Board of Directors

Dr. Amarildo “Lilu” Barbosa is an Associate Teaching Professor and Program Director in the Leadership Program at Tufts University, and is an advisor for Associação Cabo Verdiana de Basquetbol (ACVB) in Massachusetts. Prior to joining Tufts University, he worked at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health where he was the Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer, and he had also served as the Chief Diversity Officer at Lesley University prior to that. As Chief Diversity Officer at both institutions, Lilu worked with campus partners to help ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Part of his role involved issues related to assessment of inclusion and belonging, campus climate, and the teaching and learning environment.

He has 20 years of experience in the higher education and nonprofit sectors, with interests in leadership, applied diversity and equity change strategies, residential education, academic support, youth activism, youth development, and community engagement. He holds certifications in restorative justice facilitation, social justice conflict mediation, and is licensed as an Intercultural Developmental Inventory (IDI) Qualifying Administrator.

As a DEIJ practitioner in the community and higher education, his scholarly and research interests focus on strategic diversity leadership, organizational learning & development, and behaviors and practices that harness cultural assets and funds of knowledge of Black & African communities for the purpose of social, political, cultural, and economic development.

He received his PhD in Human Development & Learning from Lesley University, and an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from the University of Vermont. He enjoys time with his family and relatives, listening to music, engaging in athletic activities, and spending time in the Cabo Verde Islands with family and loved ones.

Carlos Monteiro is an Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department at Suffolk University. Dr. Monteiro’s research focuses largely on corrections and punishment with a specific focus on recidivism and reentry, more specifically, collateral consequences of criminal convictions. Most recently his work examines correctional environments including a focus on the demands of correctional contexts on staff and officers. His current projects include the first ever longitudinal study of correctional officer wellbeing, a National Institute of Justice funded study. Additionally, Dr. Monteiro is a co-principal investigator leading a unique examination of the social and psychological adjustment of juveniles sentenced to life in prison, with the hopes of identifying a juvenile lifer’s risk factors as they may relate to recidivism. The aim in this study is to conduct interviews with at least 45 juvenile lifers, with a proposed comparative analysis that could help distinguish those who were successfully paroled from those who were denied parole, and are awaiting a meeting with parole. Dr. Monteiro’s broader research is centered in race, ethnicity, and educational access, particularly as those interact to produce disparate outcomes across the criminal justice system and within corrections. Dr. Monteiro earned his Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University, he earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Connecticut and his Ph.D. in criminology and justice policy from Northeastern University.

Djofa is on a mission to strengthen the knowledge of Kriolu and Capeverdean culture and to support the officialization of the language in Cabo Verde and the Diaspora. Born and raised in Boston, MA, in a predominately Capeverdean community, she still lives in the Upham’s Corner area. Djofa is a product of Boston Public Schools (BPS), and heavily influenced by her Capeverdean culture and upbringing. Earning both undergrad and graduate degrees from Simmons University, she became a teacher in BPS, now a 20 year veteran, currently teaches Social Sciences for K0-5th grades at the Russell Elementary School in Dorchester, MA. She started Kriolu Basics, an online learning class that provides lessons on how to speak, read and write in Kriolu. She works as the copy editor/writer/poet for Mili Mila LLC., which published the first of its kind, Capeverdean Creole to English Dictionary by Manuel Da Luz Goncalves, and is currently editing the 2nd edition of the Capeverdean Dictionary (English to Creole(Kriolu)) and the first APP for learning Kriolu. [Expected 2023] An active community member with a focus on education and culture, she sat on the DSNI (Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative) board for 6 years, as the education committee chair. Working on such projects as Neighborhood Voices, which collected oral stories of residents in the Dudley Village community in Boston.

Traveling to Cabo Verde annually, Djofa supports education in Cabo Verde, visiting several schools and organizations, speaking to government officials about the importance of honoring the maternal language of Kriolu. Growing up speaking Kriolu, she wants to ensure that children have the resources not only to learn Kriolu, but to learn in their maternal language. December 2022, Djofa published Tiagu and Vovo, a dual language (English and Kriolu) children’s book to honor her heritage and to support the Kriolu language. She is currently working on a collection of dual language poetry and a memoir.

Helder Brandao came to the United States as a young boy from Cape Verde, Africa. He was raised in Dorchester Massachusetts where he attended Boston public schools for his educational career. He then attended the University of Maryland for college. He lived in Maryland for over ten years where he owned and operated a successful insurance agency. Today Helder is back in Boston and is a seasoned business owner where he owns and operates a disaster relief business called SERVPRO. SERVPRO helps customers restore their homes and/or business from disasters like fire and water damage. His most recent business is a restaurant called Estella. It is located in Downtown Boston and he named it after his mom. Helder’s goal is to give back to his community and to be an inspiration to the youth. When Helder is not working he enjoys spending time with his wife and three young boys.

For as long as she can remember, Sonia has always been inclined to take care of children, even as a child. Her passion has always been in social work, from working with teen programs and camps during the summers as a teenager to working as a Social Worker for Catholic Charities and once she completed her degrees from Wheelock and Springfield College, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Sonia has worked in many capacities to ensure the safety and overall well-being of children and youth by supporting them and their families with strengths-based services. As an advocate for children, she continually urges young people to strive for excellence in their personal and educational goals to become productive and successful adults within their communities and society at-large.

With a passion for her Capeverdean culture and community, Sonia also serves as the Sales & Events Coordinator for Mili Mila LLC., which published the first of its kind, Capeverdean Creole to English Dictionary by Manuel Da Luz Goncalves. Mili Mila describes Sonia as, “our on-task executor. With a passion for details and a commitment to our vision, she makes sure that things get done. From our events, partnerships and sales, Sonia keeps us organized and on track. To our vending stations at festivals and functions, you will find Sonia engaging with our customers and letting everyone know the value of our Kriolu resources, all while having a great time”.

In the near future, Sonia hopes to utilize her years of experience and dedication, to lead and support other social workers entering in this field, especially those working with communities of color, to strengthen child development and family ties throughout the city. In her personal time, Sonia enjoys traveling, spending time with family and trying out new things.