Latest news with #CapeVerdean
Boston Globe
17-05-2025
- Boston Globe
‘When I would go to sleep, I would dream that I was free and with my family.' New Bedford immigrant opens up about his month-long detention
At the jail, he remembers hearing people crying often. Méndez estimates there was about 40 detained immigrants, all men, ranging from teenagers to older adults, from Mexico, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and other countries. Advertisement On Friday, he was still getting used to being back home when he met with reporters, accompanied by his wife and lawyer, to discuss his 30 days in detainment. 'When I went to sleep, I would dream that I was free and with my family,' Méndez remembered, speaking in Spanish. 'But then I would wake up and still be locked up.' Juan Francisco Mendez, a Guatemalan immigrant, discussed his return home to New Bedford. He was forcibly removed from his car by ICE agents, who smashed the windows as he was leaving with his wife for a dentist appointment. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Originally from Guatemala, Méndez, 29, was detained last month after immigration officials broke his car window with an ax and dragged him out, in a striking ordeal that was captured on video by his wife. The video captured the shockingly violent actions of federal immigration agents and was shared widely. (Méndez said he also took a video but his phone was confiscated and has not been returned by ICE). Advertisement The couple was on their way to the dentist when agents in unmarked vehicles pulled them over, seeking a so-called ' ICE officials maintain that Méndez was present without a legal status and the agency's right to so-called 'collateral arrests' which includes detaining individuals other than the people they are seeking. Méndez was finally released Thursday after Judge Yul-mi Cho of the Chelmsford Immigration Court ordered his release on bond, and community members chipped in to pay the $1500. Still, he remains electronically surveilled with an ankle monitor on his left leg. 'He is still detained in a way,' said Ondine Gálvez Sniffin, the attorney who represents the couple, and will be pushing to get the monitor removed. In February 2024, Ortiz was granted asylum, and through his wife Méndez is eligible to adjust his legal status under federal immigration law, said Sniffin. Méndez had already provided his fingerprints to US Citizenship and Immigration Services in December and has no criminal record, she added. 'I'm not a delinquent,' Méndez said. 'The only thing I was looking to do was to bring a plate of food to my family's table,' he said, recalling the poverty of his childhood in Guatemala, where his single mother struggled to provide. The local corruption and lack of economic opportunities are what pushed the family eventually to migrate to the US. Both Méndez and Ortiz worked in the local seafood industry here in New Bedford, where immigrants from many lands have come to live and work on its historic waterfront. In its earliest years, New Bedford drew Portuguese and Cape Verdean immigrants to work in its storied whaling industry. Newer arrivals have turned to the docks, finding work in fish processing plants or on boats harvesting scallops and groundfish. Advertisement The Méndez's experience of the last month has had a chilling effect on the immigrant community, and led the family to rethink their choice to migrate. Since the violent arrest, Ortiz struggles with sleep too, often staying up late into the night, anxious, or waking up from nightmares. Most recently, she was out in New Bedford paying her light bill when she heard police sirens. 'I looked behind me,' she said, and thought to herself 'Where do I run, where do I hide?' It took her a moment to steady her breath and racing heartbeat before she realized the sirens weren't for her. Marilu Domingo Ortiz, wife of Juan Francisco Mendez, became emotional during a press conference in New Bedford on Friday. Ortiz was with her husband when ICE agents pulled over their car, broke the windows and forcibly removed Mendez, He was released Thursday after 30 days in detention at Strafford County jail in New Hampshire. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Now the family is seeking ways to heal. In jail, Méndez said he often turned to the Bible and found help in prayer, and the visits of a local clergyman. Phone calls with his 9-year old son helped, but it 'wasn't the same as seeing him in person,' Méndez said, remembering how a knot would form in his throat, as he heard his son cry. Back home, the family stays close. Méndez keeps a close eye on Ortiz and his son — and they keep a close eye on him. But outside their home, he still vividly remembers the horror: officers surrounding their parked car, the sound of breaking glass. For a moment, 'I thought I was going to be killed,' Méndez said. Despite the lingering fear, it's pushed him to keep speaking up. Advertisement 'Don't stay quiet,' he said. 'If we don't talk, I don't know how far this will go... and for all the families going through this, don't lose hope, keep the strength going.' Esmy Jimenez can be reached at
Boston Globe
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Josh Kraft is prioritizing winning over Black voters in Boston's mayoral race. Is it working?
