From February 20 to 25, the Regional Director for Communities will travel to the U.S. states of California and Massachusetts where he will visit Azorean emigrant communities and participate in centennial celebration of the Holy Spirit Brotherhood of East San Jose.

On the first day of his visit to the USA, Paulo Teves will meet with institutions working in the Azorean emigrant community in the state of California.

The Regional Director for Communities will meet with the board of the Houses of the Azores of Hilmar and the coordinating board of the Portuguese American Citizenship Project in the city of Turlock (PACP).

On the following day, February 21, Paulo Teves will meet with young emigrants and youngsters of Azorean descent, who are linked to several institutions in San Jose that promote and disseminate Azorean culture in California.

In addition to a scheduled meeting with North America Portuguese Teachers Association on February 22, the Regional Director for Communities participates in the centennial celebrations of the Holy Spirit Brotherhood of East San Jose as a guest of honour.

This century-old community institution has played a key role in the establishment and flourishing of the Azorean community residing in Silicon Valley, where the largest community of Portuguese citizens on the Pacific coast is located, according to the 2010 Census.

On February 24, the Regional Director for Communities will meet with the Director of the Centre for Portuguese Studies and Portuguese Culture at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth.

On the same day, Paulo Teves has scheduled meetings with the Commission of the Holy Spirit Festivities of New England, Fall River, and with the board of the House of the Azores of New England.

On the last day of his visit to the USA, February 25, Paulo Teves will visit the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS), an institution that works to improve the living conditions of citizens and families of Portuguese citizens residing in this U.S. state.