PALCUS Podcast Channel: Recent Episodes
PALCUS Podcast Channel
The PALCUS Podcast Channel is the only podcast channel dedicated to the advancement of the Portuguese American community. It is hosted by the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States. www.palcus.org
Our guest today is Olivia Melo, who is the Director of City Libraries for the City of New Bedford, MA. She talks about the Casa da Saudade Branch, which is the only Portuguese public library in the United States. The library also has a Bookmobile program, in addition to books, it will deliver materials and other services to patrons who cannot visit the library, such as those who are homebound, have mobility challenges, or live in senior housing or similar residential facilities.
Learn more about the library at https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/library/locations/main-library/
Today's guest is Roberto Machado, a retired high school teacher and author, who talks about his book “An Azorean in Canada: A Memoir”. The book traces his adventures and misadventures from when he was born in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, to the moment that he emigrated and set foot in Toronto, to the present day. It deals with a variety of universal themes such as infancy, adolescence, adulthood, immigration, discrimination, resilience, adaptation and survival in a new country. Buy the book here
Today's guest is Lara dos Passos Corgin, an educator from Richmond, VA. Join us as she talks about the casas do povo in Madeira and how that is the model for the rural non-profit she is going to start in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
Learn more at https://johndospassos.institute/
Today's guest is Antonio Correia who talks about Gardunhos and how this project came to be. Gardunhos is a music-literary project that consists of an experimental fusion between traditional Portuguese music and an affection for the Portuguese medieval era and medieval culture, mentality, history and aesthetics.
- https://gardunhos.com/
- https://www.goodreads.com/series/353565-contos-arrepiantes-da-hist-ria-de-portugal
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fokQqbL--do
Today we have our first guests from South Africa: Eurico, Ricardo and Micaela from YAPS. The Young Adult Portuguese Society (YAPS) is a group of young inspiring professionals and entrepreneurs in South Africa with Portuguese heritage that host various events for our communities based across South Africa. They talk about how YAPS started and what they do.
Learn more at YAPS - Young Adult Portuguese Society | Community in South Africa
Today's guest is author Katherine Vaz. She talks about how she began writing and the people who supported her. She is the first Portuguese-American to have her work recorded by the Library of Congress (Hispanic Division) and teaches “Writing the Luso Experience” each summer in the Disquiet International Literary Conference in Lisboa, Portugal. She lives in New York City with her husband, Christopher Cerf, an Emmy- and Grammy-winning TV producer, composer for Sesame Street, editor, and author.
https://www.katherinevaz.com/
Today's guest is Frank Ferreira, who is the Conselheiro das Comunidades Portuguesas for the Washington, DC jurisdiction. He is also Founder & CEO of FERREIRA International (Fi). He joins us today to talk about the Portuguese Elections, how it works, and what improvements are needed to make it a better process.
Frank Ferreira | LinkedIn
Today's guest is Rui Pereira, Mayor of Wickenburg, AZ and Honorary Consul of Portugal in Arizona. Rui was born in Portugal and emigrated to the US with his family when he was a teenager. He talks about his path to becoming involved in politics and his role as Honorary Consul.
Today's guests Brian Martins and Derrick DeMelo are the creative forces behind The Portuguese Kids, being born and raised in Fall River, Massachusetts - a Portuguese Mecca - they use their upbringing as inspiration for their live comedy shows, hilarious musical parodies, and viral videos. Their unique brand of ethnic humor has won them legions of fans around the globe, and their videos have been viewed millions of times online.
Listen in as they talk about their newest venture: Portuguese Problems, the first English language sketch comedy show on RTP. Watch the trailer: https://fb.watch/qkuoPag28z/
https://www.portuguesekids.com/
Today's guest is John dos Passos Coggin, he is the maternal grandson of renowned Portuguese-American author John Dos Passos. With his family, he curates the John Dos Passos literary estate. He is committed to preserving the Dos Passos legacy of art, writing, and human rights advocacy. He serves on the advisory board of the John Dos Passos Society.
His newest project is Son of Portugal, a drama/thriller feature film set in 1964 in the United States and Portugal. Lyndon B. Johnson is President of the United States and António de Oliveira Salazar is the fascist dictator of Portugal, leading Europe's oldest dictatorship. Son of Portugal is about the Connemaras, Joe and Diana, an idealistic young couple working at the U.S. State Department. They host a 16-year-old foreign exchange student, João ("John" in Portuguese), a boy raised under Salazar's repressive regime. Joe and Diana and their two children, Dan and Moira, forge an unbreakable bond with the shy, precocious João. When the Salazar regime tortures João's pro-democracy father and then comes after João himself, the Connemaras must decide what they're willing to do in the name of family and democracy.
Son of Portugal: A Feature Film Project by John Dos Passos Coggin — Kickstarter
Today's guest is Jeremiah Duarte Bills. Called a “master of his craft,” by pastry chef Johnny Iuzinni, Jeremiah Duarte Bills is a baker, a musician and an ambassador for all things Portuguese.
Growing up in a dessert-obsessed family in Loomis, CA, he began baking in college as a way to connect to his Portuguese heritage. In 2016, he appeared on ABC’s The Great American Baking Show, this experience connected him to people all over the world hungry to learn about Portuguese dessert recipes.
Currently, he teaches Portuguese pastry classes, gives the occasional pop up and is the cohost of the baking podcast FLOUR HOUR.
https://portuguesebaking.com/
Today's guest is Elaina Vieira, Executive Director of the Carlos Vieira Foundation in Livingston, CA. Elaina talks about the work done by the Foundation and the San Joaquin Valley Portuguese Festival. This year's festival is on April 19-21, 2024.
The Carlos Vieira Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that focuses on the following three campaigns: Race for Autism, Race 2B Drug-Free, and Race to End the Stigma. CVF was built on one man’s dream of helping youth within our local communities. Through local support, CVF is able to assist youth across twenty-one counties within California’s central valley.
