On April 9, within the framework of the IV Migration Forum of the Government of the Azores, the island of Flores became, once more, a quiet epicenter of the Atlantic imagination. It was there that the second, revised and expanded edition of Somos Açores – Um arquipélago vivo pelas ações das Casas dos Açores no Brasil was presented—an occasion that reaffirmed the enduring power of culture and memory in binding together geographies parted by ocean yet united by a shared sense of belonging.

The session was led by José Andrade, Regional Director for Communities of the Government of the Azores, and brought together, at the same table, Elisabete Noia, Mayor of Santa Cruz das Flores . In the audience, a constellation of voices and experiences gathered: Pedro Portugal Gaspar, President of the Board of AIMA; Andrea Moniz-DeSouza, President of the Association of Azorean Emigrants; Leoter Viegas, President of the Association of Immigrants in the Azores—alongside scholars, institutional leaders, and representatives of civil society. Also present was the Vice-Mayor of Santa Cruz das Flores, Fábio Medina.

Particularly resonant was the presence of the Brazilian community living on Flores, a community increasingly visible, increasingly vital—its rhythms now woven into the economic and social fabric of the island. This human movement, shaped by tides both literal and historical, contributes to the renewal of local life while strengthening cultural ties and opening new avenues of exchange between Portugal and Brazil.

At the heart of the gathering stood the book itself—a living archive of the work carried out by the Casas dos Açores in Brazil. These institutions emerge in its pages not merely as cultural outposts, but as custodians of identity, as builders of continuity, as architects of enduring relationships across time and distance . The volume documents their role in forging lasting bridges between communities, within a world increasingly defined by mobility, dialogue, and shared futures.

The initiative was supported by the Government of the Azores, through its Regional Directorate for Communities, in collaboration with the Municipality of Santa Cruz das Flores, whose hospitality framed the moment with quiet dignity 🤍. Recognition is also due to Paulo Estêvão, Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, for his sustained commitment to and stewardship of this work.

What emerged from this encounter was more than a presentation—it was a reaffirmation: that the Azores are not confined to their geography. They are, instead, a living network—of people, of memory, of language, of affection—an archipelago that continues to expand wherever its stories are told and its connections renewed.

From Press Release.