Three PALCUS award leadership recipients have strong ties to Massachusetts. Who are they?
Massachusetts will be well represented at the 2023 Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States Awards Gala as three of the seven national awardees - a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and two groups that promote Portuguese heritage and culture through humor and music – have strong ties to the Bay State.
“PALCUS’ mission is to be a singular voice for the Portuguese-Americans and an important part of that work is recognizing the many success stories within our community at our annual Leadership Awards Gala,” PALCUS Chair Katherine S. Soares told O Jornal.
PALCUS awardees are not only recognized for their personal accomplishments, but also for the honor that they have brought to the Portuguese-American community.
The gala is hosted in a different Portuguese community every year. The 2023 awards will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables in Florida.
“We are thrilled to be in Florida for the first time to celebrate with a growing community of over 80,000 Portuguese-Americans,” said Soares. “This year, we have awardees from all over the country and of all ages. We have awardees that run the gamut from a Pulitzer Prize winner to young entrepreneurs and beyond. These individuals and organizations are a motive of great pride for the Portuguese-American community and PALCUS congratulates all awardees, their families and their local communities.”
Michael Rezendes recognized for outstanding career in journalism
Michael Rezendes, of Winthrop, Mass., the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize for his investigative work for The Boston Globe revealing the cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, will receive the PALCUS Leadership in Journalism Award.
“To me, the award is a recognition of the many members of my Portuguese family – those in the United States and on the island of São Miguel -- who have supported me as I forged a career in journalism. So, of course, I am very honored to accept it,” Rezendes told O Jornal.
Tracing his roots to Água Retorta on the island of São Miguel, Rezendes said his grandfather, João Rezendes, arrived on Ellis Island in New York City, in the late 1920s, along with his father and brothers.
“They soon made their way to Fall River, Massachusetts, where they found work in the city’s many textile mills,” said Rezendes. “My father, Dennis Rezendes, grew up in Fall River and enlisted in the US Air Force, where he served for six years, married, and started his family.”
A native of Bangor, Maine, Rezendes recalls spending most of the holidays with his Portuguese grandparents and godparents in Fall River and Tiverton.
Currently a member of the global investigative team at Associated Press, Rezendes was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist twice - in 2007 for an investigation of the debt collection industry, and again in 2017 for an exposé of the mental health care system in Massachusetts.
In 2014, he shared a 2014 Pulitzer awarded to The Boston Globe for its reporting on the bombing of the Boston Marathon. He was running the marathon when the bombs exploded and worked into the night covering the tragedy.
In addition, he is the co-author of the books “Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church” and “Sin Against the Innocents: Sexual Abuse by Priests and the Role of the Catholic Church.”
He has also written sporadically about Portugal or for Portuguese media.
He penned a feature story about the Azores for the travel section of The Boston Globe and in 2016 wrote about the United States presidential election for Sábado magazine. He recently gave a long interview to Sábado about the Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal in Portugal.
In 2017, he was the featured speaker at the Congress of Portuguese Journalists in Lisbon. Earlier this year, he gave the keynote address to the first Congress of Journalists of the Azores in Ponta Delgada.
“I’d like very much to write more about Portugal and the Azores, as the opportunity arises,” he told O Jornal.
The Portuguese Kids honored for their leadership in entrepreneurship
Portuguese-American comedy troupe The Portuguese Kids will receive the PALCUS Leadership in Entrepreneurship Award.
Born and raised in Fall River, Derrick DeMelo and Brian Martins – founders of the comedy group – have won legions of fans around the globe with their unique brand of ethnic humor by using their upbringing as first-generation kids of Portuguese immigrants as fodder for their live comedy shows, funny musical parodies, and viral videos.
More: The Portuguese Kids' take on what a Portuguese dad thinks he sounds like leaving a phone message
The duo has also created the successful online shopping website shopportuguese.com, which sells unique items that celebrate Portuguese culture and flavors that DeMelo and Martins hold dear to their hearts.
“We’re incredibly honored to receive this award,” DeMelo told O Jornal. “We’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, which has given us a comedy career spanning almost two decades. It’s an honor to be recognized for our efforts by PALCUS.”
