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Participants:

Maria de Jesus Mascarenhas (Consul General), Aldegundes Tavares , Verónica Martins, Daniel Rosa, Anita Monteiro (Associação Cabo-Verdiana de Brockton), Moisés Rodrigues (Brockton Mayor’s Office) Paul Brawley (Schooner Ernestina), Suely Neves (CVAN), Lenira Peters (Woman’s Place Crisis Center), Cristalina Pereira (Cape Verdean Community Facilitator), John B. Cruz III (CABO), Barbara Burgo (community activist), Ulisses Goncalves (Boston Public Schools), Maria Eugénia DaSilva (Cape Verdean Women Organization), Joao Goncalves (President CV Subcommittee for RI Festival), Tom Lopes (CVN- Cape Verdean News), Dr. Claire Andrade (CABO), Alice Gomes (CV-Unido), John Monteiro (CABO), Walter Barboza (Community Activist), James Lopes, Manuel Goncalves (Common Threads), Patricia Andrade (CABO), Etelvino Andrade (CABO), Jovino Peres (community activist), Ron Barboza (photographer).

Greetings:

Greetings and Welcome by Anita Monteiro, in name of the Association. Brief remarks regarding the association participation in the project and concerns regarding the timing of the event, which has been scheduled for July 26, 2007, a day before the Brockton Festival.

Introduction of the Consul General, Maria de Jesus Mascarenhas.

Presentation of Project:

A thank you from the Consul General to all the participants and a brief reference regarding the community, its richness and enthusiasm in celebrating the Independence Day, whether in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, California or Florida. Reference to the idea of the project, the context, its importance, and singularity. The need to have an event made by and for the community that will unite the community, promote Cape Verde and show how it has and continues to grow and develop. The importance of the youth participation, and reference of Cape Verde participation as well. The Consul General spoke briefly about the program, people’s involvement and responsibilities. She mentioned the need to mobilize the community and reach out the American institutions, in particular, the media and the Cape Verdean businesses and called on people’s commitment and engagement. She expressed her belief that the community will be involved. The Consul General spoke briefly about the need for the Community to help with accommodations for the invitees from Cape Verde and the possibility of other mini events, meetings with the participants, etc. to maximize their week-long stay in the U.S.. She ended her intervention, by stating the importance of this meeting where we can start the sharing of the responsibilities.

Gunga Tavares began her intervention by stating that we have the right people for the project and an excellent group to make the event a great success. She spoke of the vision for the project, the importance of the committees and sub-committees and what is expected of them, the need to disseminate information about the event, the independence of the committees, the involvement of the youth and volunteers. She addressed the issues of transportation, workshops, and visual design, how to display different stands and catalogs for the events.

Discussion of the project:

The discussion was around the following issues:

Concerns about the timing of the event and questions about the possibilities of changing the date so it would not interfere with Brockton Cape Verde Independence Celebration Day. Amount of work that participating on both events would require.
Budget
Issues of space and sound and the need to plan how to build the space taking in account the acoustic aspects.
Questions about the sponsorship, with the Brockton Festival coinciding with the event
The need of telling the story of Cape Verde before and after the Independence.
Bringing in artifacts of different Islands to be displayed
Concerns about time constraints and the need for a speedy promotion of the event
CABO expressed his support and willingness to help by running workshops and having a booth for CABO and brought up the possibility of extending the program
How to approach potential sponsors or raising money for instance to provide more information about Cape Verde, a fact sheet for example.
Have a Vendors sub-committee
Formal documentation of the event
Transportation: conversion at one spot with shuttle connections to RCC
Parking and look for utilization of nearby school park in lots.
A presentation by Walter Barboza of a possible workshop
Several people suggested that the event include something that shows the Cape Verdean-American experience in the US.
Photography display: Ron Barboza has a very good collection of photos from CV
Creation of a Website for this event

After discussions the participants volunteered for the different sub-committees (see attached list).

Facts:

This was the only date the facility would be available. It is expensive to open the Center in a Sunday, but can be done if necessary.

The event will be funded by sponsors such as Banks in Cape Verde and other institutions both here and in Cape Verde.

The Consulate will work with all cape Verdean Organizations in ways to promote this and existing celebrations of the National day of Cape Verde and work with the Association of Brockton in particular since their event happens on July 27, the day after the exhibit.

Next meeting: scheduled for May 17, 2008 at 10:30, at same place