Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute announces Spring events schedule

The Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) has announced its Spring 2021 events schedule, including panel discussions, lectures, book launches and even an original documentary film. PBBI’s director, Dennis Borges, said more student panels and collaborations with other organizations may be added throughout the semester. Due to COVID-19, all events will be virtual. All events are free with registration, and the public is invited to attend.

The Luso-American Development Foundation sponsors the institute’s lecture series.

Spring 2021 events

6 p.m. Jan. 28 on Zoom
Miguel de Unamuno and the Redemption of Antero de Quental
Roberto Newcomb, professor of Luso-Brazilian studies at University of California, Davis.

6 p.m. Feb. 4 on Zoom 
Book Launch: True North and Untrue You 
By Portuguese-American poet and Fresno State alumnus Sam Pereira.

6 p.m. Feb. 11 on Zoom
Portuguese-Americans in Valley Agriculture: Tradition and Innovation
A conversation with Portuguese-American Farmer Tom Barcellos from Porterville about his Portuguese-American heritage and the role of the family farm in today’s world.

12 p.m. Feb. 18 on Zoom
Portugal and the European Union: An Azorean Perspective 
A lecture by Professor Carlos Amaral, University of the Azores, director of European affairs and external cooperation for the government of the Azores.

5 p.m. Feb. 25 on Zoom
Bruma Publications: A publishing project for the Portuguese-American Experience in the Western United States 
A virtual ceremony and panel to kick off a new publishing arm of the Press at Fresno State, part of PBBI to focus on publishing works relevant to the Portuguese-American legacy in the Western United States.

8 a.m. March 4 on Zoom
Mayone Dias and the Portuguese-American Experience in California
A lecture and discussion with professor André Correa de Sá, University of California, Santa Barbara.

12 p.m. March 11 on Zoom
Untold Stories: Portuguese-Americans along the 99 Corridor
Documentary premiere featuring the Portuguese Oral History Project. The project is a collaboration with the PBBI and the Department of Media, Communications and Journalism. 

March 18-24
Filaments of the Atlantic Heritage (symposium): Legacy-Reflection-Outlooks 
Details TBA

April 8^th
Fado Book Launch and Writing the Lusasphere 
Elaine Ávila, Oona Patrick, Katherine Vaz and Lila Ellen Gray. 
Details TBA

6 p.m. April 15 on Zoom
New Voyages of Discovery: Voices from Across the Globe 
An open mic event celebrating National Poetry Month with readings of poets of the Portuguese Speaking World in Translation or American poets of Portuguese ancestry.

April 22
Getting to know Brazil: a personal perspective
Renato Alvin, professor of Portuguese and Spanish at California State University, Stanislaus.  
Details TBA

6 p.m. April 29 on Zoom
From the Azores to California: connecting generations
Video project and panel includes Portuguese-American students and the Portuguese Oral History Project at Fresno State. 

6 p.m. May 6 on Zoom  
Nesta longa viagem que não finda* – Falar português nos Estados Unidos 
Um diálogo sobre a presença da língua portuguesa nas suas vidas e as perspetivas para a mesma nos Estados Unidos da América.  *de um poema de Natália Correia. (NOTE: This event will be in Portuguese).

5 p.m. May 11 on Zoom
New voyages of discovery: creativity in the Portuguese diaspora in North America 
Additional details TBA

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The Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute is a collective effort between the College of Arts and Humanities, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and College of Social Sciences at Fresno State. Through a lecture series and an oral history project, the institute functions as a hub of cultural, literary, pedagogical and research resources for the Portuguese-American experience and promotes the connections with the Portuguese-speaking world, focusing on the archipelago of the Azores, with a strong emphasis on the Azorean Diaspora in California. It aims to be Central California’s nucleus for cultural events, teacher conferences, colloquia, literary resources, publications, academic research, artistic exhibitions, and performing arts productions, not only for the matriculated students at Fresno State, but also for the enrichment of the Portuguese-American community and society at large.