Educational center in Florianopolis brings American culture to the island
Florianópolis residents interested in the U.S. culture now have another tool to explore the country. The U.S. Consulate in Sao Paulo and Grupo Bom Jesus de Ensino opened the first American Shelf in Santa Catarina on Friday. Located inside the Colégio Bom Jesus Coração de Jesus, in Florianópolis, the Maya Angelou American Shelf is open to public and boasts a variety of books and ebooks. Titles include fiction, English teaching materials, guidance on how to apply for U.S. universities and others, with the primary purpose of facilitating the access to information about U.S. culture, society, behavior, history and values.
The opening ceremony included remarks by the Cultural Officer of the United States Consulate in Sao Paulo Danna Van Brandt as well as the General Director of the Franciscan Association of Education, Jorge Siarcos and the Principal of the Bom Jesus Coração de Jesus School, Glauco Foltran. Following the opening, the United States Embassy’s Information Resource Officer Elenita Tapawan gave a lecture about how libraries can serve as community centers.
The shelf is named in honor of African American writer and poet Maya Angelou, who died this year. Angelou was known for her beautiful poetic style and her storytelling ability, but also for having alongside the great United States civil rights leaders for the equality of African Americans.
