The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) recently welcomed Steven Magalhaes of Stoneham, Massachusetts, to its Board of Directors.

The Portuguese American is a twenty-year veteran of the Cambridge Police Department, where he started as a Patrol Officer and currently serves as a Deputy Superintendent in the Family & Social Justice section. The newly structured section provides specialized assistance to community members in areas such as youth and family services, social justice, and clinical support. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Suffolk University and a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in criminal justice.

Magalhaes is the son of Portuguese immigrants Jose and Beatriz Magalhaes, who in 1968 immigrated from the Azores to Cambridge, where they still live. Their ongoing commitment to participating in various community events and initiatives, including his mother’s connection to MAPS, where she took her U.S. citizenship classes, has shaped his desire to play an active role in helping the city’s Portuguese-speaking community.

“As the son of Portuguese immigrant parents, I grew up seeing how important MAPS is to our community, and I always wanted to be part of it and support its important mission,” said Magalhaes. “It’s an honor to now serve on its Board of Directors and bring my unique perspective as a longtime member of the Cambridge Police Department to better serve our communities.”

“Steven’s extensive experience and expertise in law enforcement and his dedication to serving our communities are a great asset to our Board of Directors and the entire MAPS community,” said MAPS CEO Paulo Pinto, MPA. “We are pleased to welcome him to our organization and look forward to working with him to continue to strengthen and diversify the collaborations necessary to deliver critical programs and services to our communities.”

MAPS has served the Portuguese-speaking communities of Massachusetts and others since 1970. The organization offers many free health and social services through its six offices in Cambridge, Somerville, Brighton, Dorchester, Framingham, and Lowell. To learn more about MAPS, visit maps-inc.org.