Learn more about all the wonderful things they do at https://www.carlosvieirafoundation.org
For information on the festival visit https://www.facebook.com/sjvportuguesefestival
Today we are joined by Luisa Carreiro Powe who has been a Physician Assistant since 1990. She talks about her career path and what being a Physician Assistant entails and how speaking Portuguese helped her.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisa-carreiro-powe-a4518282/
Our guest today is Anita Lucas, our first guest from Texas, and she is here to tell us all about the Portuguese community in Texas.She runs the Facebook group Portuguese and Proud in Texas.https://www.facebook.com/groups/186979598513771
Today we are joined by Tony Gregorio and Fatima Bettencourt from Centro Português de Nossa Senhora de Fatima in Watsonville, CA.They talk about how they got involved and what the Center is all about.https://www.facebook.com/HolyMaryWatsonville/
Today's guest is David Rodrigues from How to cook Portuguese Stuff. David was born in the USA to Portuguese parents, and he takes complicated Portuguese recipes and makes them easy for you to make at home!https://howtocookportuguesestuff.com/https://www.facebook.com/howtocookportuguesestuffhttps://www.instagram.com/howtocookstuff/
Our guest today is Ron Freitas, who is the 42nd District Attorney of San Joaquin County.A career prosecutor, Ron has served the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office in a myriad of roles including the Supervising Deputy District Attorney of the Gang Violence Suppression Unit, the Chief Deputy District Attorney of the Homicide and Gang Divisions, and the Assistant District Attorney.https://www.sjgov.org/department/da/ronfreitas
Today's guest is Inês F. Oliveira, a debut author from Portugal. She discusses her first book Calvin And The Sugar Apples and the process of writing. She believes words have the power to scatter light into children’s eyes and insists on reading aloud with her children every night.https://a.co/d/bljTlD9
Today's guest is Diniz Borges from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute. PBBI strives to be the hub for cultural, literary, pedagogical, and research resources for the diverse Portuguese Diaspora in the San Joaquin Valley and the entire State. We seek to be a congregating venue for cultural events, teacher workshops, literary resources, artistic showcases, legacy archives, interdisciplinary panels, and performing arts, not only for our students, faculty, and staff but also for the enrichment of the Portuguese-American community at large. PBBI strives to build a strong working relationship with the Portuguese Diaspora in California and the Lusophone World, allowing Fresno State students the prospect of establishing connections with other cultures and experiences and expand career opportunities locally and globally.https://cah.fresnostate.edu/pbbi.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063535272175
Our guest today is Mike Rezendes, an investigative reporter with the global investigations team at the Associated Press. Previously, he worked for the Boston Globe Spotlight Team and shared a Pulitzer Prize for revealing the cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Mike was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist twice, once in 2007 for an investigation of the debt collection industry, and again in 2017 for an exposé of the mental health care system in Massachusetts. In addition, Mike shared a 2014 Pulitzer awarded to the Globe for its reporting on the bombing of the Boston Marathon. Mike was running the marathon when the bombs exploded and worked into the night covering the tragedy.Mike is a co-author of two books: “Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church,” and, “Sin Against the Innocents: Sexual Abuse by Priests and the Role of the Catholic Church.” In 2015, he was played by Mark Ruffalo in the Academy Award-winning movie, "Spotlight."https://buff.ly/3Qrques
Today we are joined by Joann Malta-Weingard and Gary Resendes from the Luso-American Education Foundation (LAEF) Cultural Youth Summer Camp. The first Youth Cultural Summer Camp was held in 1998 at UC Santa Cruz. Since that time, summer camps have been held at 13 different University of California colleges, California State colleges and private colleges and universities. Hundreds of students, ages 12 to 17, have attended summer camp since 1998.Students learn about academic offerings, course selections, student housing, residential life, financial aid, scholarships, college applications and enrollment procedures. They also learn about Portugal, Portuguese language, culture, literature, arts, history, music, dance, and Portuguese food. All while living in a college dorm on campus.For more information visit https://luso-american.org/education/ or contact education@luso-american.org
Today's guest is André Corrêa d’Almeida, Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University and Founder of All4Integrity. All4Integrity is the first and only organization and global network created in Portugal to advance a culture of integrity, transparency, and social justice. It quickly became an incubator of ideas, initiatives, programs, and solutions to prevent and fight corruption.Learn more about All4Integrity at https://www.all4integrity.org/
Today's Guest is Jenny "JM" Da Silva, who is Director of Quality Assurance Department at GenPsych in New Jersey. Join us as we talk about mental health in our community.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jm-dasilva/jdasilva@genpsych.com
Our guest today is George Reis from New York who joins us to talk about Agostinho da Silva, who was a Portuguese philosopher, essayist, and writer. His thought combines elements of pantheism and millenarism, an ethic of renunciation (like in Buddhism or Franciscanism), and a belief in freedom as the most important feature of man. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Os_Grandes_Portugueses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agostinho_da_Silva https://www.facebook.com/AssociacaoAgostinhodaSilva
Today's guest is Chris Corgas, Deputy Director of the Community Economic Development Division of the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development. His focus is on strengthening San Francisco’s business corridors, mixed-use neighborhoods, public spaces, and commercial centers through customizable strategies and programs. Chris is also involved in PALCUS as a member of the Public Affairs Committee. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscorgas/
Our guest today is Ramana Vieira, a fado singer from Northern California. Listen in as she talks about her start in musical theater and then migrating to fado. Vieira’s work captures traditional Fado and influences from the Portuguese diaspora in a musical tapestry that ranges from the whispering, haunting ballads of Fado, to American classics and jazzy blues. https://ramanavieira.net/ https://www.youtube.com/c/RamanaVieira
Jennifer Mendes Dwyer is Deputy Executive Director of Progressive Maryland and she also holds an elected position on the Democratic Central Committe of Baltimore County. She talks about how she got involved and the importance her Portuguese heritage had in this decision. https://www.progressivemaryland.org/theteam
Today's guest is Marco Fernandes, from Sagres Vacations in Fall River, MA. Marco is a PALCUS Director and talks about his experience growing up in the Portuguese Community and how that experience is different today. https://www.sagresvacations.com/
Today's guest is Daniel Francisco, a self-proclaimed activist. Daniel is a councilman and is now running unopposed for mayor of Englishtown, NJ. He is also the president of the non-profit Blue Star Union. https://twitter.com/DFrancisco7 https://www.bluestarunion.com
Today's guest is Lino Amaral, who is very involved with the Portuguese community, talking about the San Pablo Hall and their unique situation. https://www.facebook.com/sphga
Massachusetts State Senator Jake Oliveira is a fourth-generation Ludlow resident. He is the great-grandson of immigrants from Portugal and Poland. Active in his community for nearly two decades, Jake was elected as a Ludlow precinct member at 18 and to the Ludlow School Committee at 22, where he served for 12 years. Through his work on the school committee, Jake was elected as the youngest President of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees in 2016. Before being elected in 2022, Senator Oliveira served as the State Representative for the 7th Hampden District from his hometown in Ludlow. https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JRO0
Today's guest is Zachery Ramos, who is the President & Creator of the Traveling Library and is currently on the Gustine School Board. He also ran for Mayor of the small town of Gustine in California at the age of 19. Zachery was the recipient of the 2019 PALCUS Young Portuguese-American “Promessa” Award.https://www.facebook.com/TrVeLiNgLiBrArY/
Today's guest is Andre Martins, Founder and Creative Director of Post Armada. Post Armada is a full sail creative, video production and post-production agency in Washington D.C. He talks about his involvement in political campaigns through his business. Learn more about Post Armada at https://postarmada.com/
Patrick Pihana Branco was the State Representative for Hawaiʻi House District 50 (Kailua and Kāne‘ohe Bay) from 2020 to 2022. He was born and raised in Kailua, and spent his summers at his great-great grandfather’s small farm in Kurtistown on Hawaiʻi island. Branco served as a U.S. diplomat for seven years including assignments in Pakistan, Colombia and Venezuela. Domestically, he worked in the Office of the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Secretary of State's Operations Center. Listen in as he talks about how and why he got involved in public service.This podcast was recorded while Patrick Branco was in office.
