The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) will honor Portuguese-American State Senator Michael Rodrigues with the MAPS 2026 Person of the Year Award at the organization’s April 25, 2026, fundraising gala at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Cambridge, MA. Brazilian-American Talita Teixeira, a community leader, social media influencer, and promoter of the online group Bazar Boston, will be honored with the Community Service Award, and Cape-Verdean-American Paulo De Barros, Founder and President of the Board of Directors of the Cape Verdean Association of Boston, will receive the Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Senator Rodrigues is being honored for a lifetime of unwavering public service, which began at the local level, grew through his impactful years as a State Representative, and continues today in his distinguished role as a State Senator and Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Throughout his career, he has championed the needs of the Portuguese-speaking community and other immigrant communities with remarkable dedication, insight, and effectiveness.

“His influential work, especially within the powerful Senate Committee on Ways and Means, reflects both his exceptional leadership and his strategic commitment to securing the resources and policies that uplift all residents of our state,” said MAPS CEO Paulo Pinto, MPA. “His background as the grandson of Portuguese-American immigrants and as a longtime representative of the large Portuguese-speaking population of Massachusetts’ 1st Bristol and Plymouth District is a great source of community pride.”

Social media influencer and community leader Talita Teixeira is being honored with the MAPS Community Service Award. The Brazilian-American is a well-known figure in the community for her role as the creator of Bazar Boston, an online forum where community members can share resources, announcements, and job offers, promote events and their businesses, and more. As a community leader, Talita makes use of her name recognition to promote several community resources, organizations, events, businesses, and tips for newcomers. Her event “Acção Social,” or “Social Action,” which she has put together for the past 11 years in partnership with business leaders, has become a vital resource for those seeking assistance with a variety of issues.

“At a time when so much of the content on social media is so divisive and inflammatory, Talita stands out as a powerful reminder of how these platforms can foster true community, cultural pride, and a sense of belonging, especially for newly arrived immigrants seeking to build a new life for their family,” said Pinto. “Her gift for connecting struggling families and individuals with the resources they desperately need is extraordinary. Whenever our staff reaches out, Talita goes above and beyond, helping our clients secure food, clothing, housing, and even employment opportunities. Her unwavering compassion and dedication to lifting others up shine as a natural and inspiring extension of our organization’s mission.”

Paulo De Barros will receive the MAPS Outstanding Volunteer Award in honor of his remarkable work as Founder and Board President of the Cape Verdean Association of Boston (CVAB). Founded in 2000, the organization offers many community programs and services, with a special focus on youth development, violence prevention, and political empowerment. Under De Barros’s dedicated leadership as the volunteer President of the Board, CVAB has grown into an invaluable community organization that continues to succeed in promoting Cabo Verde’s culture in Massachusetts, namely through the annual Cabo Verde Independence Day Festival in Boston, and in engaging Cape Verdean youth in the political process by means of the Cabral Youth Leadership Academy.

“Paulo is a good friend and longtime partner of MAPS, and we are looking forward to finally recognizing him for his selfless dedication to the success of the Cape Verdean community here in Massachusetts,” said Paulo Pinto. “He has been an inspiring leader driven by his organization’s mission, and through his volunteer efforts, many families have stepped up to take a role in violence prevention, youth empowerment, and community engagement.”

The MAPS Annual Awards Gala is a black-tie-optional event with a formal banquet, awards ceremony, dancing, musical entertainment, and much more. It is the health and social services organization’s main fundraiser and supports its many free programs and services. To learn more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities, please visit maps-inc.org/gala2026 or contact Elena Joy, MAPS Development and Communications Manager, at [email protected], or by calling 617-864-7600.