“We are here to celebrate the Brazilian and the LEAD Community Center together. I feel very proud to be a bilingual person because being bilingual is power,” said Maria Matos, LEAD’s Vice President.

BCCC’s founders Iandra Lopes and Mel Baptista, along with Executive Director Emmanuel Kikugawa, Marketing Director Rui Weidt, and Dana Voelzke, hosted the award presentation.

The BCCC’s Award Recipients were as follows:

Social Impact Award – Mr.  Manuel Alberto Bataguas

Entrepreneurs of the Year:

- Jose Ademir Grecco

- Wilson Primo

- Mery Ellen Paulichi

- Mayra de Souza

- Maria Evans

- Daniel Afonso

- Edmundo and Katia da Silva

- Cris Correa

- Avestil da Silva Jr.

- Vivian and Fabiano Nogueira

- Fabiane Colery

- Josyane Torres

- Katia de Paula

- Dani Assis

“Thank you for the support to our family business,” said Vivian Nogueira owner of Favi Lanche, who, along with her husband Fabiano, was one of the recipients of the Entrepreneurs of the Year Award. “We are truly honored to serve our community.”

The BCCC is located at the LEAD building at 358 Main Street, Danbury, CT. For more information about services or to contact the Center, please call 203-947-5807, email centrocomunitarioct@gmail.com, or visit their website at centrocomunitarioct.com.