Judge Michèle Patrão Forsythe is a family court judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in South Carolina. Judge Forsythe was elected to the court by the South Carolina General Assembly in 2016 and was re-elected in 2022.Michèle is a first-generation American, fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. She also studied French. Born in New Jersey and raised in Washington, D.C., Judge Forsythe graduated from college, traveled abroad, and worked for the United States Government, ultimately attending law school. Presently, Judge Forsythe is working to provide access to justice for children who are involved in delinquency cases and abuse and neglect cases.
Join us as we speak to Maria Azevedo and Ryan Ostorero about Toastmaster International and the Portuguese Bilingual Group.Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development, with more than 364,000 members in over 16,200 clubs in 145 countries. Whether you are a professional, student, stay-at-home parent or retired, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining great communication skills. https://www.toastmasters.org/For questions contact Maria (margaze@sbcglobal.net) or Ryan (ryanostorero26@gmail.com)
Join us as former PALCUS directors Daniel da Ponte from RI and Jack De Oliveira from CT discuss the previous RI Bill to remove “Portuguese” as Minority Business category, and learn what PALCUS has done to try to prevent this from happening.https://rinewstoday.com/rep-anastasia-williams-tries-again-to-remove-portuguese-as-minority-owned-business-category/
Luis Gonçalves is the Director of the Portuguese School, of the Middlebury Language Schools, which features a seven-week summer immersion program, offering beginner through advanced-level Portuguese languages courses.Established in 2003, the Portuguese School is one of 13 Middlebury Language Schools network, located on the campus of Bennington College in Vermont.Learn more about the school at https://www.middlebury.edu/language-schools/languages/portugueseContact Luis at Lgoncalves@middlebury.edu
Tudo Português Podcast: Today's guest is Paulo Silva, Chief Risk Officer at Greenwood Credit Union in Warwick, RI. He talks about different ways to show Portuguese pride and spread the word about the Portuguese community.
Today we speak to Leslie Vicente, Executive Director of the Discovery Language Academy in New Bedford, MA. Discovery Language Academy provides innovative opportunities for language acquisition and application to learners of all ages and backgrounds so that they may progress towards their educational, vocational, and personal goals. https://www.discoverylanguageacademy.org/ https://www.facebook.com/discoverylanguageacademy.org/
Today's guest is Grace Moreira, from the Magic Valley Portuguese Hall in Wendell, Idaho. Did you know there is an active Portuguese Community in Idaho? The Hall strives to bring the Portuguese community together to celebrate the traditions. https://www.facebook.com/MVPH.Idaho/
Today's guests are Monica Sousa and Joe D'Alessandro from the Freeport/Clarksburg Festa, held annually 8 weeks after Easter Sunday at the I.D.E.S. Portuguese Hall, Clarksburg, CA. Learn more about the Festa at https://www.facebook.com/FreeportFesta/
Today's guest is Sofia Almeida from New York. Sofia is a part of the Portuguese community in Queens, NY where she spends time volunteering whether it be to help organize events for the children and the community or assisting in the Portuguese school. Sofia has pioneered the NY Portuguese Pop-Up events for small businesses across New York State with the help of many amazing leaders from each Portuguese cultural center. During a majority of her day, she is a bilingual speech-language pathologist in a school in Queens, NY, where she is certified to provide services in Portuguese and Spanish.
Today's guest is Ana Sofia Paulo Guerreiro from Alzuleycha. ALZULEYCHA was was founded in 2015 and honors and praises the long and rich Portuguese architecture heritage, perpetuating the architectural and design details in decoration pieces. ALZULEYCHA makes inspirational decoration accessories with a soul. Learn more about Alzuleycha at https://www.alzuleycha.com/
Our firts guest is Diogo Martins from Saudade Theater. Diogo is an actor, writer and producer born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, currently based in New York. Saudade Theatre is the first and only theatre company in the United States dedicated to producing original and thought-provoking work grounded in the Portuguese-American consciousness. Learn more about the theater at: https://www.saudadetheatre.org/
Today's guest is Leandra Furtado Rivera, Development Coordinator at Seed Global Health. Read her article in the Portuguese Tribune https://www.portuguesetribune.com/articles/legacy-of-resiliency/ Leandra has spent most of her professional career working in higher education development, most recently as a coordinator for the Alumni Affairs and Development office at Harvard University. Leandra is passionate about her Azorean heritage and was selected as a 2022 NextGen Fellow by the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States, an organization which advocates for the interests of Portuguese-Americans in the United States.
Today's guest is Dr. Maria Inês Romba, Head of Development at Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Learn more about Catolica at: https://www.ucp.pt PALCUS has a partnership with Católica University in Portugal, where one of their Fellowships will be reserved for a PALCUS Member. The Fellowship covers an entire degree, either undergraduate or graduate, not just one year or one semester. This is an incredible opportunity for our youth and we are proud to collaborate with such a prestigious university.
Today’s guest is Mariana Brazão. Mariana Brazão was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and moved to the United States with her parents when she was nine months old. Mariana is a 2019-2020 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Research Grant recipient to Brazil. She has curated the online exhibit Representation with a Hyphen: Latinas in the Fight for Women’s Suffrage at the National Women’s History Museum, and The Indigenous Benches of Brazil virtual exhibit at the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, in collaboration with Coleção BEI. Mariana is now also a PALCUS Director.
