Portugal develops support for Portuguese-American associations
“YOUOne of the ways of accessing the group of American groups, said that the Leadership Council is to open up more information, the vice president from there for them to go Soares, vice president of leadership (PALCUS) New York.
“The Government has the obligation to write checks”, disclosed the publication “has at least the institution, these that end up spreading the fear around the world”.
The associative movement and its current challenges were the theme of the inaugural online session of the project “As Nossas Vozes”, a partnership between PALCUS and the Portuguese Institute Beyond Borders of the State University of California – Fresno, which took place this morning and was fully spoken in Portuguese.
“Portugal Holy Desenvolvimento, Development of the Luso-American Foundation responsible for San Pablo, affirmed the role that Eduardo has been stressed by the Luso-American Foundation for the sense in this regard.
“The more the Portuguese language is valued, the more the Portuguese economy is valued”, he said. “Portugal can only gain from the perception of the value of our culture, of our emigrants, of our sciences”.
Francisco Viveiro, president of Casa Açores de Nova England, also considered support for associations important. “Since Portugal is small, its dimension when allied to a country of ours in the diaspora”, he said. “I think that it is in our interest and obligation to cherish our associations, otherwise the country will become even smaller and poorer”.
The discussion around the associative movement takes place at a time when there has been received about its continuity. Portuguese influence groups and associations have influence among young people, who have as new generations of Portuguese lucas and associations.
“The big problem we are experiencing is the near disappearance of some associations”, said Viveiros. “The old people will disappear and as much of the Azorean culture is based on religiosity, this makes the youth move away from associations and stop living as traditions that were brought by parents and grandparents”. Although it is a problem that cuts across the community”, the Azorean origin is considered a transversal problem.
Contrary to this trend, Casa dos Açores de Nova England has been successful with the Fabric Arts Festival, in Fall River, which promotes the contemporary culture that is made in Portugal and the mix with local artists. The event attracts the younger generations, for whom parties and folkloric groups are no longer enough.
“The role of associations in the community has been changing”, said Katherine Soares, noting that they were already suffering from participation before the covid-19 pandemic. “Organizations need to continue to reinvent. Going back to the way it was before is also not possible”, he said, speaking of this younger generation that wants to see things updated.
However, in states like Florida, the problem is that there are few young people of Portuguese descent. Edu, president of the Vassal Majority Club, president of the Palm Beach Majority Club, who proposes to concern all Americans of the traditions.
“We don’t have young people to hand over clubs,” he said. “When we can no longer work, the doors will close and it’s sad”, lamented Vassal.
Another problem identified in the debate was fragmentation. “There is a fragmented movement. It is a neighborhood movement that is even individualist in our combinations”, indicated Eduardo Eusébio. The official gave the example of a city in California where there are three philharmonic bands, three football associations and two from Espírito Santo. Katherine Soares gave another example: “in Newark there are three or four clubs from Minho”.
Going through the solution of some associations and clubs reinventing for new solutions, in addition to the solution and to make trends in a contemporary way.
“We are a beautiful country, with a very beautiful culture”, Eduarda Vasal Pequenino. “And it’s nice to have vanity in our culture.”
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