Speaker Series: Cape Verdeans: From Whalers to Schooner Ernestina Captains

Chatham Marconi Welcomes Ms. Barbara Burgo to its Speaker Series
 

For centuries, Islanders from the Archipelago of Cape Verde have emigrated to these shores of Cape Cod as well as locations all over the world seeking a better way of life for themselves and their families. New England, and predominantly New Bedford, Cape and Islands have been second homes to thousands of Kriolus chasing the American Dream while escaping their drought-stricken homeland. In fact, whaling was once such a booming industry where many Cape Verdean men, women and children – as well as countless others - made such a good living in the city of New Bedford that it is now known as “The City That Lit the World.”  From deck hands and skilled harpooners, these hard-working immigrants were so well suited to the sea that many became owners and Captains of their own ships such as Captain Henrique Mendes and his historic rescue of the Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey which is now the Official Vessel of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She will explore the legacy of ancestors from the Cape Verde Islands who paved the way.

Barbara Burgo was born in Taunton, MA and semi-retired to Cape Cod eight years ago. She began her college degree at Wheaton College, Norton, MA while working as the Human Resources Administrator.  She transferred to Rhode Island College and participated in URI/RIC’s Summer Seminar in Cape Verde in 1997 and 1998 which inspired her to co-found the Cape Cod Cape Verdean Museum and Cultural Center, established in 2019.

In 2000, Barbara led a humanitarian mission to Cape Verde, sponsored by Cape Verdean Clubs in New Bedford titled “Adopt A Village Project” where she met the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Campbell who painted a school building with the Cape Verdean military in a rural suburb of Santiago Island. She was hosted at the U.S. Embassy in Praia, Cape Verde Islands.

Barbara earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology (Magna Cum Laude) and a minor in Women’s Studies. She is a former: President of AAUW-MA (American Association of University Women), Chair of the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission, President of the Taunton Cape Verdean Association, Vice Chair of South Coastal Counties Legal Services, planning committee member of Common Threads, Lembranca and So Sabi! Cape Verdean festivals and Asst. 

Barbara has course work toward a Master’s Certificate in Gerontology at UMASS Boston. She currently lives in Brewster.

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