Related : Advertisement 'This couldn't be a more appropriate place for our campaign to call home,' Kraft said in March at the opening of his campaign HQ. 'This campaign is about making sure that every voice in Boston is heard and valued.' A first-time candidate up against a savvy incumbent, Kraft believes his narrow path to victory runs directly through Roxbury and Boston's other communities of color, swaths of the city where, Kraft contends, voters feel ignored and let down by Wu. Wu's campaign firmly rejects that claim and the idea that she doesn't engage with communities of color. The campaign points to the Advertisement Kraft's strategy, nonetheless, reflects the campaign's view that the political newcomer can make inroads among Boston's voters of color. Kraft in recent weeks has appeared on at least four radio shows with Black hosts that focus on the Black community, and has frequently sat in pews for Sunday services and joined iftars in neighborhoods such as Dorchester and Mattapan. His team has recruited people specifically to lead outreach among Boston's Haitian and Cape Verdean residents. Last month, the Kraft campaign hosted an event in Mattapan featuring a couple dozen of Boston's Haitian residents formally endorsing his candidacy. Since he launched his challenge to Wu in February, Kraft has argued Wu 'doesn't listen' to residents, and has neglected Black neighborhoods and other communities around the city. And as Kraft's campaign sees it, the connections he developed through his nonprofit work, largely in communities of color, give him an opportunity to capitalize on what they view as Wu's vulnerability in Boston's diverse neighborhoods. More than two dozen interviews with Black Boston voters, including some civic leaders and political strategists, indicate Kraft will find at least some willingness to hear his message in these communities, but he has a lot more work to do before November. Like any voting bloc, Boston's Black community is incredibly diverse and not at all a monolith. Some prominent Black leaders, a portion of whom supported Wu in 2021, confirmed they are disillusioned with the mayor's leadership. Other Black voters told the Globe they still strongly support the mayor, particularly in light of the national political climate. Several others said they could possibly be open to voting for a challenger to Wu, but don't know enough about Kraft's policy positions to decide yet. A couple hadn't even heard of him. Advertisement The interviews indicate the dissatisfaction and frustration that Kraft seeks to capitalize on is real. Several of Wu's policy initiatives have angered some very vocal and influential leaders in Black neighborhoods, including her plan to Related : 'I feel like she's kind of failed Black people,' said Priscilla Flint, executive director of the Marcus Anthony Hall Educational Institute, which serves city youth. '[Wu] doesn't listen, and then she makes decisions,' without first soliciting community input. Flint voted for Wu in 2021, but said she's been disappointed in Wu's leadership and, at this point, doesn't plan to back her again. Flint's organization has also received support from Kraft's philanthropic work in the past. Other prominent civic leaders said the mayor's decision to block the creation of an elected School Committee was a turning point. During her first mayoral campaign, Wu said she supported a hybrid, partially elected School Committee, but as mayor she Advertisement Many voters who spoke with the Globe also said Wu has been too hasty installing '[In] conversations that I'm having with many, many people in the Black community, a lot of it comes down to, '[Wu] doesn't show up for us unless she needs something, or she only shows up when it can benefit her,'' said Jacquetta Van Zandt, a senior adviser to the Kraft campaign and host of the show 'Politics and Prosecco.' 'She has made decisions and choices that have conveniently left out Black voices.' Wu's campaign did not directly comment on the Kraft team's accusations, but in a statement emphasized her nearly 15 years in city government, the It hasn't been enough for some. Louis Elisa, president of the Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association, said he's particularly disappointed in the stalled progress on plans to overhaul the city's only vocational high school, and what he sees as minimal improvements to the Advertisement He said he did not vote for Wu in 2021, but was pleased that she, both as a city councilor and as a mayoral candidate, showed interest in addressing some issues he deeply cares about, like Madison Park. But 'there are so many things she said she was going to do that didn't happen,' Elisa said. 'I started off very much in support of her administration doing good things, and she basically squandered that trust and that support by doing things that are totally unrelated to the needs of the community in which I live.' Other Black voters defended the mayor's record. Denise Williams, a 53-year-old former certified nursing assistant who lives in Roxbury, said she proudly supports Wu and appreciates how frequently she attends community events. As a mother, she said 'I just pray that she wins,' Williams said. 