SouthCoast Community Foundation (SCCF): You’ve been executive director of CVAB since 2012 – how’s the experience been for you?
Moises Rodrigues (MR): There is nothing better than working for your communities. This is a labor of love — we take care of people from the greater Brockton community. We have people that come from Stoughton, Randolph, Taunton, the Bridgewaters, Rockland, Abington, people from the surrounding communities that come here looking for assistance.
SCCF: What made you decide to join the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton?
MR: In 1988 to 1989, I joined a group of individuals who wanted to form an association to help the new arrival of immigrants from Cape Verde. But, the Cape Verdean Association existed in another form since 1977. We felt that we needed to create an organization that dealt with those who were not Cape Verdean Americans. Eventually, we merged the two and changed it into the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton, or, in Portuguese, Associação Caboverdiana de Brockton. Then in 2012, we augmented the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton to also include the Immigrant Assistance Center of Greater Brockton.
I was fortunate enough to come to the United States with my parents and cousins, and I had other family members who were already in the United States. I recognized that other immigrants did not have the same kind of support. I felt it was important to have an organization that gave immigrants a ‘hand up,’ to help immigrants get back on their feet.
Many people from different races and ethnicities come to the Cape Verdean Association for assistance. We focus heavily on education, specifically learning English and becoming a United States citizen. I am a strong believer in helping people become U.S. citizens so they can participate fully in this process.
SCCF: What programs does the association provide?
MR: The Cape Verdean Association was given a federal grant to work with the small business communities. During COVID, small businesses were affected by COVID in a real way. The Association helped these businesses file for the Paycheck Protection Program loan and other grants to help keep their businesses open.
The Association also created another organization called the Greater Brockton Minority Business Association consisting of three staff members who work with 150 members of the small business community. The organization brings in members for monthly meetings to help the progress the businesses through education by helping them earn associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. The Association is developing a class to help people to become U.S. citizens.
During the summer of 2023, around 300 kids participated in a summer camp program created by the Association. Employment opportunities were given to young adults to work with younger kids within the program.
The association helps people fill out applications for MassHealth and helps people get health insurance.
We have three counselors with the association who help those who need housing assistance to fill out applications and gather the proper documentation, such as for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program.
We help with consulate services from the Cape Verdean consulate where individuals can get proof of a birth certificate, proof of immigration, and proof of life from Cape Verde.
The association gave out nearly $200,000 to the community through rental, food, and cash assistance that they received from foundations such as the SouthCoast Community Foundation since COVID.
Learn more about the Cape Verdean Association of Greater Brockton at their website – https://www.cvassociation.org/
Interviewed by Gerard Villemenay, SouthCoast Community Foundation Marketing Intern