Potlatch

With Portuguese-speaking communities concentrated in a few regions of the United States, and a cultural and political desire to forge an identity comparable to pan-Hispanic identity, various organizations have focused on the social “Lusophone” connection. The Alliance of Portuguese Speakers of Massachusetts, for example, is a social services organization established in 1993 whose mission statement defines its outreach efforts to Brazilian, Cape Verdean, and other Portuguese speakers. Student groups in universities are also important venues of cultural exchange and unity among diverse Portuguese-speaking groups. A prime example is Harvard’s Organization of Portuguese Speakers, which arranges cultural events with musical bands in different styles to connect ethnic constituents of the Lusophone community.