Ambassador Program

I was born and raised in Cabo Verde and immigrated to the United States at the age of 22. Upon arriving, I enrolled in an ESL program to learn English. Years later, I returned to school and completed my Associate's degree. I am a Trilingual Interpreter/Translator (Portuguese, Spanish, and Cape Verdean Creole). Following graduation, I began working as a medical interpreter at a community health center, where I also completed my formal training as a Community Health Worker (CHW). When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I joined the Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) to assist in contact tracing efforts. Today, I proudly serve at the New Bedford Health Department as a Contact Tracer, Community Health Worker, and Project Assistant Manager. In this role, I advocate for my community and work to promote racial health equity. I regularly engage with residents to understand their challenges related to healthcare access, preventive care, and overall health and safety. One example of this engagement is the Insurance enrollment service. I became a Certified Application Counselor (CAC), helping residents navigate insurance enrollment through MassHealth and the Health Connector (State Medicaid).In addition to my core responsibilities, I hold several certifications and qualifications that support my work, such as Certified Diabetes Type 2 Prevention Lifestyle Coach, Trained Recovery Coach, Adult & Youth Mental Health First Aid Trained, Long COVID Ambassador, and Narcan Trainer. I bring lived experience, cultural insight, and language fluency to my work, making me a trusted advocate for racial and health equity in the Greater New Bedford. I try to be a voice for the communities that I serve.