Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award Space | Portugal launches satellites honoring national literary figures
 

Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira – Editor’s Note

For a little girl whose daddy is a fisherman in the #1 fishing port in the world, goodbyes are never easy. But before he leaves for sea, her parents share a special secret―a magical bag of kisses that keeps their love close, no matter how far the waves carry him. As the days pass and […]

April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora – Portugal

The Portuguese nation commemorates today the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution transition to democracy, with a nationwide program of official ceremonies, public demonstrations, and cultural events. The celebrations expanded abroad, connecting the country to its global diaspora, particularly in the United States. At the center of the national commemorations will be the traditional formal […]

Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to accelerate efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalized Americans, targeting cases where individuals are suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. Citizenship is considered one of the most secure legal statuses in the United States. Therefore, the overall impact of such measures is likely […]

Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award – New York, NY

Portuguese writer João Pedro Vala has been awarded a prestigious PEN/O. Henry Award for his short story “Inês,” a recognition widely regarded as one of the highest honors in English-language short fiction. The first Portuguese author to receive that distinction, his short story ‘Inês’ was selected for inclusion in the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. […]

Space | Portugal launches satellites honoring national literary figures – Santa Barbara, CA

Portugal successfully launched six satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, US. The mission reinforces Portugal’s growing role in the global space economy, while also strengthening strategic, scientific, and economic links across the Atlantic. Among the satellites are four named after some of the nation’s most celebrated literary figures […]

Community | Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho remains on paid leave – Los Angeles, CA

08 April 2026

Alberto M. Carvalho, the Portuguese-American superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), remains on paid administrative leave following a federal investigation involving the nation’s second-largest school system.  The move comes after agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed search warrants at Carvalho’s residence and district offices in late February 2026, in […]

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Posted in Community, Education, Featured, People, Portugal, World

FLAD | Carlos Costa Neves appointed director of the Luso-American Development Foundation – Portugal

08 April 2026

The Board of Trustees of Lisbon based, Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) appointed Dr. Carlos Henrique da Costa Neves, 72, to the Executive Board, chaired since January 15, 2026, by José Manuel Durão Barroso. Born in Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores,  Costa Neves holds a degree in Law from the University of Lisbon. He has held […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Organizations, People, Politics, Portugal, Terceira, World

Book | Reduction in Force: Poems by Hugo dos Santos  – Review

29 March 2026

By Millicent Borges Accardi Born in Lisboa, Portugal, Hugo dos Santos was raised in New Jersey. An award-winning writer and translator, his books include a collection of short stories about Newark, Then, there (Spuyten Duyvil, 2019), his upcoming book, book A Reduction in Force (Bauhan Publishing, 2026), winner of the May Sarton New Hampshire Poetry […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Community, Featured, People, World

Community | Portuguese diaspora entrepreneurs network to be created – Portugal

27 March 2026

The Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Emídio Sousa, has expressed his intention to foster the creation of an economic community that connects Portuguese citizens and their descendants worldwide, aiming to strengthen ties between the diaspora and Portugal’s economy. His proposal centers on leveraging the global Portuguese diaspora, estimated at more than five million people, […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Madeira, Portugal, World

Debate | Portuguese lawmakers propose shift in gender identity laws – Portugal

24 March 2026

Portugal’s parliament has voted in a preliminary session to advance three controversial bills that would significantly alter the country’s gender identity framework, marking a potential shift away from one of Europe’s most progressive legal models.  The proposals, backed by center-right and right-wing parties including the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Chega, and CDS-PP, would move forward […]

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Posted in Featured, Organizations, Politics, Portugal, World

Vatican City | Pope Leo XIV to visit Fátima in the near future – Portugal

24 March 2026

Pope Leo XIV has expressed a clear desire to visit Portugal, fueling growing expectations that a future papal trip will include the Sanctuary of Fátima, one of the world’s most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites.  While the Vatican has confirmed there is no imminent official visit being planned, recent diplomatic and ecclesiastical signals suggest the visit […]

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Posted in Featured, People, Portugal, Religion, World