LUSUS Newsletter

The Online Newsletter of PALCUS

Special Edition - June 17, 2025



PALCUS Welcomes Two New Board Directors!

Strengthening our national presence with leadership from coast to coast

The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS) is pleased to announce the appointment of two distinguished leaders to our Board of Directors: Paul Afonso of Massachusetts and Nancy Mallory of California. Their experience, vision, and commitment to the Portuguese-American community will be invaluable as we continue our mission to serve and advocate for our community across the United States.

Paul G. Afonso – Massachusetts

Paul Afonso is nationally recognized regulatory and energy attorney, Paul brings over three decades of experience advising boards, executives, and government leaders on complex legal, legislative, and policy matters. He has served as Chief Legal Officer at the American Petroleum Institute, partner at Brown Rudnick, and Chairman of the Massachusetts Public Utilities Commission. His career spans traditional utility regulation, renewable energy, and emerging technologies, making him a valuable addition to the PALCUS leadership team.

“I am honored to join my colleagues on the PALCUS Board. I have known of this group since my graduation of law school and the inception of PALCUS. I’m proud of the work this national organization does in representation of our community and now look forward to doing my small part to continue this proud tradition.”



— Paul G. Afonso

Nancy Souza-Mallory – California

A proud Portuguese-American, Nancy Souza-Mallory grew up deeply rooted in her heritage and community traditions, serving as a Portuguese Queen alongside her four sisters.

She began her career in retail management before launching Mallory & Associates, a public relations agency specializing in brand awareness, media strategy, and special events. Nancy also served as Director of Public Relations for The Charity Network, leading global campaigns for high-profile philanthropic platforms.

Nancy brings over 20 years of communications expertise and a lifelong dedication to cultural celebration.

“As a proud 3rd generation Portuguese-American, it is an incredible honor to join the board of the Portuguese American Leadership Council. 

I am excited to be part of an organization that is making a tangible difference in the lives of Portuguese-Americans and working with fellow leaders to advocate and strengthen the Portuguese-American community,” 

— Nancy Souza-Mallory

"I am proud to welcome Paul Afonso of Massachusetts and Nancy Souza-Mallory of California to our Board. Both Paul and Nancy have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the Portuguese-American community through their leadership, advocacy, and years of meaningful service. Their deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of our community members will be a tremendous asset to our work. With their presence, PALCUS is now even more strongly represented in two key states with vibrant Portuguese-American populations. We are honored to have them on board and excited for the valuable contributions they will bring to our mission.”



— Katherine Soares, Chair of the Board of Directors, PALCUS

The 2025 PALCUS Board of Directors and slate of officers include:

Officers

Chair - Katherine Soares (New York)

Vice Chair - Ilidio Pereira (Florida)

Secretary - Anabela Dacruz-Melo, Esq. (New Jersey)

Treasurer - Lisa de Medeiros Morris (Rhode Island)

Board of Directors

Cristina Da Silva, Esq. (New York)

Gloria Sousa (Florida)

Joe Santos (Connecticut)

Jordan Thomas (New Jersey)

Manny Antunes (New Jersey)

Miguel Vasconcelos (Oregon)

Nancy Souza-Mallory (California)

Paul Afonso (Massachusetts)

The Board of Directors of the Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States is the governing board of the organization as stipulated in Article IV of the “PALCUS Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws”. Directors of the Board are all required to be charter members and serve without any personal compensation for their service. The Board strives to represent the diverse cross-section of the Portuguese-American community of the United States in regard to geography, gender, age and region of origin as well as area of expertise and experience.

About PALCUS

PALCUS is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. It was founded in 1991 by a group of successful, forward-thinking Portuguese-Americans with the purpose of providing a singular national voice that would advocate for the interests of Portuguese-Americans in the United States. At the center of their vision was to establish and maintain channels of communication between the government of the Republic of Portugal, via the Embassy of Portugal to Washington, D.C., and the U.S. congressional delegation representing Portuguese-American communities.

Now in its 34th year, PALCUS has been true to its founding principles and much more. Throughout its history, the organization has evolved and matured, guided by a dedicated all-volunteer board of directors representing Portuguese-American communities throughout the United States. PALCUS has worked consistently and tirelessly, weathering changes in political and economic climates, to create and expand its programs. Its activities and events are mission-driven to address the community's needs in the strategic areas of government affairs, international affairs, educational opportunities, Portuguese language and culture, community outreach and recognition of our community's success.

PALCUS is a member-supported organization that depends on membership dues for operational and program support. Nevertheless, membership is not required in order to benefit from our programs and advocacy initiatives. We are committed to serving all Portuguese-Americans in the United States who would benefit from our help.

To learn more about PALCUS, visit www.palcus.org.

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Contact Information

Email: palcus@palcus.org

Website: www.palcus.org

Phone: 202-466-4664

9255 Center St., Suite 102

Manassas, VA 20110