Derick) Ramos Monteiro, Somerville Cambridge Elder Services
2007: Marcony Almeida, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition and Adelina Alves, Upham’s Corner Health Center
2006: Vera Dias, Community Leader, Framingham; Tony Fonseca, Boston Police Sergeant
2005: Joceline Fidalgo, Teens Against Gun Violence Club, Boston; Josina Rodrigues, Vice Consul of Brazil in Boston
2004: Fausto Rocha, Executive Director, Brazilian Immigrant Center
2003: Valdir Alves, Cabovideo; Lilia Cavalcanti and Fatinha Kerr, Marlborough Community Services
2002: Jonathan Fine, Ana da Hora Workers Center; Adriana Sena, Brazilian Reporter
2001: Marcia Loureiro, Deputy Consul of Brazil in Boston; Prof. José Ornelas, U-Mass./Amherst
2000: Jorge Costa, Brazilian advocate; Ana Timas-Teixeira, Kit Clark Senior Services
1999: Frank Carvalho, Director, Coalition for a Better Acre; Vanessa Torres, Brazilian Vice Consul
1998: Adélia Lopes, MAPS volunteer; Father Roque Pattussi, Father Bernardo Vaschetto
1997: Ursula Araujo, MAPS vol.; Luis Pedroso, President, Qualitronics; Heloisa Souza, Brazilian Women’s Group
1996: Regina Bertholdo, Somerville Hospital; John O’Brien, Attorney; Paula Tavares, Somerville High
1995: Dr. Jean Jacques Alves, physician; Edirson Paiva Jr., editor, Brazilian Times; Julia Story, former Board member
1994: Padre Pio Gottin; John Feitor, CPCU Board of Directors, Vice President, UNICCO.