Iva Brito is an artist, poet, actress, educator, and activist. She currently works as an adjunct faculty member for Bristol Community College, where she teaches ESL and College Success Seminar. Iva’s core belief is that, in this shifting world, it is essential to stay grounded and focused on what matters – to do that which makes your heart sing. For Iva, that translates to creating art, resulting in her being the founder of Blessed Arts. Iva is a visual and performing artist conveying her love for her culture through artistic expression. Many of her paintings are of Cape Verde’s beautiful landscapes and people. In August of 2012, she exhibited her work at Brooks Academy Museum in collaboration with the Harwich Historical Society. She is also a spoken word poet, having performed at various organizations and locations throughout the nation. She is the author of the poetry book Essence, Tones, Whispers, and Shouts. Regardless of art form or job function, Iva's goal is to inspire, energize and empower others in passing on her message of love.

Aminah Fernandes Pilgrim is a graduate of Duke University (BA, History, Cultural Anthropology & African, African-American Studies) and Rutgers University (PhD, History, 2008). She is the proud mother of one boy, and lives in Brockton, MA. For the past 16 years, she has taught in the Dept. of African Studies at UMass Boston, and recently joined the TCCS (Transdisciplinary Cultural Community Studies) Master’s Program. She is also an affiliated faculty member of the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies at Bridgewater State University. She is the founder of the HIPHOP Initiative, and MEMORIA Oral History Project. She is the Co-founder (with Anita Monteiro) of SABURA Youth Program in Brockton, MA, and the Co-founder (with Dr. Terza Lima-Neves) of PODEROZA: International Conference on Cabo Verdean Women. Aminah is a visual artist and illustrator of children’s books, a writer, editor, and public speaker.

This exhibit is sponsored by the Brewster Ladies’ Library. Please call the Library at (508) 896-3913 before coming, due to the exhibition room sometimes being in use for a program and not open for viewing.