The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States
Serving our Community for 29 Years!
February 2021
LUSUS Newsletter
The Online Newsletter of PALCUS

In this issue...

PALCUS News
  • PALCUS FYI Webinars
  • PALITICUS: Theresa Agonia
  • PAWEA Workshops and website
  • PALCUS Member Spotlight: Jordan Thomas
  • PALCUS Member Spotlight: Ricardo Vasconcelos
  • #SupportPortugueseBusiness Campaign #PortugueseHeroes Campaign #SupportOurElders Campaign 

Embassy Row
  • Embassy of Portugal in Washington DC: The Contribution of the European Diasporas to the EU-US relations
  • Embaixada dos EUA em Portugal: Academy for Women Entrepreneurs pela primeira vez em Portugal

Gateway Featured Business
  • Portable Portugy
 
Community News:
  • Amazon launches site for Portugal…in Portuguese!
  • The Portuguese Organization for Social Services and Opportunities (POSSO) recognized by the city of San Jose.
  • Global Language Network Portuguese Classes
  • Violência Doméstica é crime
Sponsored Content
PALCUS NEWS
PALCUS FYI Webinars

Join us for our upcoming webinars

PALCUS Index National Survey 2019-2020 Results & Analysis
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021 AT 12 PM EST
Join Dr. Dulce Maria Scott from Anderson University to hear the results of the 2019-2020 PALCUS Index National Survey. This is the only national survey designed to capture the sentiments and concerns of the Portuguese community across the United States.
You will be able to ask questions, and provide input on how we can improve the next survey in 2022.
Join us on Zoom or live on Facebook.
Link to join Webinar

Understanding the US Immigration Process
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 AT 8 PM EST
How many of us truly understand the immigration process? Attend this webinar to gain a better understanding of the different paths to citizenship, and how this may or may not change with the new administration. Submit your questions in advance to [email protected].
Speakers:
Cynthia Marques Russo, Esq - Immigration Attorney, New Jersey
Ana Ferreira, Esq - Immigration Attorney, Pennsylvania
Link to join Webinar:
PALITICUS: Theresa Agonia

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.

PAWEA Workshop and website

Join the Portuguese American Women's Empowerment Alliance for an upcoming workshop:

Effective Communication & Value Chain for a better you and a better business
January 25th at 12pm PT/3pm ET
Speaker: Jessica Leiter, Best Selling Author, Speaker, Consultant

These workshops are free for all to attend. 

PAWEA Website is now live: https://pawea-global.com/home/
PALCUS Member Spotlight: Jordan Thomas
As part of the Presidential Inaugural Committee's National Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, PALCUS Director Jordan Thomas joined several featured speakers in reading an excerpt from Dr. King's text "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?" at a virtual tribute honoring Dr. King's prophetic legacy.

Congratulations Jordan!
PALCUS Member Spotlight: Ricardo Vasconcelos
PALCUS Member Ricardo Vasconcelos worked with Margaret Jull Costa and Ana Luisa Amaral on this edition of Mario de Sá-Carneiro's poetry - the first in English.

Congratulations Ricardo!
#SupportPortugueseBusiness Campaign

Restaurants selling takeout or gift certificates?
Online stores selling merchandise or gift certificates?
Artists selling prints or artwork online?
Musicians holding livestream concerts?
Any Portuguese business that is open and selling a product or service during this time of lockdown, please email your details to us at [email protected] and we will share with our nationwide community! We have to help each other get through this, and we WILL get through this! #SupportPortugueseBusiness
#PortugueseHeroes Campaign

PALCUS recognizes all Portuguese Americans working on the front lines, in many different essential service roles. We can't do this without you! Thank you! Obrigado! You are our #PortugueseHeroes!
If you know a #PortugueseHero send us a private message or email [email protected]
#SupportOurEldersCampaign

We have partnered with several Portuguese-American organizations who are already doing amazing work to help our elders, and we want to support these efforts. Below are several ways you can help, including:

  • Sending cards and messages of support
  • Sponsoring a meal (or meals) for the elderly
  • Donating a device to enable video chats
  • Delivering activity sheets to the elderly
Join us and help support these organizations who are supporting our elders!! 


