Aminah Fernandes Pilgrim

Co-founder

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 Africana Studies at UMass Boston, and recently joined the TCCS (Transdisciplinary Cultural Community Studies) Masters Program. She is also an affiliated faculty member of the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies at Bridgewater State University. Her areas of research include late 19th and 20th century African-American history, African-American women’s history, African Diaspora studies, Cabo Verdean studies, education research and critical hip hop studies. She is the founder of the HIPHOP Initiative, and MEMORIA Oral History Project. She is the Co-founder (with Anita Monteiro) of SABURA Youth Programs, Inc. in Brockton, MA, and the Co-founder (with Dr. Terza Lima-Neves) of PODEROZA: International Conference on Cabo Verdean Women. Pilgrim is a visual artist and illustrator of children’s books, a writer, editor, and public speaker. Please feel free to contact her via social media (FB: Aminah Pilgrim, IG and Twitter: @aminahnailah)

Anita "Leny" Monteiro

Co-founder

Anita “Leny” Monteiro was born in the United States to parents and family from the Cabo Verde Islands. She is a proud mother of two daughters. At the age of 12, she traveled to Cabo Verde and instantly fell in love with her culture—a connection that has shaped her life’s work.
A graduate of Brockton High School with high honors, Anita went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Pre-Medicine concentration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While her initial dream was to become a doctor because of her passion for helping people, her deep love for Cabo Verdean culture guided her toward community service and cultural advocacy.
Her journey began at the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton, where she served as both a Board Member and staff member, eventually becoming the organization’s director for four years.
Building on this experience, Anita co-founded SABURA (Student Ambassadors Bonded Under Recreation and Achievement) with Dr. Aminah Pilgrim. SABURA is a Cabo Verdean cultural enrichment program for youth ages 4–21, designed to teach and celebrate Cabo Verdean heritage while connecting to the broader African diaspora.
Through her leadership, Anita continues to honor her heritage, empower young people, and strengthen community ties.

From L to R, Teacher and Coordinator Ivette Monteiro, Anita “Leny” Monteiro (with youngest daughter Larryssa), CV Music Legend Beto Dias, and Dr. Aminah Pilgrim

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Mailing Address:
​P.O. Box 2843
Brockton, MA 02305
Phone: 508.577.5646
Email: [email protected]