Press Releases

Today Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) released the following statement after his visit to the Centro Las Americas’ Latino Elder Program to serve lunch to local seniors and to honor Dolly Vasquez for her 23 years of service to the Latino community in Worcester County. 

“Today I am privileged to honor Carmen ‘Dolly’ Vazquez as she retires from Centro Las Americas after 23 years of service to the Latino community in Worcester. Every day, Centro Las Americas’ Latino Elder Program is helping to enrich the lives of Worcester’s senior community and I cannot think of a better place to honor Dolly’s many contributions to Worcester.

“Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dolly later came to Central Massachusetts and began her cultural involvement in Worcester by volunteering at WCUW community radio station. At WCUW, she hosted a bi-weekly radio show, Herencia Puertoriqueña for 13 years.

“Dolly was first hired in 1993 by Centro Las Americas to help manage their Latin American Festival, and she was later asked to head the organization’s new Cultural Department. Since that Dolly she has co-produced the annual Latin American Festival, the annual Latino Film Festival and the biennial Viva El Arte art show.

“Here in Worcester, Dolly has been an active member of our community through her involvement with Hispanics Achieving and Celebrating Excellence of QCC, and Latino Dollars for Scholars. I want to thank Dolly for her years of service to Worcester County and I wish her the best of luck in the future. She is a remarkable person who has done so much for the community. I’m also proud to call her a close and treasured friend.”

The Centro Las Americas’ Latino Elder Program offers many low-income Seniors ages 60 and over who reside in the city of Worcester and Southbridge the opportunity of socialize, meet new people of different cultures, learn about health issues, English class, computer class, advocacy, health screenings, consumer protection and case management.

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