Outono 2014 - Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers

Voz da
Comunidade
MAPS Announces the 2015 Gala Award Recipients
Five outstanding individuals with diverse backgrounds will be honored at the MAPS 2015 Awards
Gala, to take place April 18, 2015, at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. They were selected
by MAPS Board and staff after an intensive review of many nominations submitted by community
members and MAPS representatives. The awards include:
MAPS Person of the Year Award: Joseph Curtatone, Mayor of Somerville, for supporting many pro-immigrant measures and showing great concern for the safety, health
and well-being of his constituents, including immigrants, low-income people, elderly
and others. Mayor Curtatone has also led extensive city revitalization, and supported MAPS’ ability to maintain a Somerville office through continuation of our longterm, affordable city lease in the old fire station in Union Square.
MAPS Manuel N. Coutinho Outstanding Volunteer Award: Antonio
(Tony) Alves, Tony's Barbershop in Dorchester, for the innovative
Mayor Curtatone initiative of hosting MAPS outreach and testing hundreds of men
for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in his barbershop. He also
hosted a MAPS White Ribbon Day event last spring and helped involve soccer players in the fight against domestic violence.
In this issue: MAPS Jorge Fidalgo Community Service Award: Natalícia Tracy, Executive Director of
Annual Meeting
(page 2)
Health Insurance
Open Enrollment
Period (page 3)
the Brazilian Immigrants Center (BIC), for her outstanding leadership on behalf of
workers’ rights and her major contributions toward successful efforts in getting the
state Legislature to pass the first Domestic Workers Bill of Rights this past year. BIC
has flourished under her leadership and has renewed its partnership with MAPS.
Framingham
Office New Hours
(page 3)
Domestic Violence
Awareness Month
(page 4)
Goodbye to Adélia
Lopes (page 5)
Adult Family Care
Program (page 5)
Fuel Assistance
(page 5)
Joe Chaves Walk
(page 5)
ARTIGOS EM
PORTUGUÊS –
páginas 6 a 8
AND MUCH
MORE!
Antonio Alves
Joel Schwartz
MAPS Mary & Manuel Rogers Lifetime Community Service Award: Joel
Schwartz, for his passionate advocacy and longtime support for the
Natalicia Tracy
Cabo Verdean community. Mr. Schwartz has been a member of the
Board of CVC UNIDO since March 2007 and an active volunteer since 2004. He has a
30-year history of organizing and a 24-year history in community-based lending and
financial services. He has worked in the Upham’s Corner neighborhood in Dorchester
for the past 20 years, across three jobs, and is a founder and organizer of the
Cape Verdean-Jewish Passover Seder.
MAPS Álvaro Lima Outstanding Business Award: Rui Domingos, CEO of the Naveo
Credit Union, for the outstanding success and innovation of this financial institution,
which recently changed its name from CPCU Credit Union to be more inclusive and to
reflect the broader audience it has served throughout the years. Mr. Domingos has
been an incredible community leader, putting the Credit Union in the forefront of
many new initiatives, including interest-free loans for Citizenship applications
(Dreamer Loans) in collaboration with MAPS (find out more about it on page 3).
Rui Domingos
More information on the MAPS Gala and awards can be found at www.maps-inc.org/events/annualgala/2015-gala/, or by calling (617) 864-7600. Watch for more Gala-related news soon!
President Obama’s Administrative Action on Immigration—page 5
Ação Administrativa do Presidente Obama sobre Imigração—página 6
VOZ DA COMUNIDADE—FALL 2014
Page 2
MAPS Celebrates a Year of Growth at October Annual Meeting
MAPS served more than 10,000 clients during the 2014 Fiscal Year (July 1st, 2013
to June 30th, 2014). The number represents a 16% increase in comparison with the
previous Fiscal Year, and that was just one of the many major accomplishments we
celebrated in our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 28, at our Cambridge office.
For the first time, we finished the fiscal year with revenues of over $3 million. The
MAPS Endowment Fund also achieved a substantial milestone, surpassing $320,000
to continue to build the MAPS legacy for the many years to come. This was only
possible with the tireless dedication of our Board, staff, funders, donors and other
supporters, including many outstanding volunteers who were honored with certificates during the Annual Meeting.