This week’s guest is Michael da Silva. Michael was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. After graduation, Michael worked for the Bank of Montreal in the Portuguese community in Toronto. After completing his MBA at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, Michael now works in corporate finance for a major biotech company in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Today's guest is Andrea Nunes. Andrea was born and raised in NJ, where she still resides. Though she’s built a corporate career in process and strategy, after becoming a mother in 2019, Andrea combined her passions in motherhood, her culture, and writing, and published her first bilingual children’s book, “Stella in the Vila” in 2020. She published a 2nd book in the series (Stella in the Kitchen) in 2021.
This week’s guest is Dylan Ferreira. Mr. Ferreira is from Swansea, MA and is currently a Senior Wildlife Biologist with the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife. At the Division, he works on many wildlife programs, but focuses on the white-tailed deer, New England cottontails and youth mentored hunt programs.
Between the Sea and the Sky - Book Presentation Join us for a conversation and reading with Professor Donna Binkiewicz from her new novel focusing on the Portuguese-American experience in Hawaii
PAINEL: VIVÊNCIAS E PATRIMÓNIO CULTURAL Moderadora: Manuela Marujo
A vida e a morte invisíveis dos adolescentes que cumprem medida socioeducativa: as implicações das avós Roberta de Andrade e Barros Roberta Andrade e Barros (Centro Universitário UNA/ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Brasil)
Avós que choram: as Arpillera, resistência e denúncia Yvone Dias Avelino (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo/Brasil)
A importância das avós na transmissão das tramas com fios de palha Arlete Assumpção Monteiro (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo/Brasil)
Memória e Tradição das avós: bordados de mulheres madeirenses (São Paulo, décadas de 1950-1960) Maria Izilda S. de Matos (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo/Brasil)
Meu avô açoriano: entre lembranças, pesquisa e afetos Lená Medeiros de Menezes Professora Emérita e Titular de História Contemporânea da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
PANEL: AVÓS - A SOURCE AND AN INSPIRATION FOR CREATIVITY IN THE PORTUGUESE DIASPORA IN NORTH-AMERICA (readings and discussion) Moderador: Diniz Borges Sam Pereira, Lara Gularte, Scott Edward Anderson, Logan Duarte, Melissa Jensen-Hiser, Nancy Vieira Couto, and Elaine Avila (North American writers) VII Congresso Internacional - 7th International Conference A Voz dos Avós: Saberes e Afetos The Voice of Grandparents: Knowledge and Endearment 15 a 18 de novembro de 2021 (November 15-18th 2021) Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) – Universidade Estadual da Califórnia, Fresno
PAINEL: INTERGERACIONALIDADE, INTERCULTURALIDADE E ENVELHECIMENTO NA CONTEMPORANEIDADE: SABERES, AFETOS E CULTURAS Moderadora: Aida Baptista
Envelhecimento, Competências, Saberes e Intergeracionalidade Maria da Conceição Pereira Ramos (Universidade do Porto, FEP & CEMRI, UAb)
Avós-Netos e Interculturalidade - Relacionamentos e Afetos em Tempos de Pandemia da Covid-19 Natália Ramos (Universidade Aberta & Centro de Estudos das Migrações e das Relações Interculturais/CEMRI); Rosa da Motta Azambuja (UDE, FBB & CEMRI/UAB).
A importância dos afetos entre avós e netos Ana Isabel Mateus Silva (Universidade Aberta & CEMRI, UAb) Saberes e Afetos de Avós Hindus em Portugal: Vivências em Contexto Migratório Ivete Monteiro (Hospital Dona Estefânia, CHLC; CEMRI/UAb); Natália Ramos (Universidade Aberta; CEMRI/UAb) 10h30-12h00 PAINEL: AVOSIDADE NA LITERATURA E OUTRAS FORMAS ARTÍSTICAS Moderadora: Manuela Marujo Quando a infância e a velhice se encontram: os poemas de Sidónio Muralha e “a arte de ser avô” Roseli Boschilia (Universidade Federal do Paraná); José Raimundo Noras (Investigador do CH-ULisboa. Doutorando em história (PIUDHist) “O fio do tempo nas narrativas de «Avós:Raízes e Nós» – contextualização histórica” Inez Marques (Professora de História, Lisboa, Portugal) Avós e netos sem pontes de afetos Aida Baptista (professora aposentada, cronista)
PAINEL: RELACIONAMENTO ENTRE GERAÇÕES E APRENDIZAGENS Moderadores: Aida Baptista, Manuela Marujo e Diniz Borges
Bisavós no Brasil? Uma contextualização sociodemográfica Emily Schuler (Universidade Católica de Pernambuco)
As avós encarceradas e seus netos: um olhar da psicogerontologia Daniely da Silva Dias Vilela (Universidade Católica de Pernambuco); Cristina Maria de Souza Brito Dias (Universidade Católica de Pernambuco); Cirlene Francisca de Sales da Silva (Universidade Católica de Pernambuco).
Os pais como mediadores do relacionamento avós e netos Rodrigo de Oliveira Aureliano (Uni. Católica de Pernambuco); Cristina Maria de Souza Brito Dias ((Uni. Católica de Pernambuco)
Avós e netos/as adultos/as jovens: como se dá essa relação? Cirlene Francisca de Sales da Silva (UNICAP); Cristina Maria de Souza Brito Dias (UNICAP); Daniely da Silva Dias Vilela (UNICAP) Guardiões da oralidade: avós contadores de histórias e sua importância para o desenvolvimento infantil Alana Evellyn da Silva Almeida (Discente do Curso de Pedagogia/ UFPB; Voluntária/ Extensão, Ester Balbina Barbosa Discente do Curso de Pedagogia/ UFPB; Voluntária/ Extensão, Andrielly Souza da Silva Discente do Curso de Pedagogia/ UFPB; Voluntária/ Extensão, Victor Flávio Alves Palma Discente do Curso de Pedagogia/UFPB; Bolsista do projeto;, Adriana Pereira Lopes Educadora de FREI/João Pessoa/PB; Colaboradora externa, Maria Teresa Barros Falcão Coelho Docente do Departamento de Fundamentação da Educação (UFPB); Orientadora e Coordenadora do projeto) UFPB-Universidade Federal de Paraíba)
Língua e identidade: a importância do relacionamento intergeracional avós-netos nos materiais didáticos em contexto universitário Luciana Graça (Leitora IC, Universidade de Toronto, Canadá); Manuela Marujo (Prof. Emérita, Universidade de Toronto, Canadá
11h00-12h00 Avós da Diáspora, a Voz da Memória: Gerações, Migração e Língua Rosa Maria Neves Simas (Professora Emérita, Universidade dos Açores) Participação de jovens adultos da Diáspora Portuguesa nos EUA (bilingue) Andrew Figueiredo, Brandi Garcia, Kayla Faria, Jonathan Moules and Angela Simões.
