With a B.A. in International Studies and Spanish as well as an M.A. in Intercultural Relations, most of my professional experiences have been in the Business or IT industries.  Working for a hotel, a modem manufacturer, a database company and a security software company I used my International and Foreign Language skills to work with mostly companies in Latin America.

Outside of the corporate business world I have worked in many community based programs as well.  I lived in Arizona for a year dedicating my life to serving the local community.  I experienced working in a Domestic Violence Shelter, an Elementary School, a Summer Camp and a Soup Kitchen.  That experience transferred into my life back in Massachusetts where I have done different volunteer projects and also worked for a large non-profit running fundraisers and community organizing.  Recently, I have dedicate my free time to helping projects in Nicaragua, Haiti and Honduras.  Locally I have served in various volunteer projects around Boston and I have become a mentor for the Big Sister Association of Boston.

Born and raised in Lowell, MA my identity has been formed greatly by the Portuguese traditions of my family in the U.S. as well as around the world.  My parents moved to Lowell from Madeira Island, Portugal (a.k.a. the Pearl of the Atlantic) in 1974.  With family in Africa, Europe and Latin America I have been blessed with many opportunities to travel and meet the majority of my relatives.  I have traveled extensively for work and pleasure.  It is through my travels where I find great joy in the people I encounter.

I recognize that I have been given an opportunity in this life.  An opportunity for education, an opportunity for work and and opportunity to access all the joys of life.  Overall, I seek balance and justice in my world.  I believe that the greatest injustice that exists around us is the imbalance of accessibility.  When one person has no access to water while I can run my shower for 20 minutes without even thinking about it – it’s absolutely absurd.  If I can contribute to narrowing the gap of accessibility I will do it, and share with others how to attain the balance we should all seek!

You can email Anna at anna@FriendsNE.org