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

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