The Regional Department for the Communities in partnership with Casa dos Açores do Norte organized the Second Communitarian Meeting of Cultural Associations which took place in Porto between April 11 and 14, 2003.

About thirty participants from 12 Cultural Associations of the Azorean Communities in the United States and Canada, Casas dos Açores and “Núcleo Ilhas de Bruma”, from the University of Aveiro, from the Portuguese mainland, as well as elements from the organizer entities and young representatives attended this meeting.

 Objectives:

- Encourage the participation of the youngsters;

- Provide dialog between the Associations;

-Discuss the Associations’ role and their importance within the communities.

Conclusions:

After the presentation and subsequent reflection on the issues “The Importance of Associative Work in the Communities”, “The Preservation of a Cultural Identity”, “The Political Involvement of the Communities” and the creation of a space for reflection on the participation of the youngsters in the communitarian reality, the participants concluded that:

1^st – The Cultural Associations of the Azorean Communities in the United States and Canada are privileged tools in what concerns the preservation and divulgation of our cultural identity in North America;

2^nd – The use of both languages in the transmission of our culture is indispensable when considering linguistic changes and needs of adaptation;

3^rd – Due to the diversity of cultures existing in the receptor countries, the Azorean associations need not only to participate more actively in the local cultural manifestations, but also to work with other ethnic groups which constitute the North American miscellany.

4^th – Considering the cultural richness of the popular festivities of our communities, the use of these events in the transmission of our culture has become peremptory.

5^th – In order to surpass the low budgets, both in the Azores and Abroad, it is important that the groups and cultural associations which visit the Azores work harder to obtain their own profits, thus creating another bond and a greater cooperation between the vary cultural organizations in the North American continent.

6^th – It is also necessary to use the Media, both in Portuguese and English, as well as the new technologies, such as the internet, to divulge and show the cultural events of our communities.

7^th – The youngsters showed great interest in taking part on the organization of the associations’ activities, also as a way of feeling closer to their own cultural identity, stimulating their self discovery and self confidence, innovating and adapting tradition to present days, including the promotion of interchanges between the several communities.

8^th – It is necessary to gather the ideas, presentations and notes taken out from this meeting in a bilingual book, with the objective of being divulged in all cultural, social, religious and sportive associations, as well as in all schools.

9^th – Considering the assimilation of our communities in the North American continent, it is vital to encourage the participation of associative work in the politics of the receptive countries.