Executive Director Paulo Pinto, MPA,
A number of Board and staff members who have served MAPS were also honored
speaking at the Annual Meeting
for significant numbers of years, including Director of Development and Communications Lois Josimovich, and Supervising Case Worker Maria Matos, who celebrated 25 years of service to MAPS.
Some of MAPS’ many other accomplishments last fiscal year included:
 Assisting nearly 400 US citizenship applicants;
 Helping approximately 500 people enroll in health insurance and educating 400 more on health insurance coverage;
 Educating more than 2,000 individuals about HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), providing counseling
and testing to almost 600 high-risk Portuguese speakers, and starting free weekly health walk-in clinics at 4 offices;
 Expanding Child and Family Support Services to include In-Home Therapy for children and families;
 Preventing isolation for 120 seniors who attended our Senior Center activities;
 Assisting 340 victims/survivors of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault with support services and educating an additional 1,500 people;
 Supporting 3,500 immigrants in their integration process by helping them meet their basic daily needs for housing,
employment, health, legal and education services, public benefits and more; and
 Holding a successful 2014 Awards Gala, which raised $130,000 to support MAPS services.
Board Updates ►At the Annual Meeting on Oct. 28, MAPS members unanimously re-elected three
current Board Members—Elizabeth Chaves, Raymond Estrella and Alexandra Barker—to new 3-year
terms. MAPS also thanked outgoing Board member Tina Silva for her years of dedicated service. In the
summer, the Board also welcomed new member Patricia de Oliveira, of Brazil, who has worked as a Citizenship Services Coordinator, Interpreter, Translator and ESOL Teaching Assistant at Centro Latino
in Chelsea since 2012. She also worked previously on immigration and international adoption issues for
former Sen. John Kerry, now US Secretary of State, and handled immigrant student issues at the Mass.
Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition.
Patricia de Oliveira
Staff Updates ►Our warmest welcome to new staffers Milena Mello, MS, Director of the MAPS HIV/STI Prevention & Screening Services; Álvaro Santo, Men’s Health Educator; and Claudinei de Souza, Framingham Immigrant Case
Worker. Monia Bodenmueller, MA, switched from Sexual Assault Program Counselor to Family & Child Social Worker;
Natalia Fernandes switched from Outreach Caregiver Coordinator to Program & Intake Coordinator; and Renan Leahy
was promoted from Communications Coordinator to Communications Manager earlier this year.
Recent Funding Announcements -Many thanks to our funders for their ongoing support! New and continuing
funding since the last newsletter include: MA Executive Office of Public Safety/VAWA and the Mass. Dept. of Public
Health, for Domestic Violence Services; United Way of Mass. Bay & Merrimack Valley for general operating support;
Rockefeller Philanthropies/JB Fernandes Trust, as well as Charles H. Farnsworth Trust and Project Bread/Walk for Hunger,
for Elder Services; the Massachusetts Health Connector for Health Insurance Outreach & Enrollment Assistance; the City
of Somerville for Lead Hazard Community Outreach & Intake; the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust, for Rental Housing Case Management in Somerville; Broadway Cares, for HIV/AIDS Case Management; Boston, Cambridge and Somerville
CDBG, for Immigrant Integration Services; and Fish Family Foundation/Greater Boston Citizenship Initiative as well as
the state Office for Refugees and Immigrants for continuing funding for Citizenship Assistance.
Voz da Comunidade is a twice-yearly publication of MAPS. Please contact us at (617) 864-7600 or email [email protected]: Voz da Comunidade é uma
publicação semestral da MAPS. MAPS Executive Director (Diretor Executivo) Paulo Pinto; Dir. Of Development & Communications (Dir. de Desenvolvimento e Comunicações) Lois Josimovich; Editor Renan Leahy. Deadlines for newsletter submissions: 4/15,10/15. If you prefer to receive only the electronic
version of our Newsletter, please send an email to [email protected].
VOZ DA COMUNIDADE—FALL 2014
Page 3
Don’t Miss the 2015 Health Insurance Open Enrollment Period!
MAPS is helping many area residents to successfully enroll in health insurance programs during the second Open Enrollment Period, which began on November 15th throughout the US. Everyone who is in Massachusetts Health Connector coverage or was placed in temporary plans over the last year will need to submit a new application if they want insurance coverage through the state.
In October, we joined the Health Connector for a press conference in our Somerville office to explain the enrollment period.