PAINEL: VIVÊNCIAS E PATRIMÓNIO CULTURAL Moderadora: Manuela Marujo
A vida e a morte invisíveis dos adolescentes que cumprem medida socioeducativa: as implicações das avós Roberta de Andrade e Barros Roberta Andrade e Barros (Centro Universitário UNA/ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Brasil)
Avós que choram: as Arpillera, resistência e denúncia Yvone Dias Avelino (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo/Brasil)
A importância das avós na transmissão das tramas com fios de palha Arlete Assumpção Monteiro (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo/Brasil)
Memória e Tradição das avós: bordados de mulheres madeirenses (São Paulo, décadas de 1950-1960) Maria Izilda S. de Matos (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo/Brasil)
Meu avô açoriano: entre lembranças, pesquisa e afetos Lená Medeiros de Menezes Professora Emérita e Titular de História Contemporânea da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
The inaugural session of the 7th conference The Voice of Grandparents: Wisdom and Endearment.
This week’s guest is Attorney Danielle Angelo. Graduate of the Roger Williams University School of Law. Ms. Angelo is currently employed at the Law Office of Michael C. Lima, where she is practicing in the area of civil litigation, while maintaining an interest in residential real estate and estate planning.
There are more study abroad programs than ever before, offering once in a lifetime opportunities to attend universities in Portugal. Join us to discuss the value that these opportunities provide, how to access and apply, and what we can expect to see in the future.
Moderator: Ana Ferreira, PALCUS Director
Speakers: Michael Baum, SiPN (FLAD) Ines Romba, Universidade Catolica Alcidia Gomes, Fresno State
Newspapers, radio, online shows….how can we continue to reach multiple generations with news and information about our community? Join us to discuss what works, what doesn’t, and how we can evolve our Portuguese-American media landscape to achieve greater engagement.
Moderator: Ricardo Farias
Speakers: Ricky Duraes, SIC Diniz Borges, Portuguese American Hour Paulina Arruda, Wjfd Miguel Avila, Tribuna Portuguesa Antonio Correia (FL)
This session will dive into how Portuguese organizations can reach more people within the community through social media, traditional channels and technology.
Moderator: Angela Simoes, PALCUS Chair
Speakers: Manny Antunes, Audible Jayme Henriques Simoes, Public Relations Expert Diana Rodrigues, Social Media Expert Nuno Guerreiro, PUSCC Gabrielle Horta, liveLUSO
Join this session to learn all about the Study in Portugal Network (SiPN), studying abroad and complete internships in Portugal.
Moderator: Angela Simoes, PALCUS Chair
Speakers: Ricardo Pereira, SiPN (FLAD) Marco Fernandes, Sagres Vacations
Moderators: Sandra Pires, Portuguese Embassy and Magda Vakil, PUSCC
Speakers: Marina Carreira Peter Pereira Michael de Brito
Ralph Almeida is a Brooklyn-based, multi-disciplinary artist of Portuguese descent. His paintings, drawings, collages, and ceramic tile designs have been shown widely and installed in public and in private residences. Almeida’s work draws from nature (animal, horticultural and landscape motifs), the history of decorative arts (from Ancient Egypt to William Morris to Marimekko) and Modernism (Miro, Calder, Klee, Kandinsky and others). New York architecture and history has a significant influence on his work. In the past he studied Textile Design and Fine Arts at The Fashion Institute of Technology while free-lancing as a textile designer. He has taught art classes, developed museum proprietary items, worked as an assistant art director of two independent films, explored fused glass, stained glass, pottery and illustrated his own children’s book. Most recently, Almeida has created a line of seasonally inspired masks for Covid-19 safety; a mosaic housewares line; a textile collection for home, bath and office in collaboration with Society 6; launched a virtual reality art gallery and an ongoing series of illustrations for the poetry website Global Poemic. As always, he moves fluidly from fine to decorative arts, through a multiplicity of media with an eye towards installation and utility. He has exhibited broadly in NYC, New Delhi, India, Washington, DC, Las Vegas, NV, Connecticut, and Los Angeles, California. Ralph’s projects, interviews, merchandise, website and VR gallery can be seen at: linktr.ee/RaffaArt
This event is part of the Portuguese American Art Gallery virtual exhibition, made possible by PALCUS, PUSCC, The Embassy of Portugal and FLAD. https://portugueseamericanartgallery.com
Many colleges and universities have long-established centers of Portuguese studies, and we are also starting to see the establishment of new centers. How can these university centers play a role in driving more engagement in our communities?
Moderator: Angela Simoes, PALCUS Chair
Speakers: Fresno, PBBI: Diniz Borges Brown University, Onesimo Almeida Rhode Island College: Silvia Oliveira UMass Dartmouth: Paula Rioux UC Santa Barbara: Andre Correia de Sa Saab Center for Portuguese Studies: Frank Sousa UC Berkeley: Deolinda Adao
For nearly 200 years, the foundation of our community has been traditional events and activities such as the Holy Ghost Festas, dancing folklore, playing in philharmonic bands and singing Fado. But as we have seen a decline in participation in these events over the past decades, what will it take for them to continue?
Moderator: Katherine Soares, PALCUS Vice-chair
Speakers: Zachery Ramos, Gustine Traveling Library (CA) Norbert Duarte (CA) Danny Vasconcelos (MA) Cathryn Rafael (CT)
A key factor of maintaining a community’s identity is to publish texts to document the social and historical elements of the community’s growth, culture and evolution. Join us to discuss how the various publishing houses have filled this important role in the past, and how they can drive further interest in Portuguese and Portuguese American literature.
