Brazilian-Americans in Georgia and Beyond: a Multi- Disciplinary Symposium, April 25-26, 2008, University of Georgia and Georgia State University

In recent years, increasing  numbers of Brazilians have immigrated to the United States.  On April 25-26 of 2008 the University of Georgia, in conjunction with Georgia State University, is hosting a conference entitled Brazilian-Americans in Georgia and Beyond: a Multi-Disciplinary Symposium, addressing the phenomenon of Brazilian immigration to the US, with special focus on this community’s significant presence in the state of Georgia. It is estimated that more than fifty thousand Brazilians currently live and work in Georgia, particularly in and around the Atlanta metropolitan area. Despite the rapid growth of this community during the last decade, very little scholarly attention has been given to the presence of Brazilians in Georgia. The purpose of this conference is to address this lacuna directly and, at the same time, serve as a springboard for further research and dialogue amongst interested scholars, government officials, and community and business leaders. This two-day symposium will consist of carefully selected panelists and keynote speakers addressing relevant issues in areas such as demographics, immigrant status, religion, linguistics, race and ethnicity, gender, business, literature and the arts. Moreover, the symposium will provide a forum for the Brazilian communities in both Athens and the Atlanta area to discuss current relevant issues, and will also serve as an inaugural event for an important development – the opening of a Brazilian consulate in Atlanta, highlighted by the presence of Adalnio Senna Ganem, the Brazilian Consul General for the Southeastern US.

For more information www.rom.uga.edu/news.html

KJ