Framingham Celebrates Brazilian-American Connection As Consul General Visits

Consul General of Brazil Glivânia Maria de Oliveira visited Framingham on Wednesday, July 15.

In her opening remarks before a large gathering of government and community leaders in the Memorial Building she had heard about Framingham and its Brazilian community.

“We have Brazilian workers contributing, interacting, building, adding to what there is here already and I was really glad to hear, although it is no surprise to me, that we have here a group of people who are hard working, who are contributing, and who are orderly, and who are in a very harmonious way interacting with local society.”

Framingham is home to the largest Brazilian population in New England.

“We all know that Framingham from border to border is one of the most rich and diverse multicultural communities in Massachusetts,” said Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin.

“We have this amazing Brazilian-American community that we’re celebrating today,” Halpin said in welcoming de Oliveira to Framingham.

Highlighting the need to be multi-cultural, de Oliveira spoke in both English and Portuguese yesterday during a reception for her. (Watch a video of her speaking by clicking the link below.)

“One of the challenges of our community is ensuring that we bring the best from the two sides and work toward progress and future and prosperity,” said De Oliveira.

The consul general was not alone in speaking in two languages yesterday. So did Framingham State University President Dr. F. Javier Cevallos.

“One of the things that has made Framingham such a wonderful place as a newcomer, I have only been here a year, is the incredible diversity that we have here, and the role that our educational institutions play,” said Cevallos. “We have been working together with the school district, and Mass Bay Community College and Framingham State University to really create what will be an educational powerhouse for MetroWest. ... We certainly hope that the Brazilian community will embrace us as much as we want to embrace the Brazilian community.”

“It is a privileged to have you in our community, not just the Brazilian, but the community at large,” said Ilma Paixao, who is general manager of WSRO 650, the Brazilian radio station in town.

Paixao, who has been in Framingham for more than 30 years, said the late Rep. Barbara Gray told her the meaning of the word Framingham is “Welcome of Stranger” and that she learned from Gray once in Framingham you should not be a stranger and get involved.

Paixao said she embraced that ideal.

“Let’s work together to make Framingham the best town in the world,”said Paixao.

After the private reception with government and community leaders, de Oliveira met with the public for two hours in the Blumer room, while also conducting radio interviews for WSRO 650 AM.

Attendance for the public session was not well attended during the first hour. Only about a couple dozens citizens stopped by.