Never Say Never: How Gabriel Marques Founded the New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference (NYPALC) and United a Community

Adapted from several different NYPALC publications and news periodicals between 2012-2018:

Last Updated September 14, 2020

Prior to 2010, the once great united Portuguese communities in New York State had collapsed into separate and autonomous North and South regions. The once powerful Portuguese Civic Association of New York State (PCANYS) was operationally defunct and Portuguese communities in Westchester, New York City and Long Island no longer communicated with one another. While many had believed that the hallowed time of the Portuguese Diaspora in New York was ending, a young man in Mineola named Gabriel Marques refused to accept it.

In June of that year, Gabriel would start a journey that today is considered one of the most remarkable and inspirational accomplishments in the community’s history. The then-President of the Portuguese American Center of Suffolk, Fernando Trindade, would refer to Mr. Marques in 2014 as “a man who lifted the community on his shoulders with nothing more than than his heart and the will to do so!”

1. The Portugal Day Celebration, 2012

Fed up with the rivalry and separatism in the community, Gabriel, then 27, asked Nassau County Government for permission to use the Legislative Chambers to host a Portugal Day Celebration. He attended every general-assembly of the 12 Portuguese-American organizations in Mineola and delivered his vision with as much heart as he could muster, personally asking them all to participate in this small event. It was not always easy, Gabriel encountered much resistance, including intentionally being burned with a cigarette, spit on and having drinks poured on him.

Despite the abusive opposition by staunch leaders, over 400 people attended and celebrated Portugal Day together for the first time in decades, reigniting their passions for culture and erupting the next decade into a Golden Age for the New York Portuguese.

A few months after the event, Gabriel invited all 12 organizations together for an annual breakfast, eventually what became known as the “Leadership Breakfast.” Gabriel’s vision was to create an organization where laborers and domestic workers could join together with politicians and professionals at the same table to discuss and ultimately improve relations within the community, each voice carrying the same weight without discrimination, and for the betterment of all.

The organizations came together and decided to continue organizing the Portugal Day Celebration each year as an event to show solidarity and to repair the damage done by so many years apart. They unanimously elected Gabriel Marques President of the group, known today as the New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference (NYPALC) additionally naming him “the face and the voice of the Portuguese community.” The group gave Gabriel a mandate, to go out and represent the future, to go from community to community in New York and unite every group. Later that same year he organized an event for Hofstra University called a “Spotlight on Portugal” and a Touro Law School event honoring Holocaust hero and Portuguese Diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes. These two events would be the genesis of the New York Portuguese Youth Conference.

2. Lightning Strikes Twice, Portugal Day 2013

In 2013, The Portugal Day Celebration had drawn so much attention that H.E. Ambassador of Portugal in the United States Nuno Brito visited Long Island for the first and only time during his tenure just to attend the event. Over 600 people participated in the Portugal Day Celebration; so much so, a second room was used to provide extra seating.

3. 2014, Portugal Day Shifts to Suffolk County, Portugal Day Parade Comes to Mineola

In 2014, at the 3rd Annual NYPALC Leadership Breakfast, Nassau County invited the Portuguese community in Suffolk County to collaborate in organizing the 3rd Annual Portugal Day Celebration and the new first ever Portugal Day Parade. A massive negotiation ensued, over several months, led by Marques and ended successfully with the acceptance of all Suffolk organizations into NYPALC. The Gala, too large for the Nassau County Legislative Chambers, was relocated to the 500+ capacity Portuguese American Club in Suffolk (Farmingville) and a first-of-its kind parade would be hosted in Mineola. Gabriel was unanimously elected President again, to a final term.

At the 3rd Annual Portugal Day Event, the community celebrated their unity with the emotional signing the national anthem of Portugal together for the first time in many years. The revolutionary event was made free for all attendees, with sponsors covering the cost of every expense directly. No money was raised for any organization and tickets were at the sole discretion of organizations within the community.

The Inaugural New York State Portugal Day Parade was the first Portuguese themed parade in the 100-year-old history of Portuguese on Long Island. It was held on June 8 and was reported to have been the largest parade in village history, drawing over 5,000 people.

4. NYPALC Founder Gabriel Marques Authors Historic Merger with Defunct NY Portuguese Civic Association, Launches First Youth Conference in 2015.

In 2015, at the 4th annual NYPALC Leadership Breakfast, New York City and Westchester joined the group, bringing the total involved to over 46 organizations representing nearly 62,000 members. NYPALC also expanded to help revive the Miss Luso New York Pageant (after being defunct for 15 years) and created the annual New York Portuguese Youth Conference. The Portugal Day Parade, by now in its second year, saw its participation double to over 10,000 people. Later that year, Gabriel led the historic merger of NYPALC and PCANYS, creating the largest and most powerful Portuguese organization in the history of New York State. In a special general assembly of both organizations, Marques was once again unanimously elected President of the new organization and the merger was mechanically completed.

After witnessing his accomplishments, on nomination by Ambassador of Portugal in Washington, H.E. Nuno Brito, Portuguese Foreign Minister Rui Machete selected Gabriel to participate in a special government course in Lisbon to help develop young community leaders, which he graduated from in May of 2015 (read more about this).

5. Founder Gabriel Marques Retires in 2016

In 2016, Gabriel, after accomplishing his mandate to unite every Portuguese organization in the State of New York, he stepped down as President of NYPALC in order to give the opportunity to others.

After a new President was elected, NYPALC immediately named Gabriel President Emeritus and gave him the title of “President of Presidents.” At the 5th Annual Portugal Day Celebration, Gabriel was honored with a standing ovation by over 450 leaders, dignitaries, and elected officials in a moving tribute to his service for the community. At the following leadership breakfast, the NYPALC General Assembly moved to submit a nomination for Gabriel to receive Knighthood from Portuguese Parliament for his efforts.