Cape Verdean Progressive Center
329 Grosvenor Ave.
The Cape Verdean Progressive Center first began as an iteration of the East Providence Cape Verdean Men’s Club started in 1939, from which wives were excluded. In 1940, 26 wives founded the CV Women’s Club and began raising money to buy or build a space to hold meetings. In 1950, Ambrose Mendes donated the plot where the building currently stands, and a year later, the women convinced the men to join them in creating one Cape Verdean Progressive Center. The building was completed in 1952. The CV Progressive Center was used as a space for parties, social gatherings, drinking, and performances. Many Cape Verdean artists began performing there early in their careers, including Vickie and Flash Tavares.
– Jeanine Mason
Digital Archive
CV Progressive Center Bar
Jeanine Mason
Image Source: personal photo
photograph
2014
Photo taken during my visit to the CV Center in East Providence
Jeanine Mason
Image Source: personal photo
photograph
2014
Founder's Wall, includes 26 Cape Verdean wives that originally organized to found the Center
Jeanine Mason
Image Source: personal photo
photograph
2014
Image Source (Top): Jeanine Mason - - 2014
1950s
Vickie and Flash wow club members at the Cape Verdean Progressive Center
Flash and Vickie began performing at local venues, and often came to the Cape Verdean Progressive Center to perform "when there was only a bar in the front." The siblings are well known and well-loved at the Center, and have returned several times in old age to again put on a show for their community, including a special performance in 2001.
- Jeanine Mason
Flash and Vickie wow club members at the Cape Verdean Progressive Center
Flash and Vickie began performing at local venues, and often came to the Cape Verdean Progressive Center to perform "when there was only a bar in the front." The siblings are well known and well-loved at the Center, and have returned several times in old age to again put on a show for their community, including a special performance in 2001.
- Jeanine Mason
2 Related Artists