Meet immigration advocate Helena DaSilva Hughes

Helena DaSilva Hughes, 54, is the executive director of the Immigrants' Assistance Center, Inc. on Crapo Street in New Bedford. While officially a resident of Acushnet, Hughes said she feels like she lives in the city "due to the fact that I spend the majority of my time doing work-related activities" there.

Personal: Married for two years to Peter Hughes. I have a daughter named Victoria who lives in Los Angeles and I have a grandoggie who lives in LA. 

Last book read: Steve Jobs 

One thing always in your refrigerator:  Water.

How you unwind: I unwind by running about 5 to 6 miles which I feel it relieves my stress ...

Why you do what you do: I do what I do because I have tremendous passion and understand on so many different levels the challenges that the immigrants face when they immigrate to the US. I can relate becausemy family faced the same obstacles such as the language and cultural barriers. Immigrating to the US at the age of 10 I also can understand the challenges that immigrant children face such as living in two cultures and wanting so much to integrate into the American way of life that at times you can lose yourself in the process . . . I have lived the mission of the Immigrants' Assistance Center ... and I am very fortunate that after 30 yeas I still love what I do.

What you would do if you weren't doing this job: I think a profession as a diplomat would be something that I would enjoy. 

Who's your hero and why: My wonderful father is my hero. Even though he passed suddenly on Aug. 2, 2011 I think of him and talk to him every day. Everything I do, I do with him in mind. He is the reason why I am the person that I am today. 

Guilty pleasure: Dark chocolate.