{"id":395,"featured":1,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:57:16","latitude":41.62684585000000225818439503200352191925048828125,"longitude":-70.922290178524008297245018184185028076171875,"title":"Empowering Others Through Education","subtitle":"Mary Santos Barros","fullsize":"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/fullsize/49a1d94f40b4f02d79f2f7899fd16dcb.jpg","address":"286 South 2nd St. New Bedford, MA 02740","all_locations":[],"zoom":17,"creator":["Tom Begley","Naia Barros"],"description":"Recognizing that diversity is our strength, Mary Santos Barros (1923-2018) was a strong and tireless advocate for equal education for all, Cape Verdean advancement, and many other causes in New Bedford. She demonstrated how others can build an inclusive community that treats all people with respect and dignity.

Mary’s concern for her own children and the children of others informed her active advocacy through Parent Teacher Associations (PTA)—coalitions of parents and teachers that advocate for public education and serve as a resource for community families. During the mid-20th century, many women used PTAs to organize on their children’s behalf. Mary often served as president of these PTAs. She also served on the executive committee of the Committee of Concerned Parents for New Bedford schools and was instrumental in the building and dedication of the Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School in 1977, named for a local Cape Verdean attorney and leader.

Using her experiences working in the PTA as a launching pad, Mary became more politically involved. Mary recognized that in order to accomplish certain objectives, one has to be active on many levels. Through a grassroots campaign, going door-to-door, to meet and listen to her constituents, she was elected to the New Bedford City Council in 1989 and served two terms as Ward 4 councilor. Upon her election she remarked that she would be “in the City Council for all the people of Ward 4.” Mary, like Rosalind Poll Brooker before her, brought her knowledge of the community to the Council to fight for changes from within City Hall. Her time in political office was marked by her support for affordable housing, drug rehabilitation programs, anti-poverty efforts, and continued educational advocacy through legislation.

She also brought her advocacy to the state level as a social worker for the Massachusetts Department of Social Services and as a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education from 1975-1979. She was recognized “for her distinguished service through the establishment of increased opportunities for the youth and exemplary parent participation.” She was also elected as a city and then a state Committeewoman to the Democratic Party Conventions.

Mary was a strong advocate for all people, particularly people of color, and especially Cape Verdeans. Her own Cape Verdean heritage was important to her and she did much to help Cape Verdeans in New Bedford and the land of her parents. When natural disasters assaulted Cape Verde, Mary, using her organizing skills, worked with others to lobby on state and federal levels to raise funds and send needed supplies to the islands. A believer in political empowerment as well, Mary helped many Cape Verdean immigrants become American citizens and served as a voice for immigrant parents, often taking them to school committee meetings and interpreting for them.

Her legacy is a powerful example that served as a role-model for her own children and all community members, as she spread the knowledge that they can empower themselves and strengthen the community.
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Thank you to the family of Mary Santos Barros for their contributions to Mary’s biography and providing photographs. Their stories showcased Mary’s special qualities and tireless efforts on behalf of her family and community.

","sponsor":"Lee Blake and the New Bedford Historical Society and Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast, an initiative of New Bedford Whaling Museum","accessinfo":"The Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School","lede":"","website":"www.historicwomensouthcoast.org","related_resources":["

Barros, Naia. “Mary Santos Barros.” New Bedford Whaling Museum. Lighting the Way. https://historicwomensouthcoast.org/mary-santos-barros/.

","

\"Mary Barros Wins Council Seat.\" Cape Verdean News (CVN). November 30, 1989.

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“Mary S. Barros, 94, Obituaries.” SouthCoast Today. Posted November 14, 2018. https://www.southcoasttoday.com/obituaries/20181114/mary-s-barros-94.

","

Urbon, Steve. “New Bedford activist Mary Barros remembered for her drive, heart.” Posted November 15, 2018. https://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20181115/new-bedford-activist-mary-barros-remembered-for-her-drive-heart.

","Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast, an initiative of New Bedford Whaling Museum"],"factoids":["

Factoid: A community center was built at the T.A. Green School and named the Mary S. Barros Educational Center in recognition of her decades of work.

","

Factoid: Mary was involved in many local community service organizations and social clubs including but not limited to: New Bedford Women’s Center, NAACP, Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Martha Briggs Educational Club, Cape Verdean Veterans Association Women’s Auxiliary, Merchant Mariner’s Social Club and Auxiliary, and the Cape Verdean American Federation. Mary, like Jennie Horne, also served as the director of ONBOARD, a local anti-poverty agency.

","

Factoid: Large-scale migration of Cape Verdeans to Massachusetts and Rhode Island started in the 1800s, when Cape Verdeans migrated to New Bedford to work in the whaling industry. To learn more about the history of the connection between the SouthCoast and Cape Verde, read this overview from New Bedford Whaling Museum’s Cape Verdean Maritime Exhibition. After the decline of whaling many Cape Verdeans worked in the cranberry industry in the region. Hear the story of how one Cape Verdean cranberry farmer is trying to keep the tradition alive in this story from The Public’s Radio.

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Tip: Educators can find supplemental resources, suggested lessons and activities, and connections to Massachusetts Standards at https://historicwomensouthcoast.org/education/organizing-new-bedford/.

"],"files":{"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/fullsize/49a1d94f40b4f02d79f2f7899fd16dcb.jpg":{"id":1624,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Mary Santos Barros","description":"Photo of Mary Santos Barros (1923-2018) courtesy of Naia Barros. | Personal collection of Naia Barros | Naia Barros","thumbnail":"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/square_thumbnails/49a1d94f40b4f02d79f2f7899fd16dcb.jpg"},"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/fullsize/5b38bc5b1f58d3410f3a19ebad07039d.jpg":{"id":1625,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School","description":"A consistent advocate for Cape Verdean parents and students, Mary Santos Barros was instrumental in the construction and dedication of the Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School. The school is named in honor of the Cape Verdean lawyer and leader. | New Bedford Public Schools | 2019 | New Bedford Public Schools","thumbnail":"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/square_thumbnails/5b38bc5b1f58d3410f3a19ebad07039d.jpg"},"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/fullsize/07583d1fb4c76d2b33271ae210f06bec.jpg":{"id":1626,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Mary Santos Barros is Recognized by Mayor Rosemary Tierney","description":"Mary Santos Barros poses for a photo with Mayor Rosemary Tierney (circa 1992-98). Mayor Tierney recognized Mary for her years of dedication to the community. In her handwritten note, the mayor thanked Mary "for being such a goodwill ambassador" between New Bedford and Cape Verde. | Personal collection of Naia Barros","thumbnail":"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/square_thumbnails/07583d1fb4c76d2b33271ae210f06bec.jpg"},"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/fullsize/8b8d02add8f580ba1e5712a334e420e9.jpg":{"id":1627,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Mary Santos Barros Campaigning in 1991","description":"Mary Santos Barros (far right) stands with supporters outside the Gomes School during her 1991 campaign for City Council. The slogan on her sign sums up her life's work: "Dedicated to the Community." | Personal collection of Naia Barros | 1991","thumbnail":"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/square_thumbnails/8b8d02add8f580ba1e5712a334e420e9.jpg"},"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/fullsize/15bd53d24620da3501ed46fb16237b7b.jpg":{"id":1628,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Mary Santos Barros was a Democratic Activist","description":"Mary Santos Barros was active in the Massachusetts Democratic Party serving as a city then a state Committeewoman to the party conventions. In this photograph, she is seen at an unknown event in the early 1990s wearing several buttons and stickers in support of Democratic candidates including Ted Kennedy, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Gov. Michael Dukakis. | Personal collection of Naia Barros | 1992 or 1993","thumbnail":"https://www.rhodetour.org/files/square_thumbnails/15bd53d24620da3501ed46fb16237b7b.jpg"}}}