Moderator: Anabela Dacruz-Melo, Esq., PALCUS Director
Speakers: Diniz Borges, Fresno, Bruma Publications Mario Pereira, Tagus Press (MA) Onesimo Almeida, Gavea Brown (RI)
PALCUS National Conference 2021 - How Community Centers Will Be The Foundation Of Our Community by PALCUS Podcast Channel
PALCUS National Conference 2021 - Perspective Of New Communities by PALCUS Podcast Channel
PALCUS National Conference 2021 - Embracing Modern Portuguese Culture by PALCUS Podcast Channel
PALCUS National Conference 2021 - Existing Portuguese Programs In Middle And High Schools by PALCUS Podcast Channel
PALCUS National Conference 2021 - The Role & Evolution Of Portuguese Professional Associations by PALCUS Podcast Channel
PALCUS National Conference 2021 - The Role Of Community Schools by PALCUS Podcast Channel
PALCUS National Conference 2021 - Getting A Portuguese Program Started In Your Local School by PALCUS Podcast Channel
PALCUS National Conference 2021 - STARtalk, Addressing Funding Through Policy by PALCUS Podcast Channel
The purpose of the conference is to create an opportunity for education, business, civic leaders and elected officials to come together to discuss ways in which to build the community’s social capital and to advance the Portuguese-American agenda.
The purpose of the conference is to create an opportunity for education, business, civic leaders and elected officials to come together to discuss ways in which to build the community’s social capital and to advance the Portuguese-American agenda.
Today's guest is Sonia Alves-Viveiros, City Manager of Englewood, NJ. The City Manager is the chief executive and administrative official of the City. Alves-Viveiros also served as a town administrator in Maplewood, NJ, before assuming her current position in Englewood. She has a master’s degree in public administration from Seton Hall University. Listen in as she talks about her experience in this position.
Today's guest is The Honorable Nancy Rodrigues, Former Virginia Secretary of Administration and Deputy Director, 2019 Commemoration: American Evolution from Surry, VA. She shares how she got involved in public service. Nancy Rodrigues was born in Newark, New Jersey; she completed her undergraduate education with honors at Rutgers University and attended graduate school at the College of William & Mary. Prior to working for the Commonwealth of Virginia, she managed her own consulting firm.
Councilman Ricardo Mourato has been a resident of the Rhode Island community for more than 47 years. He has 23 years in law enforcement and began his career at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls. Mourato believes in being a voice for the people and ensuring they are a true part of the democratic and legislative process. This is his first term serving Ward 4. He is a board member of Amigos de Rabo de Peixe-USA, Inc. and is an active member of the Santa Maria Club and a parishioner at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Providence.
Today's guest Mayor Roberto DaSilva has served as the first Mayor of East Providence since 2019. He previously served the residents of East Providence and Pawtucket as a State Representative. DaSilva worked in the Pawtucket Police Department for over 25 years. He talks about the Portuguese community in his area and his passion for his job.
The Portuguese Bom Samaritano Organization was created to help address the problem of addiction in our community. It's a topic that many do not like to speak about, and yet it affects so many of us. Join us during this webinar to learn about the work Bom Samaritano is doing, how you can get involved and how you can get help if you need it. Our guest is the Founder of Bom Samaritano, Alcides Machado.
Join us for a discussion about law enforcement reform with Rhode Island Attorney General, Peter Neronha. On November 6, 2018, Peter F. Neronha was elected as Rhode Island’s 74th Attorney General. As the top legal official in Rhode Island, Attorney General Neronha leads an office that prosecutes criminal cases; represents state agencies, departments and commissions in litigation; initiates legal action when necessary to protect the interests of Rhode Islanders; and oversees the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.
Genevieve Azevedo worked as Extra Help Election Specialist I at Merced County Office of Voter Registrar in Merced, California. Listen in as she tells us about her work.
Theresa Agonia was born and raised in Central Falls, Rhode Island. She grew up involved in opportunities to support Portuguese traditions and was the first member of her family to graduate from college in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications from Roger Williams University. Theresa was Miss Rhode Island USA 2016. She considers her passions to be in public service, supporting women’s rights and being a voice for marginalized communities. Theresa currently serves as Senior Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Jorge Elorza in the Capital City of Providence, Rhode Island, where she manages community engagement strategies and the City’s annual events calendar.
Today's guest is Honorary Consul of Portugal in Hawaii Tyler Dos Santos-Tam. Tyler is also Chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. Learn about and be inspired by his journey to both positions.
Our guest today is Massachusetts State Representative Alan Silvia. A life-long resident of Fall River, he talks about his vast career in law enforcement, including twenty one years of service as a detective with the Fall River Police Department and his involvement with the Portuguese community.
PALCUS has been tackling important social issues. In this episode of our podcast, PALITICUS, we are excited to talk to the Geraldo Family about their experiences as a biracial Portuguese-American family.
Join us for an honest discussion about being gay in the Portuguese community. Our guests David Garcia, Chelsie Santos and Nuno Guerreiro will talk about their experiences and provide some advice for how we can be more accepting as a community.
Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira has been involved in several school, community, and charitable organizations for many years. He first ran for and was elected to the position of Village Trustee in 2008 and in 2011 Trustee Pereira was designated Deputy Mayor by Mayor Scott Strauss. Pereira’s contributions to the Mineola Portuguese community have earned him the Order of Merit, which was awarded to him for his selfless acts by the Portuguese government. Pereira, who immigrated to the United States from Portugal in 1977, strived to stay close to his roots while also adapting to life in the United States.
Today's guest is Jordan Thomas, recipient of the 2018 PALCUS Young Portuguese-American "Promessa" Award and the PALCUS' new Board Member representing the youth in our community. Jordan is a 2018 graduate of Princeton University, where a successful academic career culminated in such distinctions as Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, the Myron T. Herrick Thesis Prize, and a 2018 Spirit of Princeton Award. Watch our webinar with Jordan to learn more about his background and what he's doing today.
We are excited to talk to our first military guest, Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo Pires. He was born in Terceira and works at the Pentagon in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. He assists in exercising the Secretary of Defense’s authority, direction, and control over Defense intelligence, counterintelligence, and security components.
Mayor Rui Pereira was born in Portugal and is a long-time resident of Wickenburg and has previously served on the council from 2008 – 2012 and again from June 2016 through December 2018. He was elected Mayor in June 2019. He talks about his path to public service and the current pandemic.
Our guest is Adam Medeiros, Trustee in the Kings County Board of Education. He talks about moving to the US with his family when he was 2 and his path to public service. Adam T. Medeiros has been an active member, volunteer, and business owner in Hanford for nearly 40 years and is currently serving his first term on the Kings County Board of Education. Prior to his election in 2018, Adam held a board position at Kings River-Hardwick Union School District. During his ten years with Kings River-Hardwick, the school has been a California Honor Roll School every year since 2014 and recently received the California Gold Ribbon Award.
Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry grew up in western Yolo County and has long served her community. After going to school and working in the Bay Area for several years, she moved back to her hometown of Winters where she almost immediately became active in the local community and a regional leader on several issues. She first served as planning commissioner and then was elected to the city council eventually serving as the first female mayor of Winters and becoming the longest standing mayor. She is now a member of the California State Assembly, representing District 4.
Listen in as we talk to Buddy Mendes, Supervisor representing District 4 in Fresno County, CA. Supervisor Mendes has been very active in the local community, serving 20+ years on a variety of Boards and Committees including the Riverdale Unified School District Board of Trustees, Southwest Transportation Agency which provides student transportation for 13 school districts and the Riverdale Public Utility District.
Today's guest is Timothy Perry, who is Chief of Staff & Deputy Homeland security Adviser in the Government's Office of Emergency Service in the state of California. Listen in as he talks about how he got started as the first volunteer for David Cicilline's campaign when he ran for Mayor of Providence, RI. and his interesting journey to where he is now.
Senator Jessica de la Cruz is the State Senator for District 23. De la Cruz is a lifelong Rhode Island native and first-generation American born to Portuguese immigrants. She tells us what motivated her to run for State Senate and her hopes for the future.
This is the ninth in a series of PALITICUS episodes in video forma recorded at the Inaugural Portuguese American National Conference in Washington, DC. Today's episode features Robert M Silva, President of the Portuguese Discovery Monument Foundation.
This is the eight in a series of PALITICUS episodes in video forma recorded at the Inaugural Portuguese American National Conference in Washington, DC. Today's episode features Mina Grosso, Chairwoman of LUSO-East Fraternal.
This is the seventh in a series of PALITICUS episodes in video forma recorded at the Inaugural Portuguese American National Conference in Washington, DC. Today's episode features José Morais, CEO Morais Vineyards.
This is the sixth in a series of PALITICUS episodes in video forma recorded at the Inaugural Portuguese American National Conference in Washington, DC. Today's episode features Jason Fragoso, Attorney.
This is the fifth in a series of PALITICUS episodes in video forma recorded at the Inaugural Portuguese American National Conference in Washington, DC.! Today's episode features Florentino Gregorio, President and CEO of Anchor Construction in Washington, DC
This is the fourth in a series of PALITICUS episodes in video forma recorded at the Inaugural Portuguese American National Conference in Washington, DC.! Today's episode features Helena da Silva Hughes, Executive Director of the Immigrants’ Assistance Center in New Bedford, Massachusetts
This is the third in a series of PALITICUS episodes in video forma recorded at the Inaugural Portuguese American National Conference in Washington, DC.! Today's episode features Gloria Sousa, past president of the Portuguese-American Cultural Center in Port Saint Lucie, FL and CEO of Keysolutions Medical Billing, LLC
This is the second in a series of PALITICUS episodes in video forma recorded at the Inaugural Portuguese American National Conference in Washington, DC.! Today's episode features Natalia Luis, COO and Owner of M. Luis Construction Co.
Today’s guest is Representative Thomas E. Noret (D) who was elected in November 2018 to the seat in House District 25 in Coventry and West Warwick, Rhode Island. He talks about taking a DNA test in 2016 and discovering his Portuguese Ancestry and about the great Portuguese population in his district. He discusses the need for greater participation from the community and tells us his impressions on participating in the FLAD Legislators' Dialogue in Lisbon.
Christopher Hendricks is a State Representative currently serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing Acushnet and New Bedford as the 11th Bristol District. He is an attorney who was born and raised in New Bedford, MA which has a very high Portuguese-American population. His great-grandparents emigrated from the island of Flores, Azores around the 1900s. He talks about how he has always been interested in law and politics and how the trend of where politics are heading encouraged him to run for office. He also talks about the importance of the 2020 Census and the Make Portuguese Count Campaign and his participation in FLAD’s Luso-American Legislators' Dialogue.
This is the first in a series of PALITICUS episodes in video forma recorded at the Inaugural Portuguese American National Conference in Washington, DC.! Today's episode features Bernardo Goarmon of EDP Renewables and the Portugal-US Chamber of Commerce.
Councilwoman Sofia Pereira from the city of Arcada, CA is today's guest. She talks about how wanting to make a difference got her involved in local politics. She also talks about her vision for Arcata to become the 1st Zero Waste City in Humboldt County and how she thinks it's important to increase the city’s use of technology to improve resident engagement and to make vital information easily accessible.
Join us as Massachusetts State Senator Marc R. Pacheco, the body’s longest continuously-serving member, talks about his start in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1988 and from there the Massachusetts Senate in 1992. He talks about the biggest changes he has seen throughout these years and the importance of the relationships developed between Portuguese-American elected leaders and the Portuguese Government.
Today we talk to former Congressman Richard Pombo, who is a partner at Gavel Resources, a consulting and lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. He tells the story of going from a farming family in the Central Valley in California to City Council of Tracey and from there running for Congress. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 and represented California’s 11th district until January of 2007. While in Congress he became the Co-Founder of the Portuguese-American Caucus and helped implement the Visa Waiver Program and the Tax Treaty. He also talks about the importance of running for elected positions at the local level and how these are the positions that have the most direct impact on people’s daily lives. He encourages people to engage in local campaigns and learn the election process. And he also tells us a little about his current work at Gavel Resources. http://www.gavelresources.com/
Join us as we speak to Nancy Andrade who is a health scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA. She is serving in the role of special assistant to the Director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Nancy is also very involved with Toastmasters International, which is a world-wide non-profit organization that helps develop members' communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. Her parents immigrated to New England in the 70s. She majored in Global Studies and became more interested in social issues and doing good. She talks about how she got involved in public service to try to impact people’s lives as much as possible and about how knowing Portuguese opened up opportunities and her interest in other cultures. https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/Profiles/Andrade,_Nancy/
Our guest today is Jack DeOliveira, a 24-year-old first-generation Portuguese-American. He studied Political Science and became involved in politics by reaching out to fellow Portuguese-American Rep. Rosa Rebimbas. He is a Burgess in Naugatuck and works as a legislative aid at the Connecticut House of Republicans. He talks about the political world in the state of Connecticut and how to get younger generations of Portuguese-Americans involved.
Today we are speaking with Ana Martins Cavanaugh, the first elected official from Connecticut to be interviewed for PALITICUS. Ana is a Board of Education Member for the Canton Public Schools and has three children in this school district. She is now serving her second four year term on the Board of Education. She talks about how she got involved, the issues dealt by the Board and also about how important it is to keep her Portuguese culture alive.
