The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) honored Isaura Mendes of Dorchester, a leader fighting against violence and substance abuse in Boston’s Cape Verdean community, as Person of the Year at the health and social service agency's 14th Annual Awards Gala on Saturday, May 5 at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport Hotel.

Other MAPS awards presented May 5 included: the Mary & Manuel Rogers Lifetime Community Service Award to Father José Ferreira, the long-time priest at St. Anthony’s Church in Cambridge who is retiring this summer after 31 years of combined pastoral service to the community in Cambridge and before that in Lowell, Lawrence and Peabody; the Manuel N. Coutinho Outstanding Volunteer Award to José Carlos Barros of Cambridge and José Gomes of Malden, volunteer leaders of the only area Portuguese-language Alcoholics Anonymous groups, held at MAPS and at St. Anthony’s Church in Cambridge; and Jorge Fidalgo Community Service Awards to Marcony Almeida, Policy Associate at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition in Boston, and Adelina Alves of Upham’s Corner Health Center in Dorchester for her extensive work with the Cape Verdean community.

The Gala is the largest annual MAPS fundraiser, and supports all its services for Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole speakers throughout the area. Besides a banquet and awards ceremony, the event also included a Silent Auction, a raffle for a 42 ' Panasonic Plasma TV and a romantic weekend in Massachusetts. Entertainment was provided by sinnger Valdisa Moura and Tina Jacas, along with DJ Manny Morais. More information is available at (617) 864-7600, and further details are posted on the Gala pages at http://www.maps-inc.org

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