Become
a Member

As a member of KPA, you are part of the first 501(c)3 professional association in the Cabo Verdean community in the U.S. KPA was officially launched in 2019 to help close the education and skills gap in the Cabo Verdean community through resource sharing, workshops, conferences, and seminars. 

KPA Sisterhood

For women of color who want to grow their professional and personal network, develop skills, and be part of a supportive community and sisterhood.

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS
$149.99/year
or $14.99/month

  • Free entry to KPA’s signature events and discounted rate access to all other KPA events.
  • KPA members-only special discounts with partnership businesses.
  • Discounted apparel and merchandise.
  • Access to our exclusive online member community meetings and network opportunities.
  • Exclusive online training content and support from members as you build your skills.

KPA Sisterhood

For women of color who want to grow their professional and personal network, develop skills, and be part of a supportive community and sisterhood.

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS
$149.99/year
or $14.99/month

  • Free entry to KPA’s signature events and discounted rate access to all other KPA events.
  • KPA members-only special discounts with partnership businesses.
  • Discounted apparel and merchandise.
  • Access to our exclusive online member community meetings and network opportunities.
  • Exclusive online training content and support from members as you build your skills.

I’ve always wanted to be part of a group of criola where I would be able to mentor others, share my professional and personal experiences, and connect with other ladies. KPA has provided that and more. From being a member, it has been a true pleasure to meet so many amazing criolas, learn from them, and be truly inspired to do more for our community and be more authentic and connected. KPA sisterhood will always have a special place in my heart.

Larissa Ramos, Customer Account Management Specialist at Bloomberg LP

KPA has bought me a new sense of pride not only in being a Cape Verdean American but most importantly being a Cape Verdean American Woman in the working world. It’s nice to see our women being praised not just for our beauty but also for our brains and seeing more women that look like me accomplishing excellence in the corporate world alongside me. I also admire the opportunity to help the younger generation accomplish their career goals with greater opportunities than I was given. The best part of KPA is the events are not welcoming to just Cape Verdean women but to all women looking to help women, and if there is something, we need more of its diverse women coming together to accomplish greatness.

Maura Goncalves, Director of Training for Hospitality Industry 

As a KPA member, I learned a very important lesson “I am not alone.” I had recently moved back to Massachusetts after completing my bachelor’s degree in China. I was having a hard time fitting in and adjusting. I then came across KPA, a sisterhood and an organization filled with empowering women that made me feel like a wonder woman. They not only showed me that I am not alone but helped me realize my potential and overcome my fears. Today I am happy to have been a part of this wonderful organization and connect with these amazing sisters, people that today I know when I need, they are only a phone call away. Thank you to my KPA sisterhood for the best experience of my life.

Lara Correia, Registration Specialist for Brockton Public Schools

Before joining KPA, I doubted my skills in the work field and my overall capabilities. KPA has helped me use my voice by giving me opportunities to attend events that have contributed to my growth and made the transition from college student to a working member of society a lot easier. Having been blessed with opportunities to take on tasks, such as volunteering with events, translating documents, and actually being trusted and believed in, to be part of something bigger, has become a big part of my identity. It has given me the strength I didn’t know I had within me. It has truly been an empowering experience to be surrounded by other Kriolas doing great things in the world and motivating all women to be the best version of themselves. I am proud to say that KPA has genuinely become a sisterhood that I can rely on, whether for professional guidance or simple life advice.  

Dahlia Rosario DaSilva, UMass Amherst Graduate, Dahlia’s Garden Co-Founder and Creative Director

My time with KPA gave me a complete sense of community amongst my Kriola counterparts. It felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself, and that told me what kind of impact the organization was making in our vcommunities and within ourselves.

Vilma Rodrigues-Silva, Sr. Recruitment Manager with City Year, a national education non-profit

My experience with KPA has been nothing but amazing. About two years ago, I joined a group of like-minded kriolas with whom I had no previous relationship. We now have a very close relationship even outside of KPA, and these ladies have become one of the most supportive people I now know. They have supported and shaped my personal and professional development in so many ways. Everyone within KPA is invested in helping you develop and enhance your professional skills. For most of us, we don’t have this opportunity or space at our place of employment. The best part of KPA is seeing like-minded Kriolas coming together and showing what we are all about – strong, independent, charismatic, and resilient women who turn lemon into lemonade and pave the way for the next generation. This is especially impactful for the first-generation immigrant woman, given that most of KPA members were, including the founder and some of the co-founders, either born and raised or raised in Cabo Verde

Sweila Carvalho (She, Her, Ela), Boston College MSW candidate of Clinical Social Work with a concentration in Children, Youth and Families, and Immigration/Refugee trauma

I have been a member of Kriola’s Professional Association (KPA) for one year and a half. I left Cape Verde at the age of 13, and the hardest part was leaving the only place they made me feel at home. Living in the United States took some time to adjust, but I always felt like I was missing the connection to home and my people. I dreamed of the day I would get the opportunity to work with other Kriolas and build a meaningful relationship. When I heard about KPA, I knew I wanted to be part of the organization and help drive their mission and connect with driven Kriolas. 

