Inaugural Portuguese-American National Conference
Saturday, June 23, 2018
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In coordination with the Embassy of Portugal, and the sponsorship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal and the Luso-American Development Foundation, PALCUS hosted its Inaugural Portuguese-American National Conference in celebration of the "Month of Portugal." Community, education and business leaders from across the country came together with elected and appointed officials to discuss the future of the Portuguese-American community.
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Keynote Speaker: H.E. António Guterres
Secretary-General of United Nations
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Driven by the results of the PALCUS Index 2017 National Survey, the topics of discussion focused upon the three issues of greatest concern identified by the survey's respondents: 1) participation of Portuguese-Americans in public office, 2) maintenance of Portuguese-American organizations, and 3) promotion of Portuguese language education. At the end of the conference, a plan of action and full report will be created that organizations and individuals alike can use to drive new momentum in their local communities.
The conference was followed in the evening with a Dinner Reception and Concert at the Residence of the Ambassador of Portugal.
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Final Report: "Proceedings of the Inaugural Portuguese-American National Conference"
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Conference Panel Recordings on
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Photo Gallery by Henrique Mano
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Media Coverage (click on photo)
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Saturday, June 23, 2018
Washington Marriott at Metro Center
775 12th St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
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Program:
8:00 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Plenary Session:
Welcome: Angela Simões, Chair, PALCUS
Dr. Vasco Rato, President, Luso-American Development Foundation
H.E. Domingos Fezas Vital, Ambassador of Portugal to the United States
Opening Remarks: H.E. Augusto Santos Silva, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal
9:30 a.m. - Panel: “Integration of Portuguese-Americans in Public Office”
10:30 a.m. Moderator: Dulce Soares Scott, Ph.D., Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana
Panelists: Congressman Jim Costa, (D, CA-16), Co-chair, Portuguese-American Congressional Caucus
Congressman Devin Nunes (R, CA-22), Chair, House Intelligence Committee
Hon. Phillip Rapoza, Chief Justice, MA Appeals Court (Ret.)
Maria Z. Carvalho, President, Board of Education, Elizabeth (NJ) Public Schools
10:45 a.m. - Panel: “Building Social Capital Through Portuguese-American Organizations"
11:45 a.m. Moderator: Silvia Oliveira, Ph.D., Rhode Island College, Providence, Rhode Island
Panelists: Isabelle Coelho-Marques, President, New York Portuguese-American Leadership Conference (NYPALC)
Silvia Curado, Ph.D., President, Portuguese-American Post-graduate Society (PAPS)
Anthony Pio, Manager of Financial Services, Luso-American Financial
Diniz Borges, President, California Portuguese-American Coalition (CPAC)
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12:00 p.m.- Lunch and Keynote Address
1:30 p.m. H. E. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
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1:45 p.m. - Panel: “Portuguese Language Education: Challenges and Solutions”
2:45 p.m. Moderator: Onésimo Almeida, Ph.D., Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Panelists: João Caixinha, Coordinator for the Portuguese Language Programs and Education Affairs in the
United States of America, Instituto Camões
Silvia Oliveira, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor of Portuguese, Director of Institute for Portuguese and
Lusophone World Studies, Rhode Island College
Jamie Leite, Portuguese Director, Utah Dual Language Immersion Program, Utah
3:00 p.m. - Closing Session: “Establishing a Plan of Action”
4:00 p.m. Moderator: Diniz Borges, PALCUS Director
Moderators of each panel present summaries for discussion with the goal of identifying action items
6:30 p.m. - Dinner Reception and Concert at Ambassador’s Residence
10:00 p.m. 2125 Kalorama Road, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
With the generous support of
