The President of the Government will open the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) of California State University - Fresno as part of its official visit to this US state e between February 11 and 15. The programme also includes meetings with the Azorean Community as well as several institutional contacts.
 
Vasco Cordeiro chairs the opening of this institute next Wednesday, February 13, at the invitation of the President of the University of California - Fresno, Joseph I. Castro. The project is designed to promote Portuguese Culture and Language, with special emphasis on the Azorean Diaspora.
 
After the opening of the PBBI, headed by professor Diniz Borges, a native of Terceira Island, the President of the Government will deliver the inaugural lecture on "The Azores in the 21st Century" under the "Speakers Series," an initiative that includes a series of lectures by speakers invited by the institute.
 
During this official visit, the President of the Government will be accompanied by the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, Rui Bettencourt, as well as by members of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores elected by PS and PSD. Vasco Cordeiro will visit the Azorean Communities residing in the cities of Sacramento, Hilmar, Fresno, Artesia, and San Diego.
 
Upon arrival to California, the President of the Government will meet with the Vice-Governor of the State of California, Eleni Kounalakis, and with the leaders of the Azorean Community in Sacramento, the state capital.
 
On the following day, February 12, Vasco Cordeiro visits two farms owned by Azorean emigrants, followed by a meeting with the community at the House of the Azores of Hilmar, headed by Laurinda Vieira.
 
In addition to the opening of PBBI, the programme for the third day of this official visit, February 13, includes a meeting with representatives of Fresno County, which will be attended by Portuguese-descendants Brian Pacheco and Buddy Mendes. There is also a scheduled meeting with politicians of Portuguese descent elected by the state of California. The event is organised by CPACP - California Portuguese-American Coalition, a project founded in 2016 by a group of Portuguese-American community leaders; it is currently headed by Diniz Borges.
 
Also on this day, the President of the Government will meet with the Dean of the Jordan College of Agriculture and Sciences and with students who have attended courses in the Region under the protocol signed between this Faculty and the University of the Azores.
 
On Thursday, there will be a scheduled meeting with the Mayor of Artesia, Tony Lima, as well as with the Azorean Community of the Los Angeles area. Moreover, SDEA - Society for Business Development of the Azores promotes in Los Angeles a session on external investment opportunities in the Region.
 
On Friday, the last of the visit, the programme includes a meeting with the Mayor of San Diego, Kevin Faulconer, a visit to the memorial to tuna fishers, an activity linked to Azorean emigrants, a tribute to the Azorean emigrants of San Diego and a meeting with the Azorean Community residing in this area.
 
According to the 2017 American Community Survey, the population of Portuguese origin in the State of California stands at about 345 thousand people, with an estimated 70 percent coming from the Azores.
 
From the mid-19th century, the Azorean Community has been living in California for several generations. It has maintained countless traditions with the creation of various organisations, namely Holy Spirit Brotherhoods, Philharmonic Bands, Folk Dance Groups, among others, while occupying prominent positions in several sectors of this American State.