'I don't like for somebody to say, 'Well, I have Black friends' … No, you have to really be in it to understand what we go through on a daily basis.' Related : Jasen Lambright, a cybersecurity expert and Dorchester resident, said he voted for Wu in 2021 and will likely do so again. As a father of three kids in BPS, he said he still sees room for improvement. But he praised her work on public safety in the city, including progress she made tackling homelessness and the opioid crisis along what some call Advertisement 'I used to drive by there all the time to drop my kids off [at a youth program] … and I can say it looks markedly different,' Lambright said. He was also impressed by 'That was phenomenal, I agreed with everything she said,' Lambright said. 'What I like about Mayor Wu is I feel like she gets the overall picture. … I haven't heard why [Kraft] would do a better job.' Related : Antoinette Johnson, a 47-year-old Dorchester resident and morning show host on the Black-owned radio station Spark FM, also said Kraft hasn't articulated how his leadership would be different than Wu's. 'Instead of him saying, 'This is what I'm doing, this is what I'm doing,' it seems like he's kind of harping on what she's not doing,' Johnson said. She does, however, believe Kraft's efforts to reach Black voters are working. 'He's made himself available in a lot of spaces that we probably wouldn't think that Josh Kraft would be in.' Kraft recently joined Johnson and her co-hosts on their Spark FM show, and left a good impression, she said. While Johnson said she's supported Wu for years and approves of the job she's done in her first term, she sees Kraft as a strong contender in this year's race. 'In speaking to people in my community, it's probably split down the middle. There's a lot of people who are very, very excited about Mayor Wu running again. ... There are some other people who [think], 'Maybe there could be some change if we give Josh Kraft a chance.'' 'It's gonna be a tough race,' Johnson continued, 'but I think it's gonna be a good race, and I think that both of them have the opportunity to prove themselves.' Niki Griswold can be reached at
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Athlete Ventures In Action: How Kriol Star Is Transforming The Basketball Landscape In Cape Verde
As the lines between sport, business, and culture continue to blur, today's athletes are no longer just performers, they're founders, investors, and storytellers. But what Cape Verdean brothers Joel and Ivan Almeida are building with Kriol Star goes beyond the familiar athlete-to-entrepreneur trajectory. Founded in 2024, Kriol Star is a rare example of athletes creating a scalable, values-driven venture while still competing professionally. Positioned at the intersection of grassroots development and international opportunity, the team is Cape Verde's first representative in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and a case study in strategic legacy-building. By leveraging their credibility, connections, and shared vision, the Almeidas have not only created a pathway for local talent but also attracted global investment, turning their on-court credibility into long-term, community-driven capital. In an interview with Almeida shared more about the inception of the team, the funding behind it, their path to the continent's biggest stage as well as the competition so far. Kriol Star's origin story is rooted in community and vision. The team, which grew out of a foundation which shares the same name is, a grassroots initiative focused on empowering youth through sport and opportunity. What began as a social project soon evolved into a professional mission, fuelled by the brothers' shared love for basketball and a commitment to creating something lasting for future generations. Kriol Star Founder and Player, Joel Almeida Supplied/BAL At the heart of Kriol Star's mission are Joel and Ivan, whose journey from Cape Verde to international play has driven the team's vision. "We've shared the court since we were young," says Joel. "It's always amazing to do this with your brother, someone you've been to battle with." This bond, forged through years of playing together, is central to their ambition: to build not just a successful team, but a lasting legacy for Cape Verdean basketball. "It's important to leave a legacy and create a pathway for the next generation," Joel insists. From the outset, the Almeidas understood they needed to combine their passion for the game with strategic thinking. They recognised Cape Verde's untapped talent but also the lack of structure to harness it. This insight led them to create the Cape Verdean Basketball League (CBL), a platform designed to identify and elevate local players. The league became a cornerstone of their strategy, paving the way for their team's entry into continental competition. 'We had a vision from the very beginning, and we stayed true to our core values,' Joel shared. 'The execution was key.' The team made history in the Road to the BAL 2025, becoming the first team from Cape Verde to compete in FIBA's elite continental qualifying tournaments. Their presence alone was a statement: Cape Verde was ready to join Africa's basketball renaissance. Behind that leap was not only talent but strategic thinking and key investment. A pivotal figure in The CBL and Kriol Star's journey is Paul Bragiel, a prominent Silicon Valley investor and founder of an early-stage technology fund. Known for backing over 200 startups, Bragiel saw in Kriol Star a unique blend of potential, vision, and impact. 