Wilma E. Barbosa was born in Wallingford, Connecticut.. Shortly after, she moved to New Britain, Connecticut  where she has remained a resident for the past 54 years. She is the daughter of Emma Barbosa and the late Efrain Texidor-Martinez both of Puerto Rico. Growing up in a predominantly Puerto Rican household, Wilma’s first language is Spanish. She attended Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in New Britain where she took ESL classes for 5 years and learned to speak English. She spent the majority of her upbringing living in the projects of Malikowski Circle. Wilma is a New Britain High School alumni, class of 1986. She later went on to attend college and earned her Associates Degree in Office Technology from Tunxis Community College. She also went on to earn her Bachelors of Science in Global Business Management from the University of Phoenix. And in 2013 she earned her Master of Arts Degree in Leadership from Albertus Magnus College. In her work life, Wilma started working at the age 14 for Dana Snell at OIC.  She also worked at Bradlees, Stuarts, Dunkin Donuts and New Britain Board of Ed before graduating high school.  At 19 she began her career for Otis Elevator where she has been a dedicated employee for the last 37 years. She is a Mother of 3, and a Grandmother of 1. She is a Justice of the Peace of Connecticut and Alderwoman of the city of New Britain.  She has volunteered in an array of events but most importantly where children were involved, she was a CT Literacy Volunteer, sat on the board for United Way with Otis, is the Executive Director and a founding member of Diaspora Multicultural Society.  She was a coach for the Fagan and Walicki t-ball and softball teams (now the NB Little League), biddy basketball coach for the Boy & Girls Club, and a cheerleading coach for PAL Raiders.