Tulare County proclaims June 2025 Portuguese National Heritage Month

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on June 3 proclaimed June 2025 as Portuguese National Heritage Month in Tulare County and honored local Portuguese cultural organizations for their community contributions.

Supervisor Larry McCarrie read and presented the proclamation, which cited historical Portuguese immigration to California from the Azores, the Portuguese community's contributions to agriculture and local culture, and the presence of an honorary Portuguese consulate in the region. The proclamation was dated June 3, 2025, and carried the signatures of the board chair and attending supervisors.

Representatives of the SBDS Festa, a local nonprofit cultural organization, came forward after the proclamation. Tony Susino, who identified himself as the board secretary, told the board the SBDS Festa is in its 70th year and that fundraising at their annual lamb feed supports scholarships for local students. "We're a nonprofit. We give back to the community," Susino said, describing the organization's scholarship work and community events.

Why it matters

The proclamation recognizes local ethnic and cultural heritage and highlights longstanding community organizations that hold festivals, raise scholarship funds and maintain cultural traditions in Tulare County.

Additional details

- The board noted multiple local organizations and traditions, including the Societe Portuguesa and Divino Espirito Santo festivities, and information in the proclamation referenced a 2018 California strategic plan promoting Portuguese language and culture education.

- The SBDS Festa representatives invited the public to attend their upcoming multi-day celebration and described scholarship and community-feeding programs funded by event proceeds.

The board's presentation concluded with supervisors thanking the community leaders for their work and encouraging public participation.