Brazilians in the Greater Boston Region: Building Community for More Than A Half Century

It may surprise a lot of Massachusetts residents, but the Bay State has the second-largest Brazilian population in the United States, behind only Florida. In this report, researchers Álvaro Lima and Mariana Dutra from the Instituto Diaspora Brasil offer an in-depth analysis of the demographics of the Brazilian population in Greater Boston, tracing the history of Brazilian migration to Massachusetts that have made Brazil's immigrant population the largest in Massachusetts.

The report then explores more deeply the demographics, education and economic impact of Brazilians in the state, leading into rich insights gathered from interviews and focus groups with second-generation Brazilians, community-based organizations, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, and artists. Together, those interviews provide a complex tapestry of the Brazilian experience here, and highlight opportunities for better understanding the Brazilian community contribution to the state and creating policies and practices that can help Brazilians succeed and thrive here.