MAPS is one of 16 organizations in Massachusetts contracted by
the Connector this year to provide free Navigator assistance to
anyone seeking health insurance during the enrollment period,
which remains open until Feb. 15, 2015. On Nov. 15 th, the MAPS
Cambridge Office was open on a Saturday to assist clients who
were eager to get health care coverage on the first day of the
Open Enrollment Period.
MAPS has trained staff (Navigators) available to help you complete your application for free at five of our six offices. For more
information or to schedule an appointment, please call us in
Cambridge, (617) 864-7600; Brighton, (617) 787-0557; DorchesMAPS and MA Health Connector staff, during the Open Enrollment
Press Conference in Somerville
ter, (617) 825-5897; Lowell, (978) 970-1250; or Framingham, (508)
872-2652. Make sure to get insurance coverage in 2015!
MAPS Continues to Offer Citizenship & Health Days at all Offices
You can also get assistance applying for health insurance coverage during one of the MAPS Citizenship & Health Days, a
series of special free events where our staff also provides US Citizenship Clinics for naturalization information and application assistance.
Citizenship applicants must pre-register, go through an eligibility
screening, and present a list of documents, which you can obtain by
calling our offices.
MAPS has been holding Citizenship & Health Days throughout the
year as part of the Greater Boston Citizenship Initiative, a collaboration of community partners funded by a grant from the Fish Family
Foundation. We also offer citizenship assistance and health insurance
enrollment on a regular basis, along with other services, at all of our
offices in Greater Boston, Lowell and Framingham.
MAPS Partners with Naveo Credit Union to Offer
Interest-Free Loans to Citizenship Applicants
Framingham Office New
Operating Hours
MAPS has partnered with Naveo Credit Union
to offer a special loan to allow low-income US
citizenship applicants to submit their paperwork.
The interest-free microloan titled the Dreamer
Loan provides local immigrants who are legal
permanent residents with the financing they
need to make their citizenship dreams a reality.
Our Framingham office, located at 24
Union Avenue, suites 8 & 10, is now open
on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, from
9 am to 7 pm, to assist clients with citizenship applications and health insurance enrollment, as well as referrals to other services.
The federal N-400 application fee is $680 per
applicant and must be paid upfront when the application is submitted. The
Dreamer Loan will feature ten easy monthly payments of $70 each and is
available for individuals with and without credit. For more information on
how to apply, please contact Elizabeth Cabral at (617) 702-5143.
To schedule an appointment, please call
(508) 872-2652. On Wednesdays, the office
hosts free walk-in Health Clinics from 4 to
6 pm with HIV/AIDS prevention and
screening for men.
MAPS OFFICES (ESCRITÓRIOS DA MAPS) : CAMBRIDGE (617) 864-7600 SOMERVILLE (617) 764-2091
BRIGHTON (617) 787-0557
DORCHESTER (617) 825-5897 LOWELL (978) 970-1250 FRAMINGHAM (508) 872-2652
VOZ DA COMUNIDADE—FALL 2014
Page 4
MAPS Marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month with Activities and Displays
Cambridge display
The MAPS offices in Cambridge, Dorchester and Lowell were all covered in signs and displays in October to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). “Say NO to violence and YES to love,” reads one of the T-shirts hand-painted and hand-inscribed by
MAPS clients, hung on a clothesline at our Lowell Office. The very personal, dramatic messages on those shirts reveal the perspectives of people who struggled to overcome abuse, and
with support from the MAPS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services Program, have
started new lives.
MAPS Program staff organized and participated in several activities
marking DVAM in the Greater Boston and Lowell areas. The agency
offers free and confidential support to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors with funding from the US Office on Violence Against
Women, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts
Department of Children & Families (DCF), Massachusetts Executive
Lowell clothesline
Office of Public Safety VAWA funds, Lowell Police Dept., and the TJX
Foundation. For more information, please call (617) 864-7600 or visit www.maps-inc.org.
Immigration Attorney
Educates Community at
MAPS Lowell Office
Immigration attorney Nelson
Brill (center) held two successful
special presentations this fall at
our Lowell office. He spoke and
answered questions from community members on all topics regarding immigration, with the help of
an interpreter.
State Rep. Carvalho Visits
Dorchester Office
MAPS’ Dorchester Office was
honored this summer with a visit
from recently elected state Representative Evandro Carvalho
(center).
We look forward to working
with Rep. Carvalho to address
issues important to our community in the Dorchester area.
