The following list recognizes the many similarities between California and Brazil and suggests topics for meaningful collaboration. From an economic standpoint, we share analogous free-market economies, dynamic modern agriculture, and diverse natural resources. In addition, California and Brazil also face complex social issues including healthcare, education, social inequity, and the challenges of racism. We hope to lay the foundation for a dynamic partnership which seeks to encourage the exchange of ideas as well as stimulate growth, competition, innovation, and global citizenship. As we rapidly move into a world without boundaries, we owe it to ourselves to work together for our common future well being.
View of Yosemite Valley, California
View of Iguaçu Falls, Brazil
Trade and Investment:
- Similarities between California and Brazil make us natural trading partners.
- Sharing unique and diverse characteristics, California and Brazil have analogous histories, which have led both of us to experience similar opportunities and challenges.
- California and Brazil have opportunities for finding alternatives to the dependency on oil.
- California and Brazil’s unique economies and positions make them perfect leaders in the challenge of bridging the gap between the Global North and the Global South.
Education:
- Both California and Brazil face shortages of skilled and educated labor due to gaps in students’ educational attainment and achievement at the K-12 levels. The capacity and resources of public schools are at the center of these systemic crises in both cases.
- One shared challenge is to make the teaching profession a more desirable long-term career option for outstanding college graduates.
- Both California and Brazil face particular challenges of improving the educational capacity of schools serving impoverished areas in cities and in rural areas. Another common challenge for both systems is to successfully incorporate new entrants--migrant and immigrant students.
- Creating exchanges between Brazilian and Californian scholars, researchers, and universities can be facilitated by utilizing existing programs and learning from relevant parallel experiences. For a full list of bilateral academic programs, please click here.
Environment:
- California and Brazil have the opportunity to encourage the preservation of their natural environments and the development of sustainable conservation practices regarding water and agriculture.
- California and Brazil can practice smart growth principles to maximize the utility of space and resources.
- The city of Curitiba, in our sister state of Paraná, offers an urban development model for California planners.
- California and Brazil should encourage the creation of regional collaboration for all facets of development.
Social Programs:
- State governments have played a special role in attacking the sources of poverty via unique, state-led initiatives, both in Brazil and in the U.S.
- Brazil’s unique history of public-private partnerships for addressing social needs may provide a model for California.
Culture:
- There is an opportunity to use the common interest in soccer in Brazil and California as a means of increasing international awareness and understanding among young people.
- Both Brazil and California have sophisticated audiences and many venues for the presentation and appreciation of the performing arts.
- Brazil offers a new visual and cultural frontier for California film-makers.
- California and Brazil could collaborate to enhance film distribution in both locations, which could potentially influence further expressions in cinema by Brazilian artists and provide more exposure for California-based productions.
General:
- There is an opportunity to establish an entity that can foster the development of stronger mutual relationship between people in California and Brazil.
- Sister city relationships between California and Brazil have strong value.
- The United States and Brazil have similar forms of federal governments, but at the state level, differences exist. These differences offer an opportunity to form exchanges between state officials and policy experts from both California and Brazilian states.
California-Brazil Partnership
1020 N Street, Suite 516 · Sacramento, California 95814
(916) 651-1515 · FAX (916) 323-7827
Email · California- Brazil Partnership
Photo credits: Brazilian Government and the California Department of Tourism