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Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers highlights Everett office, asks council for equitable funding
Summary
Several MAPS staff and board members told the council their new Everett office is serving thousands of Portuguese‑speaking residents and asked the council to back a resolution directing equitable funding to nonprofits serving immigrant communities.
Speakers from the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) told the Everett City Council during public comment that MAPS’ new Everett office, opened June 2024, is providing immigration, health, and social services in Portuguese and other languages and urged the council to support a resolution calling for equitable nonprofit funding.
MAPS staff and volunteers described services now available in Everett including citizenship and green‑card assistance, MassHealth enrollments and renewals, case management, domestic violence advocacy, HIV/STI prevention and testing, translation and interpretation, and outreach to seniors. The group said the local office has seven staff and that volunteers and staff meet clients in churches, schools and community settings to reduce travel barriers.
Why it matters: Councilors heard that the Everett MAPS office has been in operation since mid‑2024 and that residents benefit from services in Portuguese and other languages. MAPS asked for sustained and equitable municipal funding to support nonprofit work that helps immigrants access healthcare, benefits, and legal and housing support.
Who spoke: Multiple MAPS speakers took the public‑comment period. Alessandra Fisher described immigrant integration and elder services. Yuri (last name not provided) and Erica Nogueira described casework and language access for survivors and seniors. Anderson Pinto spoke about HIV/STI prevention and the organization’s use of Everett space to provide testing. Patricia D’Aliveira (board president), Lucinda Murajes (director of HR and administration), and Paulo Pinto (MAPS CEO) asked the council to support a resolution guaranteeing equitable funding for nonprofit providers serving Everett’s immigrant population.
Council action and next steps: MAPS’ request was identified on the agenda as item 16 earlier in the meeting; the council later postponed item 16 to a future meeting for further consideration. MAPS and the council also discussed coordination with the administration on disbursing ARPA and other funds; the chief of staff later briefed the council on ARPA subrecipient agreements, reporting requirements and a decision allowing subrecipients to request up to 50% of awards up front to start programs.
Context: Everett has a substantial Portuguese‑speaking population. MAPS represents statewide Portuguese language services that now include a local Everett office, and speakers said the presence has reduced travel burdens and improved access. MAPS staff detailed services provided, the number of offices (seven statewide) and local staffing.