Dorchester display
Secretary Luis Cabral Visits
MAPS in Cambridge
The Azorean Regional Health Secretary
Dr. Luis Cabral (the tallest in the picture)
honored MAPS this fall with a visit to our
Cambridge office.
He learned more about MAPS services and
programs, got to know better the large Portuguese-speaking community in Massachusetts, and laughed with our seniors at the
Senior Center!
MAPS Offers Free Walk-in Health Clinics at 4 Offices
At MAPS free clinics, visitors can privately see one of our professional health
educators for counseling and to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections (STIs). The HIV test results take only 10 minutes, and, as an example of
all other STI testing, are strictly confidential.
Clients get full support and guidance from MAPS Health Educators, including
accompaniment to hospital appointments. No appointment scheduling is needed,
but clients can still do so if they prefer by calling one of the offices where the clinics
occur. The calendar of the Free Clinics is as follows:
MAPS also provides Case Management for those living with HIV/AIDS.
The MAPS HIV/STI Prevention and Screening Services are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC).
VOZ DA COMUNIDADE—FALL 2014
Page 5
President Obama’s Administrative Action on Immigration
Following up on President Barack Obama’s announcement of an Executive Action on Immigration, MAPS partnered
with the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI), the Brazilian Immigrant Center (BIC), the Brazilian
Women’s Group (BWG), and CVC Unido to offer free informational sessions to educate the community members about
who is going to be eligible to benefit from it and the next steps to be taken.
Deferred Action Summary
This Summary was prepared the Massachusetts Immigrants and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)
Deferred action is a temporary protection from deportation. Through it, a person is authorized to remain in the United
States temporarily and to receive employment authorization. A grant of deferred action does not provide a path to lawful
permanent resident status or U.S. citizenship.
Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA)
The Deferred Action Memo calls on USCIS to establish a process, similar to the Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, for granting deferred action to individuals
who:
 Have, as of November 20, 2014, a son or daughter of any age, who is a U.S. citizen or
lawful permanent resident;
 Have continuously resided in the United States since before January 1, 2010;
 Are physically present in the United States on November 20, 2014, and at the time of
making a DAPA request;
 Have no lawful status on November 20, 2014;
 Are not an enforcement priority, defined as: people suspected of terrorism, gang associations, and people convicted of felonies, aggravated felonies, significant misdemeanors, or
three or more misdemeanors; and
 Present no other factors that would cause USCIS to deny the request in its exercise of
discretion.
The DAPA process shall be available to people with final orders of removal who meet the above criteria. Applicants
must pay a $465 filing fee and submit to biometrics. As with DACA, there will be a very limited fee exemption and no fee
waivers. Those who receive deferred action under the DAPA program will receive employment authorization for a threeyear period. USCIS will begin accepting applications for DAPA by May 19, 2015.
The Deferred Action Memo applies to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection
(CBP). Those agencies are instructed to exercise discretion for individuals who meet the DAPA criteria, including individuals in immigration custody, in removal proceedings, or whom ICE or CBP encounters.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
The Deferred Action Memo makes three major modifications to the DACA program:
 It removes the age cap. The Deferred Action Memo eliminates the requirement
that an individual be under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012.
 The start date for the continuous residence period is advanced from June 15,
2007 to January 1, 2010. At this time, to be eligible for DACA an individual
must have resided in the United States continuously from January 1, 2010 up
to the present.
 DACA grants will now last three years instead of two. Effective November 24,
2014, all first-time DACA approvals as well as all DACA renewals shall be effective for three years instead of two.
USCIS will begin accepting applications under the new criteria by February 18, 2015.
Although the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released some information about these programs, we expect DHS will
produce detailed explanations and instructions in the coming months.
Visit www.uscis.gov and http://www.adminrelief.org/ for more information.
VOZ DA COMUNIDADE—FALL 2014
Page 6
Ação Administrativa do Presidente Obama sobre Imigração
Após o anúncio do Presidente Barack Obama de uma Ordem Executiva sobre Imigração, a MAPS firmou parceria com o
Gabinete para Refugiados e Imigrantes do governo estadual (ORI, na sigla em inglês), o Centro do Imigrante Brasileiro
(CIB), CVC Unido e o Grupo Mulher Brasileira (GMB) para, juntos, oferecerem uma série de sessões informativas para
tirar as dúvidas da comunidade sobre quem pode se beneficiar e quais os próximos passos a serem tomados.
