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Making a Difference Forging Community Partnerships Advocacy
MAPS Youth Share Stories of Growth But that wasn't the end of the story. A year after Alice, Mircea was accepted at Bryn Mawr as well, and was preparing to join her friend there!
Alice Fernandes at Suffolk
Brazilian Family Receives United Way Courage Award
The Fidelis family with Paulo Pinto, United Way Pres. & CEO Marian Heard, and others at the United Way of Mass. Bay Courage Award ceremony on January 24, 2003. With the help of the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) and other Boston-area health and social service providers, the Fidelises were able to greatly improve their work and living situations, get help for their son, learn English and establish themselves in their new community of Everett. On January 24, 2003 the United Way of Massachusetts Bay honored the Fidelis family with its Courage Award during United Way's Annual Meeting and Campaign Celebration at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston. The annual award, sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Company and the Stop & Shop Companies, is given to individuals or families who exhibit great courage and strength in the face of adversity, overcoming barriers with the help of United Way and partner agencies like MAPS. "Because of United Way, we were able to connect this family with the many resources they needed," said Paulo Pinto, MAPS Executive Director. The MAPS Allston Immigrant Social Services Case Worker at the time, Lucieny Passamani, helped the Fidelises obtain financial assistance for medical care, rent a better apartment and connect to a variety of other services they needed. "We became the Fidelis family's translators, advocates, and friends…and they in turn became very special to us," said Pinto. After four surgeries and much physical therapy and support over the past five years, he said, "Artur has regained partial mobility, and he now travels in a motorized wheelchair donated by Children's Hospital." Both Artur and his older sister, Luisa, are doing well in bilingual school programs, their mother has learned some English, and their younger brother Germano, now age 3, is healthy and doing well. "I just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped us," Martinha Fidelis said in Portuguese. "This is a wonderful country, and we're very glad to be here." Previously unable to speak much even in Portuguese, Artur received a standing ovation when he joined his family on stage at the Marriott to thank his family, his doctors and his physical therapist in English. "I'm doing everything now," he said. "I may not be able to walk, but this chair is my legs." In addition to the honor awarded by the United Way, the family received a $1,500 check from Houghton Mifflin and a check for $2,500 in merchandise from Stop & Shop. Following the ceremony, United Way of Massachusetts Bay's president and CEO, Marian Heard, asked the hundreds of partner agency representatives and funders in the audience to think about the family's story and how differently it could have turned out if not for MAPS and the other United Way-funded organizations that are there to help those in need.
"Don't forget the blessings that you have," she said, calling for increased support for United Way in the face of the poor economy and government budget cuts. The event at the Marriott celebrated pledges of more than $55 million to United Way of Massachusetts Bay in last fall's annual campaign, and Heard said she wants to see the number climb to $60 million this fall.
Help Arrives for a Desperate
Mother The Lowell Immigrant Social Services Case Worker,
along with a local Portuguese-speaking attorney, immediately set
to work straightening out the client's immigration status. She also
helped the woman set up medical appointments, get Food Stamps for
her baby, and connect with other services. Both mother and child
began to thrive. INS approved the client's petition for legal residency,
clearing the way for her to get a job and start her new life in
the U.S. Housing Search Pays
Off for an Elderly Portuguese-speaking Widow When the client got an eviction notice from court, the Case Worker immediately called Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services for free attorney services. Working together with CASLS and the Cambridge Housing Authority, MAPS was able to stave off the eviction and help speed up the client's public housing application process. The woman was able to move into a comfortable
housing complex, paying a rent she could afford. Prevention Program
Helps Client Seek Prostate Cancer Treatment The program coordinator helped the man come to a better understanding of the facts about prostate cancer and treatment methods. She convinced him to attend a presentation on the subject in Portuguese, where he was able to ask questions and hear stories from other men about their experiences with prostate exams and treatment. Following several interventions, the man finally agreed to follow his doctor's recommendations for treatment. Through the MAPS Immigrant Social Services Program,
he was able to get free transportation to and from the hospital
for the duration of his treatment, and was doing well at last report. |
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Copyright © 2004 Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers, Inc. All rights reserved. |
