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Welcome to the Sausalito
Portuguese Cultural Center

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Marin County’s longstanding Portuguese immigrant history finds a living connection at the Center, where descendants and community members come together to explore and celebrate their heritage. The Center actively preserves and promotes Portuguese culture for current and future generations, ensuring that traditions remain alive well into the 21st century.

The Center offers a diverse range of engaging events for the entire family, including the Holy Ghost Festa, bi-monthly Sip & Savor social gatherings, the Taste of Portugal Dinner, Portuguese language classes, and the highly anticipated Annual Crab Dinner Fundraiser, along with various other cultural activities. Food and wine are central to these celebrations, enriching the experience and honoring Portuguese culinary traditions.

Visitors are encouraged to explore the website, attend events, become members, and reconnect with Portuguese roots. The Center also serves as a gateway to discovering Portuguese culture and resources throughout the North Bay, highlighting the enduring presence and contributions of the Portuguese community in the region.

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Photos | © Sausalito Historical Society; Diane Dias


President's Message

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My parents, my sister, and I were fortunate to immigrate from the Azores Island of São Jorge when I was five years old, settling in San Rafael, California. The first social gathering we attended was the Sausalito IDESST Hall for the Holy Ghost Festa. Since then, I have participated in the festas in many ways — carrying the Rosary, being one of the three children of Fatima, carrying flags and statues, and now serving as President.

I am deeply grateful to our forefathers for establishing this Portuguese custom that has lasted over 135 years. My goal is not just my own, but a team effort to continue this tradition well into the future. I hope to have the participation of as many of you as possible to help make this year an enjoyable one — a year where we can come together at social venues and bring our Portuguese traditions alive.

JOE MATOS, IDESST President


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Photo | © By Wirestock on Freepik




Our Mission

  • To preserve and promote Portuguese culture, both traditional and contemporary, and to build and maintain an awareness of the Portuguese community’s contributions to the life of Sausalito and Marin County.
  • To provide educational, charitable and cultural activities consistent therewith;
  • To provide a comfortable and relaxing social meeting place for IDESST members;
  • To create and maintain an environment that is fun and rewarding for the IDESST Portuguese Cultural Center volunteers; and to do all of this while emphasizing quality over quantity.

Photo | © Diane Dias



Officers

President | Joe Matos

Vice President | Jim Lino 

Treasurer | Jim Meyer

Secretary | Duane Oliveira


Directors

  • Miriam Burke
  • Linda Chavez
  • Diane Dias
  • Loren Heiman
  • Jim Lino
  • Joe Matos
  • Jim Meyer




Directors

  • John McCory
  • Duane Oliveira
  • DJ Puffert
  • Esther del Rosario
  • Jack Sherwood
  • Ruben da Silva


Director Profile: Miriam Burke


Miriam Burke grew up rooted in Portuguese traditions: born in Brazil to a mother and grandmother from Lisbon and a grandfather from Trás-os-Montes. But it was a neighbor's mention of "really fun parties" that first brought her to IDESST.

What she found was far more than good parties. She discovered a community of genuinely good-hearted people who made her feel at home from day one, offering the simple, authentic warmth that keeps her coming back.

An executive and leadership coach and consultant, mediator, and former attorney, Miriam brings her communication expertise to IDESST as Director and member of the Communications team. She also serves as VP of Communications for Marin Charitable, supporting at-risk youth in Marin County.

Living in Mill Valley with her husband, cat Atlas, and two college-bound kids, Miriam balances her consulting practice serving tech and legal industries with her commitment to keeping Portuguese culture alive in Marin.


Our Organizations

I.D.E.S.S.T. is an acronym for the name Irmandade do Divino Espírito Santo e Santíssima Trindade, which translates as "Brotherhood of the Divine Holy Spirit and Blessed Trinity." The IDESST was incorporated in 1904 and is an IRS 501(c)(7) non-profit organization.

Sausalito Portuguese Cultural Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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