International Portuguese Music Awards recognized as outstanding organization
The International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA) will receive the PALCUS Outstanding Organization Award.
Founded in Massachusetts in 2013, the IPMA honor music produced by artists of Portuguese descent from around the globe.
During the internationally televised event, awards are presented in various categories, including rock, rap, fado, pop, music video, and best new talent.
International Portuguese Music Awards deliver unforgettable night of elegance, music and celebration
“We are deeply honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award from PALCUS,” said IPMA co-producer David Saraiva, also speaking on behalf of co-producers José “Zach” Xavier and Manuel DaCosta.
“It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the unwavering support of our passionate community,” added Saraiva. “This recognition fuels our commitment to continue promoting Portuguese culture and music on a global stage, and we look forward to the exciting journey ahead.”
Dr. Barry A. Costa Pierce honored for scientific achievements
Dr. Barry A. Costa Pierce, one of the pioneers of Ecological Aquaculture, will receive the PALCUS Leadership in Science Award.
With a 40-plus year career in the marine and freshwater sciences, he is currently a professor in the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture at the Nord University in Bodø, Norway. He is also Emeritus Professor of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the University of Rhode Island and Emeritus Professor of Marine Sciences at the University of New England.
In addition, he is the CEO of two international companies: Earth Ocean Food Systems, Inc. (ETHOS) and the Ecological Aquaculture Foundation, LLC.
“It is a great honor for me and my family, given what we have endured in our long journey towards more respect for us Portuguese in America,” said Dr. Pierce, who traces his roots to Pico and Faial, Azores.
Maria Z. Carvalho honored for community service
Maria Z. Carvalho, the Executive Assistant of Planning and Community Development for the City of Elizabeth, N.J., will receive the PALCUS Leadership in Community Service Award.
Carvalho has made her mark within the community both locally and regionally, including her service as Vice President of the Elizabeth Youth Soccer Club, a member of the Union County Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board, Commissioner on the Union County Board of Taxation, a member of the Groundworks Elizabeth and the Elizabeth Portuguese Lions Club Board of Directors, and Sport Director of the Portuguese Instructive Social Club.
“I am humbled to be honored by PALCUS,” she said. “I have a responsibility to make sure our Portuguese traditions are kept alive in my community. As a daughter, wife, mother, Government official, elected official and community activist, I fight for our Portuguese community and make sure that others know who we are and where we come from. I am committed to keeping our heritage alive.”
John Martins recognized for career in technology
John Martins, of St. Petersburg, Fl., will be honored with the PALCUS Leadership in Technology Award.
The president of the Portuguese Club in St. Petersburg, Martins is very involved in the local Portuguese community.
Recently retired, he has an experienced background in information technology. He served as Senior Director Quality for Enterprise and Infrastructure Group at Jabil Inc. and continues to consult internationally with his former company.
“It is an honor to receive this Leadership Award from PALCUS,” he said. “What makes it so special is that it comes from the Portuguese community and represents my true roots. I owe my success to those who came before me and helped pave that journey. My grandfather, my parents… immigrants who never forgot where they came from and instilled in me the work ethic and traditions of our beloved Portugal.”
Steven Piorro honored for leadership in business
Steve Piorro, the founder and CEO of Naked Media, will receive the PALCUS Leadership in Business Award.
Piorro runs four businesses, employing more than 400 employees in several industries, including digital advertising and insurance brokerage firms. His businesses are based in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, but also have employees and contractors around the globe.
How much are tickets to the PALCUS gala, and where can you buy them?
The Leadership Awards Gala provides financial support for PALCUS to carry out their mission to address domestic and international issues directly affecting the Portuguese-American community in the United States.
The gala weekend festivities will also include the Lusitanian Forum, an opportunity to discuss the current state of the Portuguese community and work together to define what can be done to promote and secure the legacy of the Portuguese-American Community.
Gala tickets are $225.
Registration for the various weekend events, as well as ticket purchases and sponsorship opportunities, can be found at: https://palcus.org/pages/25-annual-gala
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Three PALCUS award leadership recipients have strong ties to Mass.
