Press Releases
16 May, 2012
The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) will join the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition and five community partners to offer a Citizenship Drive on Saturday, May 19, from 11 am-2 pm, at Tremont Temple Baptist Church, 88 Tremont Street, 6th Floor, Boston (Park Street T Station).
This is the sixth of a series of monthly citizenship drives being organized by the Greater Boston Citizenship Initiative (GBCI), a collaboration of community partners funded by a grant from the Fish Family Foundation. GBCI partners will also provide coordinated outreach, civics/citizenship classes, and other assistance to prepare eligible immigrants for citizenship, including application assistance at their individual sites in between the drives. [→]
9 May, 2012
S-Comm Protesters at MIRA Press Conference May 10 at SEIU
The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) condemned the federal government’s decision to implement the Secure Communities Program in Massachusetts over the strong objections of Gov. Deval Patrick, immigrant community leaders and many other organizations concerned that the so-called S-Comm will escalate human rights violation by law enforcement agencies.
“This is devastating news for our communities, and we will continue to advocate and testify against the implementation of this dangerous program,” said Paulo Pinto, MPA, MAPS Executive Director. [→]
2 May, 2012
Gala Award Recipients and Presenters
With an elegant red carpet-paparazzi arrival, an array of more than 70 Silent and Live Auction items, a delicious banquet and inspirational speeches from both presenters and award recipients, the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers’ (MAPS’) 2012 Awards Gala was a huge success, according to MAPS officials. The health and social services agency’s largest annual fundraising event, which took place April 28th at the Cambridge Marriott Hotel in Kendall Square, filled the 400-seat ballroom to capacity with glamorously dressed guests for the black tie-optional evening. [→]
13 April, 2012
The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) announces its spring class’ calendar for three of the six offices of the health and social services agency – Cambridge, Somerville and Lowell. Students can already sign up for Citizenship preparation (including US history, civics and English for immigrants applying for citizenship), English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and European Portuguese. [→]
11 April, 2012
The annual Project Bread Walk for Hunger will be taking place on Sunday, May 6 in Boston, and this year our MAPS team goal is to raise $1,000 to help feed the needy in Massachusetts!
“More than ever, Project Bread needs all the help that we can give, since more and more people have been looking for assistance due to the financial crises that our country is facing,” said Julia Evora, MAPS Senior Center Coordinator. “We would like to ask everyone in the MAPS communities to contribute in any way they can, to help us reach our goal.” [→]
9 April, 2012
The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) will join the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, SEIU Local 615 and five community partners to offer a Citizenship Drive on Sunday, April 21, from 11 am-2 pm, at the SEIU Local 615 office (26 West Street, 2nd floor, Boston – Downtown Crossing & Park Street T stations). This is the fifth of a series of monthly citizenship drives being organized by the Greater Boston Citizenship Initiative (GBCI), a collaboration of community partners funded by a grant from the Fish Family Foundation. Citizenship Works partners will also provide coordinated outreach, civics/citizenship classes, and other assistance to prepare eligible immigrants for citizenship, including application assistance at their individual sites in between the drives. [→]
30 March, 2012
On April 28th, 2012, the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers will add an extra touch of elegance to the already glamorous ballroom of the Cambridge Marriott Hotel, at Kendall Square. The private, non-profit agency will be holding its 2012 Awards Gala at the hotel, located at 50 Broadway, Cambridge, with all the sophistication of a Black & White event. All the decorations will follow the theme and guests are encouraged to wear black and white attire (although not required.) [→]
27 March, 2012
The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) is now offering a new service to its clients. Immigrants in need of a renewal or replacement of their Green Cards can schedule an appointment at any of the private, non-profit agency’s offices in Cambridge, Allston, Dorchester, Framingham and Lowell, and get assistance to fill out I-90 forms. [→]
26 March, 2012
Elias Polcheira
Starting this April, the secrets of photography will be revealed at the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS). Brazilian photographer Elias Polcheira will be holding classes in Portuguese on Saturdays at the private, non-profit agency’s headquarters in Cambridge (1046 Cambridge Street).
There will be three different levels of theoretical and practice classes, and students can sign up for each of them separately or as a full course. They will be required to bring their own camera, which can be any model with interchangeable lenses. [→]
20 March, 2012
Men Take the WRD Pledge at MAPS
Men of all ages and walks of life joined an overflow crowd at the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers’ (MAPS’) Lowell Office on March 8, celebrating International Women’s Day by pledging to help end violence against women.
More than 80 people –over half of them men – attended the special Lowell event to mark the Massachusetts 2012 White Ribbon Day (WRD) Campaign, as part of an international men’s initiative targeting violence against women. All of the men stood up and took the WRD pledge, in English or in Portuguese: “From this day forward, I promise to be part of the solution in ending violence against women.” [→]
