Inaugural Portuguese-American National Conference
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 is organizing its Inaugural Portuguese-American National Conference in celebration of the "Month of Portugal." Community, education and business leaders from across US will be brought together with elected and appointed officials to discuss the future of the Portuguese-American community.
Driven by the results of the PALCUS Index 2017 National Survey. The data collected in the current survey was analyzed by Dr. Dulce Maria Scott, Anderson University, who then authored the survey report that we are making public today.
Program:
8:00 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Plenary Session:
Welcome: Angela Simões, Chair, PALCUS
Vasco Rato, President, Luso-American Development Foundation
H.E. Domingos Fezas Vital, Ambassador of Portugal to the United States
Remarks: H.E. Augusto Santos Silva, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal
9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. – Panel: “Integration of Portuguese-Americans in Public Office”
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.)
Rep. Rosa Rebimbas (R), CT House of Representatives
Maria Z. Carvalho, President, Board of Education, Elizabeth (NJ) Public Schools
10:45 a.m. 11:45 a.m.- Panel: “Building Social Capital Through Portuguese-American Organizations"
Panelists:
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)
12:00 p.m.- Lunch and Keynote Address
1:30 p.m. H. E. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
1:45 p.m. 2:45 p.m.- Panel: “Portuguese Language Education: Challenges and Solutions”
Panelists:
Silvia Oliveira, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor of Portuguese, Director of Institute for Portuguese and
Lusophone World Studies, Rhode Island College
Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Schools, Florida
Jamie Leite, Portuguese Director, Utah Dual Language Immersion Program, Utah
3:00 p.m. – Closing Session: “Establishing a Plan of Action”
3:30 p.m. Moderators of each panel to present overview for discussion with the goal of identifying action items
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Washington Marriott at Metro Center
775 12th St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
The conference will be followed in the evening with a Dinner Reception and Concert at the Residence of the Ambassador of Portugal. – Dinner Reception and Concert at Ambassador’s Residence (6:30pm-10:00 pm)
