MAPS timeline (PDF)
MAPS Timeline
2011 In September, MAPS marks the 10-year anniversary of its Dorchester Office with an Open House celebration at the office, located at One Stoughton Street in the heart of Upham’s Corner. Among other accomplishments, the agency also launches a new Organizational Membership campaign, and completes a much-needed update of the MAPS Cambridge Office entrance and reception area to make it more accessible, energy efficient and safe for after-hours use. Renovations are funded by refinancing the building mortgage.
2010 MAPS celebrates 40 years of providing health and social services to the Portuguese-speaking community!
The agency also collaborates with community partners to launch a new project—funded by the US Office on Violence Against Women of the Dept. of Justice—that will increase community response to domestic violence and sexual assault. In one of the first phases, MAPS’ Domestic Violence Services Program staff begin being trained to assist women in our service populations who have been sexually assaulted.
MAPS begins providing expanded HIV/AIDS Prevention, Screening and Referral Services for high-risk Portuguese- and Cape Verdean Creole-speaking men through a new grant from the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in parts of greater Boston, Brockton and several communities in between.
2009 In collaboration with numerous community leaders and organizations, MAPS spearheads the creation of the statewide Portuguese-Speaking Complete Count Committee to increase awareness of the 2010 U.S. Census. MAPS and the PSCCC successfully educate tens of thousands of Portuguese speakers throughout the state over the next year.
The agency launches a renovated, fully bilingual website, and expands its online presence to social media. MAPS holds a conference at UMass/Boston entitled “homem: achievements and challenges across Portuguese-speaking cultures,” complementing the work of the 2008 “Mulher” conference.
2008 MAPS moves its Framingham office to a larger, more accessible space at 24 Union Ave., Suites 8 & 10. The agency also holds its third full-day community conference, “Mulher – The Evolving World of Portuguese-Speaking Women,” sponsored by Simmons College, CP Credit Union and the Boston Portuguese Festival. MAPS expands citizenship and voter registration/information. Board size is reduced to 15 by vote of the members at the Annual Meeting.
2007 MAPS celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Lowell Office opening, reinstates its Breast Cancer Prevention Program with a grant from the Susan B. Komen for the Cure Mass. Affiliate, and expands outreach and enrollment for health insurance coverage through a grant from MassHealth as well as expanded assistance from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. The agency also adds new youth programs, and increases fundraising efforts through expansion of its Endowment, Annual Appeal and Annual Awards Gala.
2006 MAPS opens its sixth office in Framingham. MAPS receives additional funding from state Dept. of Public Health, state Dept. of Social Services and the Family Justice Center of Boston enabling the agency to greatly expand Domestic Violence Prevention and Assistance Services throughout its coverage area. The agency also resumes its Citizenship for New Americans Program and its HIV Counseling & Testing services with the advent of new state contracts. MAPS is included in the Massachusetts 2006 Catalogue for Philanthropy as an example of excellence in Human Service provision.
2005 MAPS obtains a new contract with the state Dept. of Public Health to begin providing HIV Prevention to high-risk men in the Framingham/Marlborough area, especially targeting Brazilians and Latinos. A Hyams Foundation grant also allows expansion of ESOL classes in Boston. Meanwhile, MAPS stops operating the Lowell Senior Center, which is now run by a group of funders and volunteers instead.
2004 The new MAPS/Suffolk University Health and Human Services Management Certificate Program graduates 11 students in July 2004. The agency partners with United Way of the Merrimack Valley. Youth programs begin operating in Cambridge and Allston. Due to continuing budget cuts, the Somerville office reduces hours to nighttime appointments only. Members vote at the Annual Meeting to reduce the Board of Directors size to 18.
2003 MAPS opens a new Senior Drop-in Center in Lowell. MAPS and Suffolk University start a new Health and Human Services Management Certificate Program. Substance abuse treatment and HIV counseling and testing programs are discontinued due to budget cuts.