PALCUS was able to donate $3,000, split equally between the 4 participating organizations.
Thank you to everyone that contributed!!
EMBASSY ROW
The Contribution of the European Diasporas to the EU-US relations

Since its very foundation, the United States has been home and adoptive country to countless generations of Europeans. On this first Webinar of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Embassy of Portugal in Washington D.C. gathered representatives from some of the most numerous European diasporas in the US, to discuss their past and continuing invaluable contribution to the relations between both sides of the Atlantic. We also explored ways of leveraging their presence and influence to the benefit of an even stronger transatlantic relationship.

A Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) chega a Portugal, pela primeira vez, através da Embaixada dos EUA em Portugal em parceria com o Impact Hub Lisbon. As inscrições estão abertas para este programa de promoção de empreendedorismo feminino de 18 de janeiro até 21 de fevereiro.
O programa prevê sessões de acompanhamento em grupo, talks inspiracionais e mentorias com especialistas até ao demo-day em junho.
Neste momento de pandemia em que existe um aumento de desemprego e dificuldades em negócios já estabelecidos a Embaixada dos Estados Unidos em Portugal entregará um prémio às 3 vencedoras através de um prémio para investirem no seu negócio, $15,000.00, $10,000.00 e $5,000.00 para o 1º, 2º e 3º lugar.
Este programa pela primeira vez em Portugal possibilita a mulheres de todo o mundo o aprofundamento das suas competências empreendedoras e a construção do seu modelo de negócios. A AWE promove o desenvolvimento do empreendedorismo feminino, a prosperidade económica coletiva e a estabilidade global através de uma comunidade de aprendizagem holística e inclusiva.
A AWE auxilia as mulheres a desenvolverem as suas ideias empreendedoras através da facilitação do curso online em inglês DreamBuilder, feito pela Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management e o apoio e mentoria com ferramentas e network que precisam para criar e crescer o seu negócio, fornecidos pelo Impact Hub Lisbon.
O programa está alinhado com os objetivos de Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) e este programa está enquadrado no compromisso dos EUA em avançar o empoderamento económico das mulheres e ambiciona alcançar 50 milhões de mulheres mundialmente até 2025.
Entre as talks inspiracionais este programa conta com speakers de Portugal, dos EUA e de outros países, que pretendem partilhar o seu percurso e inspirar estas mulheres na direcção do empreendedorismo.
Mais informação em www.aweportugal.com.
GATEWAY FEATURED BUSINESS
The Portable Portugy
 
New Bedford, MA, native chef Shawn Dagnall brings you The Portable Portugy, featuring the best of Portugal’s cuisines with a New England twist.
The menu selections include a fusion of food native to the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Mainland Portugal and Southeastern Massachusetts. The dishes are prepared with fresh, traditional Portuguese ingredients, as well as local selections of meats and vegetables.
Proud to be North Carolina’s first venue of its kind serving freshly sourced, authentic Portuguese cuisine. We hope you enjoy our traditional Azorean inspired dishes that you won’t soon forget.
To learn more about The Portable Portugy visit their or Facebook Page.
  
To look for more Portuguese businesses and organizations throughout the US (or add your own), please visit the Gateway online.

COMMUNITY NEWS
Amazon launches site for Portugal…in Portuguese!

Amazon has finally given Portuguese online shoppers exactly what was missing: a site in the Portuguese language.
Up till now, nationals have had to navigate the Spanish site, run out of Madrid – with words that simply don’t appear in the Portuguese language.
Spanish and Portuguese may seem very similar, but they have some extraordinary differences.
Thus the new site, still on Amazon Spain but with its own button for Portuguese, is up and running, and ‘support’ also is “starting to speak Portuguese”, says TSF radio.
A ‘novelty’ is a section dealing with purely Portuguese brands (presented in the format of a painted tile) – and the ‘free postage’ for orders over €29 remains.
Please consider using the Amazon mobile app to purchase through Amazon Smile and support PALCUS through all your purchases.

Go to Settings and you will find it under Program & Features. Designate "Portuguese American Leadership Council of the U.S" as your charity of choice or enter our EIN 52-1739459.  PALCUS benefits each time you shop!
The Portuguese Organization for Social Services and Opportunities (POSSO) was recognized by the city of San Jose

PALCUS thanks you for all you do!

