Diaspora Talks reflects on fifty years of relations between the Azores and the communities - Communication

Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades

The Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for the Communities, is launching another series of "Diaspora Talks." Since 2021, this initiative has maintained wide-ranging and ongoing contact with the Azorean diaspora through the social media channels of this Regional Government department.

As part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Azores’ autonomy, this special mini-series of five interviews features the leaders who have successively been responsible for managing institutional relations between the Regional Government and the Azorean communities.

The guests include the head of the former Emigration and Support Office for Azorean Communities, Duarte Mendes (1978–1996), and the four previous regional directors for the Communities: Alzira Silva (1997–2008), Rita Dias (2009–2010), Graça Castanho (2010–2012) and Paulo Teves (2012–2020).

The individual interviews, each lasting 30 minutes, cover the key moments of each guest’s time in office, providing a unique insight into the history of public policies aimed at the diaspora over the last five decades.

The broadcasts take place fortnightly on the official Azores Communities page on Sundays at 6 p.m. and can be accessed from anywhere in the world via Facebook.

The season kicks off today with Duarte Mendes. It continues on July 19 with Paulo Teves, on August 2 with Graça Castanho, on August 16 with Rita Dias, and ends on August 30 with Alzira Silva.

Over the past five years, the Diaspora Talks have established themselves as a space for sharing memories, celebrating identity and strengthening ties between the Azores and its communities scattered across the globe. From interviews with the Houses of the Azores and members of the Azorean Diaspora Council to community organisations, media outlets, and notable emigrants and immigrants, the initiative has built up a living archive of Azorean identity.

As always, the interviews are conducted by the current Regional Director for the Communities, José Andrade.