2002 The MAPS Endowment is created, receiving its first donation from former Board member Robert J. Perry Jr. at the October Annual Meeting. MAPS reorganizes its service divisions, bringing Care & Treatment and Disease Prevention & Education under a single Division of Health Services, and splitting the Social Services Division into several sections. MAPS receives two major federal grants for Cape Verdean Youth HIV and Violence Prevention programs. The agency begins collaborating with several community agencies such as Cape Verde Cares and the Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce to help them grow.
2001 MAPS opens a Dorchester office, with a Cape Verdean Youth Program as its cornerstone. Administration is reorganized to eliminate the Deputy Executive Director position and replace it with a Director of Finances & Operations. A new 5-year Strategic Plan is created. The agency begins providing mental health services. MAPS receives a multi-year federal grant providing HIV services to substance abusers, and a computer literacy program for youth is added in Lowell.
2000 The Board of Directors appoints Paulo Pinto, Deputy Director, as Executive Director after Victor Do Couto, former Executive Director, leaves his position to become Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA).
1999 MAPS celebrates its 30-year anniversary beginning July 1, 1999. The agency reorganizes and relocates its Lowell and Allston offices to larger spaces.
1998 MAPS receives major new funding for its senior center. Service expansion is planned.
1997 MAPS opens a new office in Lowell, and consolidates its AIDS and substance abuse services, forming a new Division of Health Services. The agency begins offering chronic disease and cancer prevention services as well as adult tobacco prevention/cessation assistance. A new home ownership education program is added, and MAPS provides a one-year toxic substance use reduction program for Portuguese speakers. The agency works with other immigrant advocacy groups to fight Congressional legislation that cuts benefits for legal immigrants.
1996 MAPS begins providing batterer treatment and domestic violence prevention services. Citizenship education and assistance services begin major expansion. Lead poisoning prevention education is provided in Cambridge.
1995 MAPS opens a new office in Allston and forms a Strategic Plan for 1995-2000.
1994 MAPS closes the Young at Heart Senior Center in Somerville, consolidating senior services at its Cambridge Senior Center. The agency begins providing youth tobacco prevention services.
1993 The Somerville Portuguese Language League (SPAL) and Cambridge Organization of Portuguese Americans (COPA) merge, forming a new organization called the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS). The agency remains affiliated with United Way of Massachusetts Bay.
1991 Victor Do Couto is hired as Executive Director of a new affiliation formed between SPAL and COPA, which begins operating under joint management and working toward a merger.
1990 SPAL begins providing HIV testing and counseling as well as services for Portuguese speakers living with HIV/AIDS. Child protective services are added for youths who are abused or neglected, and SPAL also briefly offers foster parent training for the community.
1989 SPAL changes its name to the Somerville Portuguese Language League (still SPAL) and opens the first acupuncture detoxification program to be licensed by the state of Massachusetts. SPAL becomes affiliated with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay. The agency wins a state Department of Public Health award for its AIDS education/prevention program.
1988 SPAL moves to 92 Union Sq., Somerville and adds a new AIDS education and prevention program.
1986 SPAL begins providing outpatient substance abuse counseling and youth substance abuse prevention services for Portuguese speakers. SPAL opens the Young at Heart Senior Center in Union Square.
1983 COPA becomes affiliated with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay.
1978 COPA renovates its office at 1046 Cambridge St., Cambridge, the current site of the MAPS Cambridge office, using funds raised in the community.
1976 COPA purchases the building at 1046 Cambridge St., Cambridge.
1973 SPAL is incorporated as a private, non-profit organization in the state of Massachusetts.
1972 The Somerville Portuguese American League (SPAL) begins operating from a storefront in Union Square, Somerville, providing basic social services for Portuguese-speaking immigrants.
1970 COPA is incorporated as a private, non-profit organization in the state of Massachusetts.
1969 The Cambridge Organization of Portuguese Americans (COPA) opens in a rented storefront in East Cambridge, providing information, referral and family life counseling services as well as English as a Second Language classes, citizenship and immigration assistance. Youth and elder services programs are added later.
Update: 1/26/2012
