Senator Oliveira Recognizes Stephanie Perez with the 2026 Latino Excellence Award

LUDLOW — State Senator Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) is proud to recognize Ludlow resident Stephanie Perez as his 2026 Latino Excellence Award honoree for the Hampden, Hampshire & Worcester District, celebrating nearly two decades of service to children and families across Western Massachusetts and the countless lives she has touched along the way.

Presented annually by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, the Latino Excellence Awards celebrate Latino leaders from across the Commonwealth whose service, leadership, and contributions make a difference in their communities.

For 16 years, Perez worked as a service coordinator overseeing contracted services with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and its providers. In 2023, she brought that commitment to the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, where she now serves as Director of Programs and oversees the development and implementation of youth and teen programming.

“Stephanie has dedicated her life to serving others, and that commitment can be seen in the countless children, young people, and families whose lives she has touched,” said Oliveira. “For nearly two decades, she has made supporting others the focus of her career.

As a Boys & Girls Club alumna herself, she now has the opportunity to provide young people with the same support and opportunities that were so important in her own life. I am proud to recognize Stephanie and celebrate the difference she continues to make throughout Western Massachusetts.”

Perez’s connection to the Boys & Girls Club extends beyond her professional role. As a Club alum, she credits the organization with providing experiences that were integral to her own development. Today, she helps create those same opportunities for a new generation of young people.

Her commitment to youth development also extends across Massachusetts through her service on the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year Committee, where she helps ensure meaningful experiences for Club Youth of the Year from across the Commonwealth.