#SILICONVALLEYSTRONGHEROES PORTUGUESE ORGANIZATION FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES DEMONSTRATES RESILIENCE DURING COVID-19 RESPONSE
"Caring for those most vulnerable in our community during these difficult and uncertain times is our priority," says Bela Ferreira, Executive Director of the Portuguese Organization for Social Services and Opportunities (POSSO). "Overcoming many challenges during the Coronavirus pandemic, our team has shown the meaning of resilience."


Global Language Network Portuguese Classes

Global Language Network's numerous language classes, including Portuguese, are open for enrollment!  Classes are scheduled to start in the next few days for 12 week classes that are beginning in February.
 
The GLN's classes are fun! They are extremely interactive and taught 100% in the target language.  GLN's classes cost $200 for twelve weeks of two-hour classes, one day per week.  However, if an individual attends 10 out of the 12 classes, then she/he/they get $100 back.  (See the pricing model for details.)

If you are interested or have more questions, feel free to contact Christina Kaufmann directly or enroll through the website 
Violência Doméstica é crime

Campanha Violência Doméstica é crime.
Peça ajuda!
Segurança durante o isolamento

Divulgamos esta campanha de alerta para situações de violência doméstica que inclui mais 8 idiomas: árabe, bangla, francês, mandarim, inglês, hindi, nepalês e russo.


Campanha que
visa chegar a todas as mulheres migrantes que possam estar a ser vítimas de violência doméstica.


TELL US YOUR NEWS!!
 
We would love to hear what you have been up to. Events, Promotions, Graduations, Awards, Lectures or News the community should know about.  Send us an email to be featured in our newsletter: [email protected]
JOIN PALCUS
Are you a PALCUS member yet?  
We are stronger together!
If you agree with the work undertaken by PALCUS to build the social, cultural and political capital of our community, then please join us and become a member today!

Strong membership participation means a stronger voice in the national Portuguese-American agenda. In order to advance Portuguese language education, increase presence in the congressional caucuses, and provide economic opportunities, the collective voice of thousands is needed!  

In addition, PALCUS is a member-driven non-profit organization that depends on membership dues and fundraising events to fund its operations. Members of the all-volunteer board of directors donate their time and personal funds for travel, lodging and tickets to attend networking events and planning sessions so our administrative costs are relatively low but nonetheless critical to doing business on a daily basis.

There are membership categories to suit every budget and level of interest. Please click on our membership webpage and join our voice today!


 Questions? Contact Graci for more information! 

Feature Heading
Check out our store:
Portuguese Activity Book

PALCUS has designed an activity book for children and seniors. It's packed with word searches, coloring and other activities all centered around Portugal! This is the perfect way to have kids and seniors alike keep busy while celebrating their Portuguese Pride!
It's available for purchase on Amazon and shipping is free when you purchase 2 or more books! 

New Christmas Edition now available!
Did you enjoy this newsletter? Do you know about all the programs PALCUS offers our community? Please visit our website and become a member today! 
We can't do what we do without your support!
Newsletter Archive

Read past issues of the LUSUS Newsletter at https://www.palcus.org/newsletter
Jobs for Portuguese Speakers

If you want to put your Portuguese language skills to use in your next job, there are many opportunities out there! Visit the Jobs for Portuguese Speakers Facebook page to see some job openings.
PALCUS Mission

In order to create a singular voice to advocate for the Portuguese-American and Luso-American communities at large, the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States Inc. (PALCUS) was founded in 1991 as a non-partisan, non-profit, organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. 
 
The PALCUS mission is to address domestic and international concerns of the Portuguese-American Community.
 
The Council conducts an expanding program of educational and public affairs activities on issues of interest to the Portuguese-American community and of salience to the Luso-American Relationship.
 
PALCUS is committed to serving the community through increasingly active government relations efforts, the promotion of a greater awareness of ethnic accomplishments and encouraging stronger ties between Portugal and the United States. In this role PALCUS advances the community professionally, politically and culturally while working to ensure that issues directly affecting our community are addressed through our network of government and community leaders.

PALCUS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization under the IRS tax code and incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. Donations are tax deductible to extent allowed by law and will be acknowledged.
PALCUS has earned the 2019 Gold GuideStarUSA Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency. Visit our profile HERE
Contact Information

Website: www.palcus.org
Phone: 202-466-4664

9255 Center St., Suite 404
Manassas, VA 20110