KPA has done a great job creating a safe space that allows us to be ourselves and consistently challenged to be our best version. I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with the leadership team and members. I have been able to build and maintain relationships with Kriolas in the United States and Cabo Verde. I am excited to continue to watch KPA grow and be a place that empowers Kriolas to network, develop professional and personal skills to reach their full potential.

Seila Carvalho, Executive Assistant, PTC

Being a member of KPA has given me the opportunity to meet professional women who look like me and has allowed me to build a support system unlike any other. Not only do the women within KPA serve as mentors, but I have been able to connect with a new network of individuals outside of academia. Not only does KPA care about my professional growth, but as a group, we have been able to uplift one another in support of personal goals and endeavors. Knowing that I have a network of kriolas who want to support my growth has been pivotal for me as a college student, future professional, and a woman in all aspects of my life. I am thankful for having the opportunity to be a part of the KPA community and build meaningful relationships that will last for years to come!

Samira Liana, UMass Amherst Alumna and B.S. Public Health professional

KPA has bought me a new sense of pride not only in being a Cape Verdean American but most importantly being a Cape Verdean American Woman in the working world. It’s nice to see our women being praised not just for our beauty but also for our brains and seeing more women that look like me accomplishing excellence in the corporate world alongside me. I also admire the opportunity to help the younger generation accomplish their career goals with greater opportunities than I was given. The best part of KPA is the events are not welcoming to just Cape Verdean women but to all women looking to help women, and if there is something, we need more of its diverse women coming together to accomplish greatness.

Maura Goncalves, Director of Training for Hospitality Industry 

As a KPA member, I learned a very important lesson “I am not alone.” I had recently moved back to Massachusetts after completing my bachelor’s degree in China. I was having a hard time fitting in and adjusting. I then came across KPA, a sisterhood and an organization filled with empowering women that made me feel like a wonder woman. They not only showed me that I am not alone but helped me realize my potential and overcome my fears. Today I am happy to have been a part of this wonderful organization and connect with these amazing sisters, people that today I know when I need, they are only a phone call away. Thank you to my KPA sisterhood for the best experience of my life.

Lara Correia, Registration Specialist for Brockton Public Schools

Frequently Asked Questions 

Take a look at some frequently asked questions below. If you have any more questions at membership@kriolaspa.org.

WHY SHOULD I JOIN KPA?

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I looking to grow my network and connect with new people outside my circle and profession?
  • Am I looking to grow my skills?
  • Am I looking to give back to my Cabo Verdean community?

If you answered yes to any of those questions you should join KPA!

HOW LONG IS MY MEMBERSHIP EFFECTIVE?

Your membership is effective for a full year from the day you purchase a membership plan (i.e., if you purchase on June 1, 2022, your membership is effective until June 1, 2023). KPA membership is designed to offer all members the same experience regardless of what time of year you join. You will always have access to all our signature events in the time frame your membership is effective.

WHO ARE YOUR MEMBERS?

What makes KPA unique is that not only are we the first Kriola Professional Association, but our members are from diverse professional backgrounds. Our members include:

  • High school and vocational students
  • College students
  • Early and experienced career professionals from many different industries and professions
  • Entrepreneurs

By not having a specific industry professional organization, we create a unique space where women of color with diverse experiences can connect in a way that may not have been possible to do before. The diverse experiences create a culture of sharing, helping, and sisterhood.

DO I HAVE TO BE KRIOLA TO JOIN?

Anyone who identifies as a woman of color can and should join KPA. While KPA was created for Cabo Verdean women and we are proud of our heritage, we recognize that most women of color, regardless of ethnicity, often experience similar occupational and economic disadvantages at the intersection of gender and race. Our collective success comes when we empower and support one another in our professional and personal journeys. KPA’s goal is to create a safe space where all women of color can uplift one another.

CAN I CANCEL MY MEMBERSHIP?

Yes, you may cancel your membership. KPA’s cancellation policy is dependent on your monthly or annual membership plan. 

When cancelling a monthly subscription, all future charges associated with future months of your subscription will be cancelled. You may notify us of your intent to cancel at any time; your cancellation will become effective at the end of your current monthly billing period. You will not receive a refund; however your subscription access and/or delivery and accompanying subscriber benefits will continue for the remainder of the current monthly billing period.

When cancelling an annual subscription, all future charges associated with future years of your subscription will be cancelled. You may notify us of your intent to cancel at any time; your cancellation will become effective at the end of your current annual billing period. You will not receive a refund, prorated or otherwise, for the remainder of the annual term. However, your subscription access and/or delivery and accompanying subscriber benefits will continue for the remainder of the current annual billing period.

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