Brazilian Solidarity makes history in the United States 

New York/USA — It has already been 22 years since a piece of the heart of New York, the Island of Manhattan, began the celebration of the Brazilian Day in the United States. The biggest Brazilian festival in Uncle Sam’s country — which has its stage set up on Sixth Avenue with 46th Street, known as Little Brazil — began at 1:00 pm, on Sunday, September 3.

This is an event that gathers important Brazilian and American personalities, living in the USA, besides the population in general with an estimated public of a million people.

This is an event that gathers important Brazilian and American personalities, living in the USA, besides the population in general with an estimated public of a million people.

And for the third year straight the Legion of Good Will (LGW) is part of the official programming of the event. In every occasion it was present, the LGW’s stand was one of the most visited. Among other attractions, the Organization exposed its socioeducational programs, several promotional products, besides the beautiful T-shirt of the Organization with Brazil’s green and yellow colors and the LGW’s blue heart.

The LGW has general consultative status at the ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council of the United Nations), and its work has been receiving increasing recognition in foreign lands.Looking for the propagation of elevated values that direct its actions, the Organization distinguishes — by means of the World Parliament of Ecumenical Fraternity, the ParlaMundi of the LGW — Brazilian personalities of international distinction with the Order of Merit of Ecumenical Fraternity Decoration. Nowadays, the homage is part of one of the most important of its kind in the country.

Constituted by the President of the Legion of Good Will, José de Paiva Netto, in 1996, the decoration has been awarding physical and juridical persons which have stood out in the national and international scenario for promo

ting actions in favor of the common well being and of a more just and happier society.

Awarded in 2006, the Executive Director of the Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce in New York — holding this position for more than a decade —, Sueli Bonaparte pointed out very touched after receiving the homage that, "The objective of the award represents the principles which I have followed and that try to accomplish the message of solidarity and fraternity".

Dr. Sueli received the award from the hands of the journalist Amauri Soares, Executive Director of Globo International, and affirmed: "I feel honored and blessed for being nominated to receive the Order of Merit of Ecumenical Fraternity Decoration given by the ParlaMundi of the LGW", during another edition of the Brazilian Day and she adds: "This homage brings back a good energy to New York. Congratulations for the marvelous work that you [from the LGW] develop. A loving hug to our dear Paiva Netto."

Daughter of Japanese immigrants, Dr. Sueli grew up within the Buddhist and Catholic principles. "Since I was a teenager I was educated to practice goodness and respect", she affirmed. "I find exceptional opportunities to practice the civic activity of a responsible citizen, of using the talents and skills that I have acquired for the good of all and to offer better social and economical conditions for the community I live in. At the same time, through the programs of our organization, we have stimulated a better understanding and development of better commercial relations between Brazil and the United States."

Born in the city of Mirassol, in São Paulo State, Brazil, Dr. Sueli has an undergraduate degree in History from USP (Universidade de São Paulo). In the United States, where she has lived for 25 years, she got her Masters in Pedagogy from St. John’s University and a certificate with a Post-Graduate level in the Administration program of Pace University, just as a honorary title of Doctor in Human Letters from the Thomas Aquinas College.

Sueli Bonaparte has a very eclectic professional experience. She has occupied administration positions in the following areas: academic (she was the director of programs of the Brazilian Institute in Pace University); governmental (she was the coordinator of the academic section of the Brazilian Consulate in New York); private (she was the director of marketing and sales of American and Brazilian companies) and of non-profit organizations (she was the President-Founder of the Brazilian Institute in Arizona).

She has given several lectures in universities, community libraries and other organizations talking about the Brazilian economy, the role of women in the business area, among other themes.

In the United States, the Legion of Good Will acts in partnership with the United Nations since 1994, in the DPI (Department of Public Information), and has general consultative status at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) — which gives it the right to participate of the decision making meetings of this Organism. The LGW in the US — Legion of Good Will — is located at 20 Calumet Street, 1st floor, Newark/NJ, phone: (973) 344-5338. For more information, access the website http://www.lbv.org or get in contact by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Translation: Raquel Bertolin