Contributed by graduate student Beatriz Torres Do Nascimento.

I am very happy to have completed my initial research prospectus. At this stage, my research, entitled “From Brazil to the United States: The Reconfiguration of Privilege and Racial Identity among Brazilian Immigrants,” feels much clearer and more structured, which brings me a great sense of relief and motivation to move forward with it throughout this semester. Reaching this milestone has strengthened my confidence in the direction of my work and reaffirmed the relevance of my research questions and theoretical framework.

At the end of last year, in December, I also had the opportunity to carry out a meaningful and impactful project alongside highly engaged undergraduate students and my academic advisor Professor Camilo Ruiz, which was even published by the CT Mirror website. Together, we presented valuable and accessible information to the immigrant community in Hartford, with a particular focus on immigrants’ rights, safety, and health. This experience was especially rewarding, as it allowed us to bridge academic knowledge and community engagement, ensuring that our work had practical implications for the population we aim to support.

Finally, I am very excited to present my research at the MACLAS 2026 conference. This will be my first academic conference presentation, and I am genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity. I see a significant gap in the existing literature on Brazilian immigrants living in the United States, particularly regarding issues of racial identity, privilege, and social positioning, so it is important to occupy these spaces and fill this gap.

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