Mangum travels to South America to expand partnerships between Brazil and FAMU

FAMU President Elmira Mangum recently traveled to Brazil this as a member of the HBCU Alliance delegation (consisting of 40 HBCUs) to foster educational opportunities for people of Brazil as well as cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Brazil.

During her time in Brazil, Mangum met with Dr. José Vicente, President of Zumbi dos Palmares College, about ways to expand mutual participation agreements between Brazil and FAMU. Mangum also spent time with international leaders such as Mozambican politician and humanitarian Graça Machel, the widow of Nelson Mandela, and Afro Brazilian politician and activist Benedita da Silva.

The trip was not only a part of Mangum’s vision to make FAMU a best-in-class institution with a global reach, but also focused on finding ways to expand educational opportunities at FAMU for Afro Brazilians. She is working with the HBCU Alliance and the Brazilian government to reduce the financial and literacy barriers that prevent this group from obtaining a degree from FAMU and the other HBCUs. This is a crucial part of Brazil’s effort to expand racial equality to its 97 million Afro Brazilians.