Katia
Gomes-Dasilva

Katia Gomes-Dasilva is the Founder and President of DNPN, a Massachusetts-based humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated to providing disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, community development, and long-term support to the people of Cabo Verde and the Cabo Verdean diaspora.

Born in 1978 on the island of São Vicente, Cabo Verde, Katia's commitment to serving others was shaped by the values of family, compassion, and community. In 1997, she immigrated to the United States in search of greater opportunities while remaining deeply connected to her homeland and its people.

A devoted wife and mother of four, Katia has built her life around service. For more than twenty-three years, she has been a dedicated employee and respected member of the Harvard University community, earning the trust of colleagues through her professionalism, leadership, and unwavering commitment to helping others.

Katia's greatest humanitarian inspiration comes from her late aunt, Judith DaSilva Cafur, whose lifelong dedication to caring for those in need left a lasting impression on her family and community. Following her aunt's passing, Katia made a personal commitment to continue that legacy by creating an organization capable of delivering meaningful, lasting change to vulnerable communities.

In 2025, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Erin in Cabo Verde, Katia founded DNPN with a simple but powerful mission: to mobilize people helping people. Rather than waiting for others to respond, she immediately coordinated community donations, partnered with local recycling and logistics organizations, and organized the shipment of critical humanitarian supplies to families affected by the disaster.

Under her leadership, DNPN has already delivered four humanitarian aid shipping containers containing essential supplies to communities in Cabo Verde. These efforts represent only the beginning of a broader vision focused on sustainable development and long-term impact.

Katia envisions a future where every child has access to education, every family has a safe place to call home, and every community has access to quality healthcare. Through DNPN, she is working to build schools, support the construction of safe and resilient housing, expand access to medical equipment and healthcare resources, and create partnerships that empower communities to thrive long after disasters have passed.

"Our People to Your People" — Katia believes humanitarian work is built on dignity, partnership, and shared responsibility. Her leadership reflects the belief that meaningful change begins when communities come together to care for one another.

Today, Katia continues to lead DNPN with a vision of building one of the most trusted humanitarian organizations serving Cabo Verde — one shipment, one family, and one community at a time.