A member of the Cape Verdean government visited Greater Boston last week to do a “check-in” on the diaspora from the African island nation to see what assistance they need during a time of uncertainty with immigration policy in the US. Cabo Verde, with a large diaspora in Dorchester, is one of 75 countries added to a Trump administration via “freeze” list this month.
Vanuza Barbosa, the new secretary of state for communities and former elected official from the island of Fogo, made stops at Holland Tech (Burke) High School,the Cape Verdean Association of Boston, St. Peter’s Teen Center, and huddled with local lawmakers fordinners at Cesária Restaurante and Estella’s. Though she said she has family in Boston and visited here many times throughout her life, this was her first official state visit to the area.
“The main goal of this mission is to attend to our community in the United States but also to celebrate one of our holidays, Freedom and Democracy Day,” she said during an interview on Bowdoin Street last Thursday (Jan. 15).
Octavio Gomes, Sosa Miguel, CVAB Director Paulo DeBarros, Secretary of State for Communities Vanuza Barbosa, Boston Cultural Affairs Director Alexandra Valdez, Councillor John FitzGerald, Jessica Correia of FitzGerald’s Office, and Boston Cape Verdean community liaison Eliesu Depina. Seth Daniel photos
“I have a responsibility in my position to talk to our community and learn more about the situation from the community in the U.S.,” she continued. “We are facing difficult times, especially in immigration. We are concerned with our communities here and it’s an opportunity to listen to them and feel how they are doing with all the changes in immigration law…We are concerned how they are dealing with this emotionally…It can be hard for them to see they are said not to be important to the development of the country, and we are.”
Originally a university professor teaching the Portuguese language, she said her heart will remain in education, but her mission now is to develop “social policy” for all of the Cabo Verde communities, whether in Brazil, Portugal, or Dorchester. One main concern is around education, and particularly for those students who might be sent to Cabo Verde because of deportation or independent decisions to return.
Paulo DeBarros, director of CVAB and a former high school teacher, helped to lead the tour for Barbosa and said he was interested helping them get the right data and input for housing, education, jobs, and integration.
“There is a need for more partnerships and for clear priorities, especially around education,” he said.
The luncheon at Cesária last Thursday afternoon brought out several elected officials and city dignitaries, including Cultural Affairs Director Alexandra Valdez, state Rep. Chris Worrell, and District 3 Councillor John FitzGerald.