Resumo da Ação Deferida
Preparado pela Massachusetts Immigrants and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)
Ação Deferida é uma proteção temporária contra deportação. Através dela, a pessoa fica autorizada a permanecer nos
Estados Unidos temporariamente, com autorização de trabalho. A concessão da Ação Deferida não é um caminho para o
status de residente permanente ou para a cidadania americana.
Ação Deferida por Responsabilidade Paternal (DAPA, na sigla em inglês)
O Memorando da Ação Deferida manda que o Departamento de Imigração (USCIS) estabeleça um processo semelhante
ao do DACA, garantindo ação deferida para pessoas que:
 Tenham, no dia 20 de novembro de 2014, um filho ou filha de qualquer idade que seja um cidadão Americano ou
residente permanente;
 Tenham morado nos Estados Unidos continuamente desde antes de 1º de janeiro de 2010;
 Estavam fisicamente presentes nos Estados Unidos no dia 20 de novembro de 2014 e estarão
também quando derem entrada no pedido de ação deferida;
 Não tenham status legal em 20 de novembro de 2014;
 Não se enquadrem entre as prioridades para deportação,
que são: suspeitos de terrorismo, associação com gangues,
pessoas condenadas por delitos, delinquência significante ou três
ou mais casos de delinquência; e
 Não apresentem nenhum outro fator que possa levar o
USCIS a negar o pedido no exercício do seu arbítrio.
O processo da DAPA deve estar disponível para pessoas com
ordens finais de remoção que se enquadrem nos critérios
apresentados acima. A taxa para dar entrada no processo é de $465, e os requerentes deverão passar por exames
biométricos. As pessoas que tiverem seus pedidos aprovados receberão autorização de trabalho por um período de três
anos. O USCIS deve começar a receber os pedidos antes do dia 19 de maio de 2015.
O Memorando de Ação Deferida é compartilhado com o Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) e o Customs and
Border Protection (CBP). Essas agências foram instruídas a usar o seu arbítrio para pessoas que se enquadrem nos critérios
da DAPA, incluindo aqueles sob custódia de agentes de imigração ou em processo de deportação, ou que o ICE ou CBP
encontrem.
Ação Deferida por Chegada na Infância (DACA, na sigla em inglês)
O Memorando de Ação Deferida faz três grandes modificações ao programa DACA:
 Acaba com o limite máximo de idade. O Memorando de Ação Deferida elimina a
exigência de que o solicitante tivesse menos que 31 anos no dia 15 de junho de 2012.
 A data de início de permanência contínua passou de 15 de junho de 2007 para 1º de
janeiro de 2010. Agora, para que o solicitante possa ser beneficiado pelo programa,
precisa ter estado continuamente no país desde 1º de janeiro de 2010 até o presente.
 A proteção pelo programa passa a durar três anos, ao invés de dois. A partir de 24
de novembro de 2014, todos os pedidos aprovados e renovados do DACA terão
duração de três anos.
 O USCIS vai começar a receber os pedidos de acordo com os novos critérios antes de
18 de fevereiro de 2015,
Apesar de o Departamento de Segurança Nacional (Department of Homeland Security, DHS) tir divulgado algumas
informações sobre esses programas, espera-se que mais detalhes e instruções sejam divulgados nos próximos meses.
Acesse www.uscis.gov e http://www.adminrelief.org/ para mais informações.
VOZ DA COMUNIDADE—FALL 2014
Page 7
MAPS Hosts Luncheon for Family and Friends of Adélia Lopes
Mrs. Adélia Lopes, our wonderful, loving volunteer and dear friend, passed away on Tuesday, October
28. Although we are all very sad, we can take comfort in knowing that she is in a much better place, resting in peace. She has been very sick and suffering for the past few years.
Many family members and friends of the late Adélia Lopes participated in a luncheon reception hosted by MAPS on October 30, at the
agency’s Cambridge Senior Center, where she served for many years
as a volunteer. The reception took place after Mrs. Lopes’ funeral services, and was a celebration of the loving and caring person she was
Adélia Lopes
throughout her life. Many pictures of her with her friends from MAPS
and the Senior Center were posted on the walls, representing the 30+ years of her generous dedication to the agency, where she previously also served as an active Board
member.
