The Brazilian Women’s Group
Heloisa Maria Galvão (center) at MA Statehouse 2019
Heloisa Maria Galvão is the co-founder of the Brazilian Women’s Group and the current Executive Director. While the pandemic has forced the Brazilian Women’s Group staff to work from home, the pandemic has not slowed down their efforts to inform, financially support, and organize members.
Galvão says that the organization’s key priority is to financially support the community. The Brazilian Women’s Group is applying for grants and distributing funds. In partnership with other organizations, the Brazilian Women’s Group has helped 200 women financially.
While money is the big issue the organization is focusing on, Galvão says that food is also an urgent need for many families. Families are increasingly in need of food after seven difficult weeks.
Moving forward, Galvão says they will continue prioritizing giving out cash, and will also distribute food.
Facebook Live Events
The organization has increased its Facebook activities. Since March 16th, the Brazilian Women’s Group has hosted Facebook Live events every Monday through Friday at 8:30 PM, and Saturdays at 11:00 AM.
During Facebook Live events, they discuss a range of topics, including COVID-19 testing, health, access to financial resources, unemployment benefits, and unemployment resources for independent contractors.
The Brazilian Women’s Group hosted events that focus on the nutritional and mental health of families. The organization teamed up with artists to show families how to make instruments using paper or other common materials found at home. Some events also focused on cooking.
As of April 30th, the Brazilian Women’s Group had reached 166,052 people. And their videos had a total of 61,598 views.
Sharing the Stories of Brazilians
Like many immigrant groups, the Brazilian community has been affected by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
The Brazilian Women’s Group shared the story of one person in particular. After 10 years of being separated from his family, a Brazilian man recently received his U.S. green card in January 2020. Then the pandemic hit, and then President Trump announced restrictions on entry into the United States. He decided to act fast, so that he could be reunited with his family. Within 24 hours, the man bought plane tickets, and traveled from Brazil to New York City.
During a Facebook Live event, the Brazilian Women’s Group invited the Brazilian man and an immigration attorney to discuss immigration policy and the pandemic. This live session alone reached 29, 607 people and was viewed by 8,300 people.
But the Brazilian Women’s Group is not only working in the United States. The organization is also ‘traveling across the world’ to learn about how Brazilians are experiencing the pandemic. Through Facebook Live events, the Brazilian Women’s Group interviewed Brazilians in Spain, Italy, Britain, and Brazil. During the interviews, participants share how their life has been affected by the pandemic. Stay tuned: the next event will visit Brazilians in Australia!
Organizing
Galvão says they are also working to organize people. Their messages include: ‘fill out the Census’, naturalize if you can’, ‘if you can’t vote you still have a voice’.
“Even if you are here without documents,” says Galvão, “you can still call your representative. They represent your districts, not just people who were born here. They represent you.”
The Brazilian Women’s Group is also offering online ESL classes for members of their women's cooperative. Additionally, fifteen workers participated in a Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) worker accident prevention training.
The organization also organized a workers’ committee meeting.
Building Community and Friendships During the Pandemic
Lily Huang (left) and Heloisa Maria Galvão
Galvão and colleagues prioritize learning about each person that participates in their Facebook or Zoom events. They ask viewers questions like: How do you feel? Are you having symptoms? Do you believe COVID-19 is easy to get?
People have told Galvão and her colleagues that they are so thankful for the information and for the community. People are waiting on Facebook for them to start their daily sessions, Galvão says. It has become like a social event.
In these difficult times, when people have been forced to stay home and they have limited or no income, the Brazilian Women’s Group is taking interest in the lives of people, and the organization is supporting the community in many ways. Galvão says, “I feel we are all friends.”
To learn more:
Heloisa Maria Galvão, Brazilian Women's Group
697 Cambridge St Suite 106
Brighton, MA 02135
617-202-5775