During the fifth anniversary of the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) at Fresno State, two organizations gave President Saúl Jimenez-Sandoval gifts for specific programs that are part of PBBI and all that is Portuguese at California State University, Fresno.

The Tulare-Angra Sister City Foundation, through President Carmen Pinheiro, donated to two programs: the exchange students program between the University of the Azores and Fresno State and to PBBI for our Bruma Publications and our collaborative program with MCJ, through which we do oral history and production of documentaries. The Tulare-Angra Sister City Foundation had a vital role in establishing the current growth of all that is Portuguese at Fresno State.

Almost a decade ago, then-board member Dave Mendonça, who had been in Ag education for many years, was asked by the board to establish contacts with Fresno State about a partnership between The Terceira Campus (in part dedicated to Agricultural Science) and Fresno State, namely the Jordan College of Agricultural Science and Technology (JCAST). An agreement was signed in the Azores after a grant was given by FLAD (Luso-American Development Foundation).

The other gift came from the Grupo de Forcados Aposento de Turlock for the exchange program between the Azores and Fresno State. Matt Parreia, one of the group members, gave the gift. This is the second year that Aposento de Turlock has donated to this exchange program. Last year, they hosted an afternoon picnic for four students from the Azores.

These gifts are of utmost importance to Fresno State and our ongoing programs to register our stories and create our narrative. We hope to have other community organizations partner with PBBI at Fresno State. We hope our community throughout the San Joaquin Valley and the entire state can partner with us. This project has all the ingredients to grow and continue to be the HUB for all that is Portuguese in the academic world in the Valley and beyond, but indeed, it does need the support of our community.

Here are some of the ongoing projects at the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute at Fresno State:

  1. Oral History Collection–90 oral histories have been collected.
  2. Two documentaries on the Portuguese-American Experience have been produced, and we are preparing for the third premiere in 2025. Untold Stories tells the stories of the Portuguese-American experience in Central California.
  3. Speaker and Conference Series: Every semester, we put forth a minimum of 10 lectures/panels/discussions and biographical interviews online and 2-3 in person. We also have a Summer program and two conferences per year.
  4. Bruma Publications has published 11 books in 22 months and has 5 books in the works for the next 12 months.
  5. NOVIDADES from Bruma Publications is a digital newsletter published 6 times a year and a news platform with at least one story per day from the Azores and stories from Madeira and the Diaspora on the West Coast of the US.
  6. FILAMENTOS from Bruma Publications is a cultural journal published digitally six times a year. It has a bilingual platform and features stories and literature in both languages, some in Portuguese and some in English.
  7. Cagaroo Colloquium is a community of writers with roots in the Azores.
  8. Olhos nos Livros is a segment dedicated to bringing awareness to books published in Portuguese by Portuguese authors in the US and Canada and authors from other parts who have written about the Portuguese Diaspora experience in the US and Canada.
  9. ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) is a community of journalists and media outlets who want to build a better relationship between the Azores and its Diaspora.
  10. Madeira Diaspora Initiative is a project to educate our students and faculty about the contributions of immigrants and descendants from Madeira to California and the Madeira archipelago.
  11. Azores Diaspora Forúm is in the process of being organized as a place to reflect and manage to build more bridges between the Azores and the Diaspora. A two-way street that can be effective for both sides.
  12. PBBI Portuguese Collection at the Fresno State Library brings awareness to our students of the rich, creative spirit of Portuguese and Lusophone Literature with a segment dedicated to the Azores.
  13. Two minors in Portuguese that PBBI supports working closely with the Modern and Classical Languages and Literature Department at Fresno State.
  14. Establishing Scholarship programs, such as the new Ataíde Family Scholarship program, assists those interested in business (including ag business) and entrepreneurship in a Portuguese language or culture course.
  15. Foster exchange and service-learning programs for our students in Portugal and bring students from Portugal to Fresno State through direct contacts and through the SIPN program from FLAD.
  16. Cátedra Natália Correia–focusing on the works of Natália Correia, including translations and fostering young talent in poetry and philosophy, as well as putting forth research and studies on the incredible works of Natália Correia.
  17. Portuguese Language Day at Fresno State is a yearly event for over 200 students.
  18. Alfred Lewis Reading Series–a quarterly bilingual poetry reading series connecting poetry of Portuguese expression from various parts of the world.
  19. As Nossas Vozes–Vivências Portuguesas nos Estados Unidos: a webinar series with PALCUS that raises Portuguese language awareness of the contributions made by Portuguese Immigrants in the US.
  20. Portuguese-American Educators Leadership Network (PAELN) at PBBI is a network of educators from all subjects and levels of education who share Portuguese ancestry and want to make a difference in their community.

There are many other programs and events that PBBI is involved with at the University and through Community outreach. It is an amalgam of programs that involve our students, faculty, staff, and the community. We believe in community outreach programs so that our community can be part of all that is happening at Fresno State. We have a yearly grant from the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) and a recent agreement with the Government of the Azores, which hopefully will come to fruition by assisting these ongoing projects at Fresno State. We hope the community organizations that have been part of this journey can continue, and we hope to build bridges with many other organizations in the Central Valley and throughout the State. Please reach out to us.