A few words
About Us
History
We were founded as a section 501(c)(3)in 2021.
Hope & Action is a nonprofit organization committed to bridging educational gaps, fostering innovation, and promoting health and wellness. Many children in remote villages face barriers to quality education due to distance and financial constraints. We empower students to reach their full potential through scholarships, mentorship, and skills-based training in STEM, the Arts, and health sciences.
We believe that education, vocational development, and professional training are essential tools for breaking cycles of poverty and improving community health outcomes. Our efforts address the social determinants of health by providing young people with opportunities to gain economic stability, healthcare awareness, and technical expertise that will shape a sustainable future.
Our Core Areas of Impact:
Educational Support: Scholarships and resources for students in underserved areas STEM, Arts & Health Innovation: Empowering students with technical, creative, and healthcare skills Entrepreneurship & Economic Growth: Training the next generation to become self-reliant leaders Community Development: Addressing social determinants of health through education and empowerment Health & Wellness Training: Equipping individuals with knowledge on mental health, physical well-being, and preventive care
Together, we can turn potential into progress and well-being into empowerment.
Who we are
Sylvester Fortes, President
Sylvester Fortes is a dedicated clinical social worker with over two decades of experience in reintegration services, alcohol and drug misuse counseling, and mental health support. As a Reintegration Manager at Plymouth County Correctional Facility (2009-2019), he provided transitional services, group education and life skills, and discharge planning for incarcerated individuals, ensuring they had access to critical community resources.
Previously, he worked as a Alcohol and Drug Misuse Counselor with Catholic Charities and the Latino Health Institute, where he developed intervention programs and provided counseling for individuals and families affected by addiction.
Sylvester holds a Master’s in Clinical Social Work with a Certificate in Forensic Social Work from Boston College and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Stonehill College. He is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC I) and fluent in Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, and understands basic Spanish. A long-time advocate for rehabilitation and social justice, he has been a CVA board member since 2008, continuing his mission to support individuals on their path to recovery and reintegration.
Paulo Gomes, Board Member and Secretary
Paulo has been a strategic leader and business growth executive for 10+ years. He is the founder and senior leader of H&HS Consulting Group. Prior to this, he was a member of the Senior Leadership Team at a Massachusetts-based hospital overseeing the Community Health and Engagement Department.
He provided oversight on various system-wide Health IT (EHR), Data Analytics, Research, and Care Improvement demonstrations projects, as well as program partnerships with the Department of Public Health (DPH) on the development of the Affordable Care Organizations (ACO) and Community Health Worker programs.
He has provided oversight on multi-million-dollar projects and raised well over 1 million dollars in grant funding for past clients. He has led various public health research projects and authored over 12 publicly released research reports in partnership with MA community hospitals. He has overseen the development of mental health and public safety curriculums, and guided numerous organizations through strategic planning while implementing contracting and expansion projects of health and human service organizations.
Paulo has also worked through the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School-Commonwealth Medicine, Massachusetts Adult Health Education Centers (MassAHEC) Network as an Assistant Director at AHEC-SE. There he led the Patient and Community Engagement Team during the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) demonstration project in partnership with DPH to improve patient care, access to care, and the quality of healthcare systems. While there he authored “Consumer Engagement in the MA Patient-Centered Medical Home, the Role of AHEC-SE” in the Journal of the National AHEC Organization (2012) highlighting the innovative work being done in Massachusetts to advance quality patient care for which AHEC-SE was awarded the National AHEC Organization Center of Excellence Award. Paulo continues to provide oversight on various partnerships as well as furthering his professional skills, most recently completing the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Executive Education course, “Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy” as well as completing the Certified Artificial Intelligence Specialist (CAIS) professional development course.
Paulo is a double graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Boston with a B.A. as a double Major in Psychology and Sociology (2006) and earned his Master of Science in Human Services with a focus on Management in (2010). He is a Certified Artificial Intelligence Specialist (CAIS) and in 2014 completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy Executive Education Course.
Juliana Badaro Langille, Board Member
Juliana Badaro Langille emigrated from Brazil in 2001. She is currently working on a project to increase global food production in partnership with governments, non-governmental organizations, public and private companies. She speaks fluent English, Portuguese, Spanish and has basic communication skills in Cape Verdean Creole, Italian and French.
She is currently president and CEO of the International Community Empowerment Center. In her diverse roles, she will be able to utilize her more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit organizations and private companies, as well as extensive experience in public health and community coalition building.
Juliana was a consultant for the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) international program, where she provided training and technical assistance to communities in Brazil, Cape Verde and Uganda for over 10 years. Juliana, currently a director and advisor, has experience in community organizing and is one of the founders of Movimento Estudantil Immigrante (SIM), an organization led by young immigrants across the state of Massachusetts, which identifies, recruits and develops leaders in local cities and towns that invest in improving their communities through relationship building, leadership development, electoral organizing and using strategic and motivational campaigns to mobilize people.
Juliana was Executive Director of Community Connections of Brockton – Family Center for 7 years; a nonprofit organization that seeks to establish active partnerships with parents, residents, community groups, service agencies, businesses and others who want to strengthen families, neighborhoods and communities..
Juliana was a Board of director: Ascentria, Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition. The Good Samaritan Hospital – Community Benefits Committee, the Massachusetts Regional Council of the Department of Children and Families, the State Advisory Council of the Department of Children and Families of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Advisory Council on Immigrant Issues.
Helio Fonseca, Board Member
Helio serves as Senior Associate, Information Technology for a financial company in Boston for over a decade. Prior to joining to the current position, Helio worked at various data centers around Boston as a Systems Engineer.
Helio graduated with a B.S. in Information Technology with a focus in System Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He earned his M.S in Information Technology with a focus in Cybersecurity from the University of Massachusetts as well.
Helio is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and has a passion for helping others.
Tony Fernandes, Board Member
Tony currently serves as Senior Associate, Compliance at LMCG Investments, LLC. Before his tenure at LMCG, Tony dedicated eight years of service to the U.S. Army and 4 years to the Massachusetts National Guard. His academic journey began at Boston University, and he is on track to complete his Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) in October 2025.