Events

The Organization of Luso-Americans at Rutgers (OLAR) is proud to announce our event Portuguese in the Community. We cordially invite you to this event as OLAR seeks to explore all the different cultural branches influenced by the Portuguese language. Our purpose is to create an environment where those interested in our organization can express their views freely while developing an understanding and appreciation of the many cultural branches influenced by the Portuguese language. This is achieved through talk sessions, lectures, music, food, dance, cinema, art, as well as other forms of cultural events.

During Portuguese in the Community, we will explore personal encounters and stories that contributed to the Luso-American experience in the United States. This will be achieved through listening to others’ testimonies and how these encounters assisted them in establishing their identity and purpose in their community. OLAR presents in this year's event a discussion about the Luso-American identity and purpose from the perspective of guest speaker João Martins; a poet, wood sculptor, author, and community organizer, Martins was born in Manteigas, Portugal.

In Portugal, he earned his degree in Theology at the Catholic University of Lisbon and moved to New Jersey in 1986, and since then has dedicated his time contributing his expertise to the Portuguese community in Newark, where he has founded ProVerbo under the Portuguese Sport Club of Newark, organizing cultural galas, literary events, and other activities. Please join us, as we will listen to João Martins tell more about his story and the role he plays in the Luso community.