Bridgewater State University made history this weekend with a gathering of Cape Verdean leaders at two events marking the start of a $2 million fundraising campaign to celebrate the official launch of the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies.
With three of Cape Verde’s five prime ministers in attendance at a gala Saturday evening, Dr. Brenda Molife, vice president of advancement and executive director of the BSU Foundation, announced a three-year campaign to support the world’s first academic center solely dedicated to the study of Cape Verdean issues.
(See additional photos from the weekend’s events.)
Dr. Molife told hundreds of guests in the East Campus Commons that the Bridgewater State University Foundation has, to this point, endowed more than $500,000.
“Tonight’s event is certainly a celebration of all that has been done and all we hope to do,” Dr. Molife said, while highlighting the achievements of students since the institute opened in 2014. “But it is also a time for us to see what can be achieved as we move forward.”
In support of these efforts were some of the African island nation’s most influential leaders, including the namesake of the institute itself.
“The sharing and the transference of knowledge is fundamental to development, and it’s important to have an open world,” said former Prime Minister Pedro Pires, who pledged to do everything in his power to help BSU’s efforts be successful for years to come. “Education is the greatest weapon to transform a nation, as well as the world.”
Mr. Pires, who was also a former president of the Republic and Cape Verde, was joined at the gala by former Prime Ministers Carlos Veiga and Jose Maria Neves. The trio also participated in a fireside chat the evening before to discuss Cape Verde’s history and their visions for its future.
(Watch the fireside chat here.)
A significant part of what comes next for Cape Verdeans in the United States will depend on the support that Bridgewater receives to run the institute, which will focus on preserving oral history, digitizing important documents and promoting its culture.
Prime Minister Neves said that he met with President Emeritus Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria in 2002. At that meeting, Mr. Neves said Dr. Mohler-Faria — the first Cape Verdean descendent to become president of an American four-year college — promised that Bridgewater would create an educational partnership.
“Since then, under the leadership of Presidents Mohler-Faria and Clark, they have done everything possible for Cape Verdean students,” he said. “There are no words to express the gratitude for all of the things Bridgewater State University has done for our country.”
The connections to Cape Verde are seemingly everywhere in southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod, which are home to nearly as many Cape Verdeans as the 10-island nation itself. President Frederick W. Clark Jr., who called Bridgewater “the 11th island” of Cape Verde, said his wife’s great-grandfather hailed from the nation and his son’s wife is half-Cape Verdean.
Gov. Charlie Baker also lauded the program in a video message played following dinner, calling the academic center a “thrilling” and “one of its kind” addition to the state’s public education system.
Other speakers including two figures central to the creation and operation of the Institute: Bridgewater Vice President of Administration and Finance Dr. Mike Gomes and Institute’ Executive Director Dr. Joao J. Rosa.
“The Institute has an ethical and moral responsibility to be a bridge between the past and the future. It works in the present, but the idea is to bridge the past and the future,” said Dr. Rosa, who serves as the Institute’s executive director. “We want to make sure the cultural and historical legacy of Cape Verdeans is here to stay. It’s here to be shared with everyone who wants to learn and understand about Cape Verde.”
While the mood at the dinner and silent auction was festive, Dr. Mohler-Faria provided guests with a call to action before the evening came to a close.
This is not the time, he said, to think, “’We’ve done it,’ because this is only the beginning,” Dr. Mohler-Faria said. “It’s great to come together to break bread and share words, but when we leave here, think about the work that needs to be done and engage yourself in every way that you can.” (Story by Charlie Peters, University News & Media)