Mrs. Lopes’ family took the opportunity to invite anybody who can to contribute in her memory to the Adélia Lopes
Endowment Fund, created four years ago on the occasion of her 80th birthday, to support the Senior Center. Please call
(617) 864-7600 for more information on how to contribute.
We love you, Sra. Adélia, and will always remember you. Thank you for making such a wonderful difference in so many
people’s lives.
MAPS Enrolls Clients and
Caregivers in Adult Family Care
Program
MAPS is enrolling clients and caregivers in the
new MassHealth Adult Family Care (AFC) program. The AFC is a vital program that helps
seniors and disabled youngsters who need assistance with daily activities while living in a supportive family environment.
The MAPS program, funded by SomervilleCambridge Elder Services, benefits both the
clients and the caregivers:

The client has the opportunity to live with
a trained caregiver who provides daily care,
meal preparation, as well as assistance with
personal care and medical needs. The program
is available for MassHealth eligible individuals
16+ who are unable to live on their own due to
a chronic medical or psychiatric diagnosis, requiring assistance with at least one activity of
daily living.

For the caregivers, the benefits include a
tax-free stipend of up to $18,550 and two weeks
of annual respite relief with pay. The caregiver
will live with the client and can be a friend or
family member, except for spouses or the client’s legal guardian.
For more information about the program or
to schedule an appointment, please call Natalia
Fernandes at (617) 864-7600.
Joe Chaves Walk/Run
Dozens of individuals joined the MAPS
Team for the 3rd Annual Joe Chaves 5K
Memorial Walk/Run on Sept. 28th in Somerville, Cambridge and Charlestown. Funds
raised by the Walk, which is sponsored by
the Joe & Dorothy Chaves Foundation,
help support scholarships and programs for
the community at MAPS and at Bunker Hill Community College.
Summer
Festivals
MAPS joined the
community to
celebrate our
pride, culture and
roots at several
events this summer with perfect
weather, great
music, delicious
food and hundreds
of friends and
neighbors.
Boston Pride Parade
Portuguese Parade
Cabo Verdean Indep. Festival
Brazilian Independence Festival
MAPS Offers Help With Fuel Assistance Applications
MAPS provides free help with Fuel Assistance applications for Portuguese speakers by appointment at our offices in Cambridge/Somerville
(617) 864-7600, Brighton (617) 787-0557, Dorchester 617) 825-5897 and
Lowell (978) 970-1250. The program runs until April 30th and is available to any family or individual within the income guidelines.
VOZ DA COMUNIDADE— FALL 2014
Page 8
MAPS Anuncia Homenageados da Festa de Gala 2015
Cinco pessoas de destaque com históricos diversos serão homenageados na Festa de Gala 2015 da MAPS, a ser realizada
no dia 18 de abril de 2015, no Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. Eles foram selecionados após um intenso processo de
revisão das várias indicações enviadas pela comunidade.
Prêmio MAPS Pessoa do Ano: Joe Curtatone, Prefeito/Presidente da Cámara de
Somerville, por ter apoiado muitas medidas pró-imigrantes e demonstrado
grande preocupação com a segurança, saúde e bem-estar de seus constituintes,
inclusive imigrantes, pessoas de baixa renda, idosos e outros. Curtatone comandou uma ampla revitalização de Somerville e apoiou a continuação do longo
contrato de aluguel a preços módicos do nosso escritório na Union Square.
Prêmio MAPS Manuel N. Coutinho Outstanding Voluntário de Destaque: Antonio (Tony) Alves, Tony's Barbershop em Dorchester, pela inovadora iniciativa
de abrir as portas para a MAPS oferecer informações e testes de HIV e outras
doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DSTs) a centenas de homens.
Prêmio MAPS Jorge Fidalgo de Serviço Comunitário: Natalicia Tracy, Diretora
Executiva do Centro do Imigrante Brasileiro (CIB), por sua grande liderança na
luta pelos direitos dos trabalhadores e seus esforços para convencer os legisladores estaduais a aprovarem a Lei dos Direitos dos Trabalhadores Domésticos neste ano. O CIB cresceu sob sua liderança e renovou sua parceria com a
MAPS.
Prêmio MAPS Mary & Manuel Rogers de Vida Dedicada ao Serviço Comunitário: Joel Schwartz, por seu entusiasmado apoio
à comunidade cabo-verdiana. Joel Schwartz é integrante da Diretoria do CVC UNIDO desde março de 2007, e um voluntário ativo desde 2004. Ele trabalha há 20 anos na região do Upham’s Corner, em Dorchester, e é o fundador e organizador
da Páscoa Judaico-Cabo-verdiana, que este ano reuniu 200 pessoas.
