The Conselho da Diáspora Açoriana will convene its third plenary session on May 26 at the historic Palácio da Conceição in Ponta Delgada, bringing together representatives of Azorean communities from across the globe in what has become one of the Region’s principal forums for transatlantic dialogue between the islands and their diaspora.

The initiative is organized by the Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades through the Direção Regional das Comunidades and unfolds within the broader commemorations marking the fiftieth anniversary of Azorean Autonomy.

Created in 2019 and formally constituted through elections in 2021, the Diaspora Council was designed to ensure the participation, consultation, and collaboration of representatives from Azorean emigrant communities dispersed throughout the world.

The plenary session opens at 10 a.m. with remarks from José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Azorean Government, who presides over the Council.

Throughout the day, elected diaspora representatives from multiple countries and regions will address the assembly, reflecting the extraordinary geographic reach of the modern Azorean world — from Bermuda to Brazil, from Canada to the United States, and from mainland Portugal to other international communities.

Among the participating counselors are Richard Ambrósio representing Bermuda; Régis Marques Gomes from Rio Grande do Sul; Marcos Pinheiro from Santa Catarina; António Arruda from São Paulo; Paulo Jorge Cabral from Manitoba; Matthew Correia from Ontario; Zeto Carvalho representing California; Daniel de Melo from Massachusetts; and Katherine Soares and David Pimentel representing other U.S. states, among others.

The afternoon sessions will focus on three central themes shaping the future relationship between the Azores and its global diaspora.

At 3 p.m., the first panel — “Economic Relations with the Azorean Diaspora” — will feature Duarte Freitas, Regional Secretary for Finance, Planning, and Public Administration, alongside Berta Cabral, Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility, and Infrastructure.

An hour later, discussions turn toward culture during the panel “Cultural Relations with the Azorean Diaspora,” with participation from Sofia Ribeiro, Regional Secretary for Education, Culture, and Sports, and Andrea Moniz-DeSouza, president of the Associação dos Emigrantes Açorianos.

The final panel, dedicated to “The New Generations of the Azorean Diaspora,” will include Maria João Carreiro, Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing, and Employment, and Christopher Gosselin, Vice Consul of the United States in the Azores.

Operational deliberations later in the day will establish territorial commissions for Brazil and Uruguay, the United States, Canada, and the rest of the world, as well as sectoral commissions dedicated to politics, economics, society, and culture.

The day concludes with remarks from Paulo Estêvão, Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, followed by a visit to the Núcleo da Autonomia dos Açores within the Palácio da Conceição.

The plenary session is also embedded within a wider commemorative program marking fifty years of Azorean Autonomy. On May 24, council members will attend a concert by the Banda Militar dos Açores at the Coliseu Micaelense, while on May 25 they will participate in the official Session Commemorating the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores at the Teatro Micaelense.

On May 27, diaspora representatives will travel to Terceira Island and Faial Island for institutional and cultural visits, including a stop in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Angra do Heroísmo and a visit to the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores on Faial.

The current 17 elected diaspora counselors took office virtually on June 9, 2025 — the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores — for the 2025–2029 mandate.

Today, the Council consists of 35 members, including representatives chosen directly by diaspora communities, members of the Azorean Government and Parliament, representatives from the Conselho Mundial das Casas dos Açores, municipal associations, emigrant organizations, Portuguese consular institutions, and the Conselho das Comunidades Portuguesas.

Beyond its institutional framework, however, the Council reflects something larger unfolding across the Atlantic world of the Azores itself.

Translated and adapted from a story in Correio dos Açores- Natalino Viveiros, director.