The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, Rodrigo Oliveira, starts Saturday, February 16, a visit to the Azorean communities residing on the East Coast of the United States.

On the first day of his visit, Rodrigo Oliveira will attend the launching of the Anthology "The Dabneys: a Bostonian Family in the Azores" to take place at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at 2 PM. This event is part of a series of activities developed by the Luso American Foundation for Development (FLAD) designated as The Dabneys Days.

On the same day, the government official will meet with the House of the Azores of New England at 7 PM to discuss the challenges and projects developed by this institution for the current year.

On Sunday, Rodrigo Oliveira will meet with the Bristol Community College (BCC) in Fall River, the Amigos da Terceira Community Centre in Pawtucket and the Portuguese American Civic League in the city of Lowell.

The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations will meet with Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, Bristol County, and the Department of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at Brown University on Monday.

On the last day of his visit, Rodrigo Oliveira will meet with the associations belonging to the International Network of Social Service Organisations, including SER-Jobs for Progress, House of the Azores of New England, Immigrant’s Assistance Centre, Catholic Social Services, MAPS – Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers, Coastline Elderly Services, Inc e South Coastal Counties Legal Services. This meeting will address the joint work carried out with the Regional Government on the integration of Azorean emigrants and returnees.

Furthermore, the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations will meet with the Consul of Portugal in New Bedford, the Vice-Consul of Portugal in Providence and the Consul General of Portugal in Boston.

This visit to the Azorean communities residing on the East Coast of the United States aims to promote a closer relation with them as well as to monitor the work developed by Azorean associations abroad in partnership with the Government of the Azores towards a broader integration of our communities and the consolidation and development of projects that disseminate the cultural identity of the Azores.