Prêmio MAPS Álvaro Lima Empresa de Destaque: Rui Domingos, CEO da Naveo Credit Union, pelo enorme sucesso e inovação dessa instituição finaceira, que recentemente mudou o seu nome de CPCU Credit Union para se tornar mais inclusiva e refletir o público mais amplo que vem atendendo com o passar dos anos. Domingos vem sendo um grande líder na
comunidade, colocando a Naveo Credit Union numa posição de destaque em muitas colaborações, inclusive no “Dreamer
Loan,” empréstimos sem juros para naturalização, em pareceira com a MAPS.
Mais informações sobre a Festa de Gala da MAPS estão disponíveis na página www.maps-inc.org/PT/events/annualgala/2015-gala/, ou pelo telefone (617) 864-7600. Fique de olho! Mais novidades sobre a Festa de Gala em breve.
MAPS Marca o Mês de Conscientização sobre Violência Doméstica
Ajuda para
Os escritórios da MAPS em Cambridge, Dorchester e Lowell estiveram cobertos com
sinais e materiais educativos em outubro, para marcar o Mês de Conscientização sobre
Violência Doméstica (DVAM, na sigla em inglês). “Diga NÃO à violência e SIM ao
amor,” dizia uma das camisetas pintadas e escritas a mão por clientes da MAPS, penduradas num varal no escritório de Lowell. As mensagens pessoais e dramáticas nas camisetas revelam a perspectiva de pessoas que sofreram para
superar o abuso, e que, com o apoio do Serviço de Combate
à Violência Doméstica e Sexual da MAPS, começaram uma
nova vida.
Aquecimento
As funcionárias do programa da MAPS organizaram e
participaram de atividades pelo DVAM na região metropolitana de Boston e em Lowell. A agência oferece apoio gratuito e confidencial a sobreviventes de violência doméstica ou
sexual. Para mais informações, ligue para (617) 864-7600 ou
acesse www.maps-inc.org.
A MAPS oferece um serviço
gratuito de ajuda no
preenchimento dos formulários de pedido de ajuda financeira para custos com
aquecimento. Ligue para a
MAPS em Cambridge (617)
864-7600, Brighton (617) 7870557, Dorchester 617) 8255897 ou Lowell (978) 970-1250
para mais informações ou para agendar um horário de
atendimento. O programa
vale até 30 de abril de 2015.
VOZ DA COMUNIDADE— FALL 2014
Page 9
MAPS Comemora um Ano de Crescimento em Reunião Anual
A MAPS atendeu mais de 10.000 clientes no Ano Fiscal de 2014, um crescimento de 16% em comparação com Ano Fiscal
anterior. Esta foi apenas uma das grandes realizações que comemoramos na Reunião Anual no dia 28 de outubro, em nosso
escritório de Cambridge.
Pela primeira vez, nós concluímos o ano fiscal com receitas de mais de $3
milhões. O Fundo Especial de Doações da MAPS também alcançou um marco
substancial, ultrapassando $320,000 para continuar a construir um legado da MAPS por muitos anos. Isso só foi possível com o trabalho incansável da Diretoria, dos funcionários, fundações financiadoras, pessoas e empresas que fizeram doações e outros membros da comunidade,
incluindo muitos voluntários, que foram homenageados com certificados durante a reunião.
Alguns membros da Diretoria e do quadro de
Voluntários receberam certificados
funcionários por números significativos de anos
de serviço, incluindo a Diretora de Desenvolvimento e Comunicações Lois Josimovich e a
Assistente Social Supervisora Maria Matos, que comemoraram 25 anos na MAPS.
Peça uma cópia do Relatório Anual da MAPS 2014, disponível em todos os nossos escritórios, ou acesse www.maps-inc.org/PT/news/annual-report/.
MAPS se Une à Naveo Credit Union para
Oferecer Empréstimos a Candidatos à
Cidadania Americana
A MAPS firmou parceria com a Naveo Credit Union
para oferecer um empréstimo especial para ajudar pessoas de baixa renda em busca de naturalização, a fim
de que possam pagar as despesas do processo, de $680
por pessoa.
