Stay informed about events happening in New York by regularly checking the calendar on our website. In 1971 the New York Portuguese social clubs and the branches of the Portuguese Continental Union held the first Portuguese picnic gathering in New York led by Laurentino Simoes and Jose Malheiro. On March 18, 1972, the Portuguese Civic Association of the State of New York was formed. The same year, a Commission was elected to celebrate the Day of Portugal to be held on August 27, 1972. In August 23, 1976 it was legally incorporated under the name of the Portuguese Civic Association of New York State (PCANYS) by Laurentino Simoes, Antonio Estrela, Manuel de Albuquerque, Manuel Neves, Americo Mula and Manuel Vieira. PCANYS unified the communities from New York State by holding special events and bringing the communities together, such as the Portugal Day Picnic (founded in 1977), "Man of the Year", and in June 11, 1995 the first New York State Portugal Day parade was organized in Mineola by the PCANYS. In 2012 a movement was created in Long Island called the New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference (NYPALC) led by Gabriel Marques. He gathered 12 Long Island Portuguese American organizations in the Village of Mineola to celebrate Portugal Day in Nassau County. In 2014, the second New York State Portugal Day Parade was organized in Mineola by NYPALC. In mid-2015, Gabriel Marques (NYPALC) approached the then presiding president of the PCANYS, Dr. Tony Castro to merge the movement with the association. In November 2015, at a meeting held at the Portuguese American Community Center of Yonkers, the merger was approved by unanimous vote. On January 20, 2017 the PCASNY assumed the name of New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference (dba) and became the singular voice of the New York Portuguese and Portuguese-Americans.
