Maria de Lourdes Serpa Collection [1970-1975]

This collection focuses on Maria de Lourdes Serpa's involvement with the Portuguese youth movement in Lowell, Massachuetts, in the 1970s. Items include a transcript from the local youth radio program (Ecos da Juventude), issues of the youth-written newsletter (Um Jornal da Juventude), and photos of members of the youth group itself (Juventude em Marcha). 

Biographical Note:

Maria de Lourdes (Brasil) Serpa is a Professor Emerita at Lesley University and has specialized in bilingual education throughout her career. She has designed Master’s programs and doctoral specializations in Bilingual-ESL Special Education and served as director and co-director of two major 5-year education projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education. She has dedicated her time to serving bilingual education in Massachuetts, serving on several committees of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 

Maria de Lourdes was born in São Jorge, an island in the Azores. Her father, Abel V. Brasil (1922-2005), and her mother, Maria de Lourdes Brasil (1923-1994), were also born on the island of São Jorge. They immigrated to the United States on July 4, 1969, and settled in Lowell, Massachusetts. 

Soon after arriving, Maria de Lourdes and two of her siblings, Lasalette and Joe, quickly got involved with the local Portuguese American community in Lowell. In 1970, she started the Saint Anthony’s Portuguese Choir, which was the first choir at Saint Anthony’s Church. Mary Lou Silva served as the organist and Joe Brasil was the guitar player. During this time, in 1970-1971, Maria and other young people began meeting about starting a youth group, eventually named “Juventude Em Marcha”. The official co-founders of the group were Dimas Espinola and Lasalette Brasil. Maria de Lourdes wrote the first draft of the constitution in 1971 before having it approved by all group members. Saint Anthony’s priest at the time, Fr. Silva, supported this venture. 

These discussions occurred at the same time as two other youth group projects: “Ecos da Juventude”, a local radio program created for Portuguese youth, and “Um Jornal da Juventude”, a newsletter dedicated to youth issues. “Ecos da Juventude” was run by a team made up of Maria de Lourdes, Dimas Espinola, Joe Brasil, Lasalette Brasil, and Conceicao Cipriano (serving as the Youth Group Secretary). “Um Jornal da Juventude” was edited by Lasalette Brasil, but was a collaboration between multiple members of the Youth Group. It was copied and assembled in Saint Anthony’s parish house and distributed once a month at mass.