O empréstimo, chamado de Dreamer Loan, não
cobra juros, e os clientes pagam apenas $70 por mês
para quitarem a dívida. Para mais informações, ligue
para Elizabeth Cabral at (617) 702-5143.
Novos Horários de Atendimento em Framingham
Nosso escritório em Framingham, localizado na 24 Union Avenue, salas 8 & 10, agora
funciona às segundas, quintas e sextas-feiras,
das 9 da manhã às 7 da noite, para ajudar
clientes com pedidos de naturalização e inscrição em seguro de saúde, além de encaminhamento para outros serviços.
Para agendar um horário, ligue para (508)
872-2652. Às quartas-feiras, das 4 às 6 da
tarde, o escritório sedia clínicas de saúde gratuitas para homens, com testes de HIV/AIDS
e outras doenças sexualmente transmissíveis.
MAPS Inscreve Clientes e Cuidadores no Programa de
Cuidados Familiares para Adultos do MassHealth
A MAPS está inscrevendo clientes e cuidadores no novo Programa de Cuidados Familiares para Adultos (Adult Family
Care, ou AFC) do MassHealth. O AFC é um programa vital voltado para idosos e jovens com deficiência que dependam de
assistência em atividades rotineiras, garantindo-lhes o amparo de um ambiente familiar no lugar onde moram.
O programa da MAPS, que é financiado pelo Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, oferece benefícios tanto para os clientes quanto para os cuidadores:
• O cliente tem a oportunidade de morar com um cuidador treinado que oferece cuidados diários, preparação de refeições,
bem como assistência com cuidados pessoais e medicos. O programa está disponível para pessoas com 16 anos ou mais que
sejam incapazes de viver sozinhas e que tenham sido diagnosticadas com problemas médicos ou psicológicos crônicos, precisando de ajuda em pelo menos uma atividade diária. O cliente também precisa estar qualificado para o MassHealth.
• Para os cuidadores, os benefícios incluem um salário anual de até $18,550, isento de impostos, e duas semanas de férias
pagas anuais. O cuidador irá morar com o cliente e pode ser um amigo ou parente, exceto cônjuge ou guardião legal.
Para mais informações sobre o programa ou para agendar um atendimento, ligue para Natalia Fernandes no número
(617) 864-7600.
VOZ DA COMUNIDADE—FALL 2014
Page 10
Não Perca o Período de Inscrição em Seguro de Saúde para 2015!
A MAPS tem ajudado muitos clientes a inscreverem-se em Seguros de Saúde neste segundo Período de Inscrições,
que se iniciou no dia 15 de novembro em todo o país. Todas as pessoas que tenham seguro pelo Health Connector ou
que foram inscritas em planos temporários terão que enviar um novo requerimento se quiserem cobertura do estado.
Em outubro, nós nos juntamos ao Massachusetts Health Connector para uma entrevista coletiva em nosso escritório
de Somerville para explicar o funcionamento do sistema. A MAPS é uma
das 16 organizações de Massachusetts contratada pelo Connector neste
ano para prestar assistência gratuita para todos os que procuram Seguros
de Saúde durante o período de inscrição, que permanecerá ativo até
fevereiro de 2015. No sábado, dia 15 de Novembro, o escritório de
Cambridge da MAPS esteve aberto para ajudar os clientes que estavam
ansiosos por se inscreverem em planos de saúde no primeiro dia do período
de inscrições.
A MAPS tem funcionários treinados (Navigators) à disposição para ajudálo(a) a preencher o formulário gratuitamente em cinco de nossos seis escritórios.
Nos também atendemos clientes em busca de seguro de saúde durante os Dias de
Cidadania e Saúde da MAPS. Para mais informações ou para agendar um horário
de atendimento, ligue para nós em Cambridge, (617) 864-7600; Brighton, (617)
787-0557; Dorchester, (617) 825-5897; Lowell, (978) 970-1250; ou Framingham,
(508) 872-2652. Não fique sem seguro de saúde em 2015!
Dulce Almeida Ferreira, Dir. dos Serviços de
Integração de Imigrantes e do Prog. de Violência
Doméstica e Sexual da MAPS
www.maps-inc.org
Cambridge, MA 02139
1046 Cambridge St.
Portuguese Speakers
community in partnership with
Massachusetts Alliance of
Serving the Portuguese-speaking
MAPS
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 56858
Boston, MA