José Lino Neves works on training, analysis and evaluation of civil society projects, as well as public policies aimed at promoting and valuing the work of migrant communities at the national level at the High Commissioner for Migrations.  The son of Cape Verdean parents from the island of Santiago, he graduated with a degree in Forestry from ISA/UTL and postgraduate degree in Civil Protection - Emergencies in Critical Neighborhoods from UNI. José has been a member of Associação Cultural e Juvenil Batoto Yetu Portugal since 1996. José has promoted the creation of new cultural products associated with the African diaspora, which aims to reduce the lack of knowledge of African culture and history on the continent and in the diaspora.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Digital African Memory

The project increased awareness of African heritage among Portuguese audiences through creation of a digital platform that shares information on the history of African heritage and the diaspora. The platform covers the arts, architecture, gastronomy, toponomy, health and genetics, religion and spirituality – all through images, articles, videos, audio files, story-maps and pedagogical tools. The Portuguese government provided funding to continue the project for another two years. In a meeting with the Portuguese secretary of state of citizenship and migrations, who commended the project, it was decided that in the next phase, the project will expand from the online space and begin erecting statues and plaques around Lisbon.

DIGITAL AFRICAN MEMORY PLATFORM

 

IVLP Exchange Experience 

José participated in the IVLP Project: Promoting Social Change Through the Arts, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360, in partnership with Global Ties ABQ, Global Santa Fe, WorldOrlando, and Global Minnesota.

José's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "IVLP is a valuable and unexpected new bridge with several projects, that motivated me to pursue other ideas."

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually

Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Albuquerque, NM; Santa Fe, NM

Country: Portugal

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