News 2022: UMass Dartmouth Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture to host International Colloquium on April 8 and 9

International colloquium will examine Social Movements and Civic Engagement in the Lusophone World

The UMass Dartmouth Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture is hosting “Social Movements and Civic Engagement in the Lusophone World," an international colloquium on April 8 and 9.

This colloquium intends to offer an analysis of the rise of and impact of late 20th century and early 21st century social movements within the lusophone world. Concurrently, the colloquium will also study the civic engagement of luso-descendents throughout the Portuguese diaspora. In order to reach these goals, the Center has organized panels and roundtable discussions that bring together not only scholars from divergent academic fields, but also contemporary lusophone writers who use the power of written word to promote political and social change in the world.

The colloquium will open on April 8 at 9 a.m. at the New Bedford Whaling Museum with 3 panels and a formal dinner. Panels include:

• Panel 1: Digital Literature from Brazil: Writers as Agents of Social Change
• Panel 2: Social Movements in Lusophone Africa
• Panel 3: Civic Engagement and Activism in Portugal

 The next day, April 9 at 9:30 a.m., the colloquium will be held on the UMass Dartmouth campus with 1 panel and 2 roundtable discussions. Events include:

• Panel 4: Civic Engagement & Activism in the Portuguese Diaspora (CCB 149)
• Roundtable 1: The Female Voice in Lusophone Literatures (Library Grand Reading Room)
• Roundtable 2: Legislators’ Roundtable – Public Service as Civic Engagement (Library Grand Reading Room)

The full program for the colloquium can be found here: Social Movements and Civic Engagement in the Lusophone World

“The impact of social movements and civic engagement both within and across national boundaries is a timely subject. One that is worthy of deeper examination. The goal of the colloquium is to bring together individuals from differing fields such as writers, academics, and politicians to discuss the multifaceted aspects of social movements and civic engagement throughout the lusophone world," said Dr. Paula Noversa, the Center’s Director.

For further information, contact 508-999-8255 or email cbordas@umassd.edu.