Today we have the pleasure of speaking to Joseph Lopes, a council member from the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, which has a strong Portuguese presence. His love of politics can be traced back to his father and grandfather. He was eight when he worked on his first campaign by accompanying his father while he campaigned for a friend who was running for mayor. His grandparents worked on president Kennedy's campaign, so it all runs in the family. He tells us a little about the role of Council President, which he has been elected for twice in the past, he is currently the vice-president. And he says that even if you don't want to run for office, there are other ways of being involved, like by joining a committee or board.
Today’s podcast is with Dennis Brazil, former mayor of Gustine, California and open candidate for state senate, district 12. Born and raised in Los Banos, in 2005 he relocated to Gustine, CA and ran for mayor in 2009, winning with 78% of the votes. In 2014 the current senator asked him to consider running for senate in 2018, after 6 months of consideration he started working on the senate campaign. He believes in the three C’s: Communication, Compromise and Common Sense, being that the middle C is what gets things accomplished. District 12 is one of the largest districts in CA and encompasses 6 counties. Water and immigration are the main issues in his district. He’s a fourth generation Portuguese whose family came from the Azores. The Portuguese population in his district is mainly involved in agriculture and depend on the Hispanic community for labor, so immigration is an important issue. He talks about the importance of creating a network of Portuguese Americans independent of political affiliations. And his call to action is to start by going to the council meeting and the board of supervisor meetings and engage at the level where your voice is heard, write to your representatives, make sure your opinion counts. https://www.facebook.com/DennisBrazilforStateSenate/
Today we are talking to our youngest ever podcast guest, Representative Dylan Fernandes from the state of Massachusetts. He talks about how there is a misconception about the district he represents and how his family grew up in poverty and he was the first in his large Portuguese family to graduate from college. He got involved in politics right out of college and said his drive was always to give back to the community and help those less fortunate. He talks about the large Portuguese community in his district and how he believes that they are looking for new Portuguese leadership. His advice is to get involved and not let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, there’s a need for Portuguese leadership in our communities and he is always available to talk to anyone interested in getting involved.
Today's Guest is Representative Tony Cabral, from the 13th Bristol District of Massachusetts, who is originally from the Azores and immigrated at the age of 14 with his parents. He was already politically involved in college, and from there he got involved in Michael Dukakis' campaign fro Governor of MA in 82, and then decided to get involved himself and run for office. His district in New Bedford has a large Portuguese American community. He talks about the importance of dialogues with the Azores and how it is beneficial for both sides. He also talks about how much more involved the Portuguese American community has become in his districts. His call for action is for people to get involved at a local level in their community, and how we need to get young people involved and interested in being participants.
Our guest today is Lee Neves, a Campaign Manager, or as in his own words: The guy behind the guy. Lee got his start in the political world in the office of Assembly member Keith Olberg of San Bernardino County.
In this podcast he tells us a little about his job and how involved the Portuguese Community is in local politics. He talks about the importance of getting involved and not being afraid of asking a lot of questions, and to always remember that the other side is not the enemy. It’s time for a civil conversation.
For more about CrossCurrents, visit http://crosscurrentsllc.com/about-us/
Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Senator Daniel da Ponte, who was born and raised in Rhode Island by parents who immigrated from the Azores. He grew up around politics and was elected for the Senate at the young age of 20 while still a student at the University of Rhode Island. He is proud to say his senate seat has been continuously represented by a Luso-American since 1959. In his community of East Providence Portuguese Americans are very well integrated in the community and he hopes more and more Portuguese Americans become involved in Politics and Public Service.
Today we talked to Paul Pereira from San Jose, California. He is the Director of Community, Neighborhoods, Quality of Life and Public Safety and works directly with the mayor Sam Liccardo and is the first non-elected guest on PALITICUS. He talks about Little Portugal and the importance of the Portuguese-American community being involved and how Little Portugal has changed throughout time, but there are still pockets of Portuguese-American around the city. He advises people to get involved in the school or neighborhood level and how you can make a difference even without running for office.
Rep. Joseph Solomon from RI’s 22 district is today’s guest. He talks about how he worked at the RI General Assembly for 6 years before running for office in 2014 and that the economy was one of the main issues that drove him to run for office, because he wanted to bring new ideas to the table. He believes we need to get involved to change things and make a difference, and that everyone can get involved at some level, specially the Portuguese-American community. He also believes that exchanging information with Portugal can be beneficial to the state of Rhode Island.
Today we’re talking to County Supervisor Craig Pedersen from Kings County, CA. As a third generation farmer who couldn’t get the answers he needed on issues that were important to him from the County Supervisor, he then decided to run for that same position. He’s very proud to serve his community and comments on the importance of his Portuguese heritage and the immensurable work ethic of the Portuguese people. Learn more about Craig here: https://www.countyofkings.com/departments/board-of-supervisors/craig-pedersen
Carol Dutra-Vernaci, Mayor of Union City, CA shares how she got involved with the student government in high school and the path she took from there on, including 13 years in the city council and 5 years as mayor. She became involved because of an issue that was important to her, and following that issue has guided her career in public service. She also talks about how the Portuguese community has changed throughout the years in her area.
Today’s guest is Councilman Scott Silveira from Los Banos, CA. He talks about how at the age of 8 he fell in love with community service after shaking hands with the city mayor at a fair. He recommends starting at the local level and getting involved, He is in his 6th year as councilman and will soon be running for county supervisor.
Today’s guest is professor Vasco Rato, President of FLAD (Luso-American Development Foundation), a private organization whose goal is to develop a good relationship between Portugal and the United States, working very closely with governments from both countries. Professor Rato encourages the involvement in the political process and being proud of your Portuguese Heritage.
Learn more about FLAD here: www.flad.pt
The first guest in the PALITICUS series is Steven Nascimento, Executive Director of CPAC - California Portuguese American Coalition, who talks about the importance of bringing individuals together and all the different ways to become involved and exercise your voice as a community.
Learn more about CPAC here:https://www.caportuguesecoalition.org/
PALITICUS is a new bi-weekly podcast series, produced by PALCUS and hosted by Angela Simoes and Diniz Borges, which focuses on politics and public service from the Portuguese-American perspective. Each week we will bring together industry experts, lawmakers and political analysts to raise awareness about important issues and encourage more civic involvement and engagement by Portuguese-Americans.