'Paul Bragiel was one of our main investors,' Joel explains. 'He played a significant role in helping us compete on the Road to the BAL. We brainstormed how to get a CBL team into the BAL. I said, 'We have the talent, we just need to put everything together, enter the Road to the BAL, and qualify.'' That belief, coupled with Bragiel's support, helped unlock the resources Kriol Star needed to only dream big, but also execute with precision. His backing signalled a larger shift: African basketball was becoming a viable destination for global capital and strategic partnerships. Kriol Star's debut in the Sahara Conference of the BAL, currently taking place in Senegal, hasn't been without challenges. Going up against some of Africa's most experienced and well-resourced teams was always going to be tough. Their campaign began with a hard-fought loss to reigning champions, Angola's Petro de Luanda, but instead of faltering, the team responded with resilience. 'It's not about how hard you fall, it's about how quickly you bounce back,' Joel emphasised. And bounce back they did. In a defining moment, Kriol Star claimed a crucial victory over Senegal's ASC Ville de Dakar, a gritty performance highlighted by Joel's 16 points and five three-pointers. That win was more than just redemption; it was a statement: Kriol Star wasn't here to participate; they were here to compete. 'We showed a lot of character, resilience, and guts,' Joel said. 'We imposed our rhythm and played with grit.' Following their loss to Tunisia's US Monastir to close out the first round, they now approach the final stretch of group games, holding a 1-2 record and ranked 4th in the standings. The pressure is on. With a -42 goal difference, every rebound, every defensive stop, and every possession matters as they fight for a spot in the next round. But their story is far from over. For a debut team, the odds may be steep, but belief runs deep. Kriol Star represents more than a team's entry into elite competition, it's the embodiment of a new kind of sports entrepreneurship. By building infrastructure, mobilising investment, and anchoring their brand in purpose, Joel and Ivan Almeida are reshaping how we think about athlete-led ventures. Their story is about vision in motion, about lifting others as they climb, and proving that long-term impact doesn't have to wait until after retirement. For Cape Verde, it's a moment of arrival. For African basketball, it's a model of what's possible when ambition meets alignment. And for global investors, it's a signal: the future of sport is collaborative, community-rooted, and already here.
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Scotsman
I experienced five star luxury on Boa Vista in Cape Verde
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now If you're searching for a spring or summer getaway, this Cape Verde island might just be the perfect destination Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Temperatures range between 20 and 26 degrees throughout the winter and spring months, with clear blue skies too. Flying with TUI from Gatwick, it takes just six hours to arrive at the Cape Verdean island of Boa Vista, which is part of a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The airline has also just announced a new route from East Midlands Airport to Boa Vista, twice weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) set to begin from April 26. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Staying at Riu Palace Boavista, it's a hotel that lives up to its five star reputation while being able to enjoy the all inclusive facilities on offer, but more on that later. During my four night stay on the island, I took part in a number of excellent activities courtesy of TUI, including an incredible island tour which included a stunning beachfront lunch. We also enjoyed Povoaçao Velha – the oldest settlement on the island, and had a taste of local life in the process, before our final stop on the sublime Santa Monica beach. Boasting 15km of white sand and undulating dunes, it's no wonder it was voted one of the world's top 10 beaches. It really was a place of beauty and the perfect place to end the tour, which costs £85 per adult. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Praia das Dunas beach, next to Riu Palace hotel | Birmingham World Cape Verde is also a hotspot for whale activity during March and April, being one of just two breeding sites in the north Atlantic. And this half-day cruise takes you into the waters around the island to spot these majestic creatures in their natural habitat – all with the help of an on-board marine biologist. After being picked up from our hotel, we sailed out to the best spot to catch sight of whales on that day where we caught a glimpse of the animals in their natural habitat. The Desert Delight experience was a real highlight of TUI's package. It's hard to beat this evening dinner in Boa Vista's Viana desert. On arrival at the Viana Club, we were handed a welcome drink before listening in to a briefing on what to expect of the evening. Dinner includes a buffet of traditional Cape Verdean dishes. A stunning aalk to the beach from the hotel | Birmingham World After eating, you head outside for an exhilarating view of the heavens. This experience costs £59 per adult. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad My trip was Monday to Friday and we enjoyed many of the hotel's facilities, including the swim-up bar pool (which is one of three pools at the hotel) and splash water world. On Thursday I enjoyed the unique experience of whale watching for the first time. There's an impressive collection of bars and restaurants at Riu Palace, including two specialty restaurants: Krystal, a fusion restaurant specializing in dinner, and Mitsuki, a Japanese restaurant also serving dinner, both requiring reservations. I was fortunate to dine out at both venues. Mitsuki was particularly exceptional. I had the veal which was delicious. The main restaurant is called Africa, in which guests enjoy the extensive buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner services. Here, you will find an array of dishes covering everything including spreads of local and international food. In terms of evening entertainment, you can enjoy live dance shows, and perhaps take part in some karaoke too if you're feeling brave. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The veal was incredible | National World I was booked into a double room which included a luxury bathroom, as well as my own mini bar and private pool outside. The hotel staff are on hand to help you with any queries and don't worry if you run out of suncream or lose your shades - a local shop is located within the hotel for essentials. There's also a spa and gym offering treatments for ultimate relaxation. The location of the hotel is extraordinary, too. It's perched on Praia das Dunas beach, so if you fancy a day at the beach sunbathing (or everyday), it's right on your doorstep. How to book & more A 7-night holiday to RIU Palace Boa Vista starts at £1,762pp for two adults sharing a double room with private terrace and pool on an all-inclusive basis. Departing on Tuesday April 7, 2026 the fare includes return flights from London Gatwick, 20kg luggage and transfers. Click here for more information
Boston Globe
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Soul on Shawmut: handmade and heartfelt
The lunchtime crowd at Soul on Shawmut last month. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff The backstory: In late 2024, siblings Aadam Abdul-Musawwir, Muhammad Abdul-Musawwir, and Iman Lamontagne opened Soul on Shawmut. Aadam previously ran a pop-up called Aadam's Halal Meals; Iman's background is in nonprofits and Muhammad's in finance. They grew up in Roxbury with their parents and three other siblings. 'We had our own Black Muslim experience with food that we felt was very special,' says Lamontagne. 'This is our own take on soul food that comes from the people that fed us and the food we cooked growing up. Some of those people were Somali or Moroccan. Our beans and rice comes from — we call her our aunt, she was one of our mom's best friends growing up, she was Cape Verdean. This is really an honor to our community, to traditions and flavors we grew up with.' Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up The chopped cheese sandwich at Soul on Shawmut. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Advertisement What to eat: Fried chicken, inspired by the siblings' father; the dish is his specialty. Or try some wings, in flavors like Old Bay honey and garlic parmesan. Then add sides such as smoky mac 'n' cheese, hand-cut fries, caramelized yams, and collard greens with cabbage. There are sandwiches, too: The steak and cheese is made with grilled rib-eye, and the grilled cheese burger features a patty between grilled cheese buns. The house-made bacon jam takes it over the top. Advertisement People arrive for lunch. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff What to drink: Don't miss the hibiscus watermelon juice, refreshing and eye-catchingly crimson. And African coffee brewed with spices is a neighborhood hat-tip. Dayib Cafe, a Somali restaurant, long occupied this space, and its piping hot chai was a favorite. 'People started coming in saying, 'Where's the tea, where's the tea?,'' says Lamontagne, who used to drink it in the mornings as a high school student. 'We weren't planning on having the tea at all, that's not what we do, but Aadam and I sat down and were like, 'Wait a sec, we love the tea!,' so he put his own spin on it.' The African spiced coffee is a hat-tip to Dayib Cafe, the Somali restaurant that long occupied this space. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff The takeaway: Soul on Shawmut is a tiny spot with a big heart. (There are a few seats for no-frills in-house dining, and takeout is an option too.) Come for the loving neighborhood vibe and handmade food. These aren't things to be rushed, so keep that in mind if you're on a schedule. But if you've got time to relax, banter with staff and neighbors, and enjoy a bite, Soul on Shawmut is here for you. 722A Shawmut Ave., Roxbury, 617-238-7525, . Sandwiches $10-$20, fried chicken $7-$18, sides $5-$6, desserts $4-$7. Devra First can be reached at
