Edmar

🇨🇻 · 🇺🇲 · ☕️ · 🏋🏽 · 🥊 · 📚 · ✈️ · making Creole languages accessible @kriolish · Staff Engineer @zoom

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

Yesterday, I had the great honor of meeting His Excellency José Maria Neves, President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, at an intimate gathering with a remarkable group of community leaders.

We briefly discussed the significance of preserving and promoting our Kriolu language, and I was excited to learn that his administration is planning a major convention next year, bringing together advocates of the language to discuss its essential role in our society. The @kriolish team will certainly be part of it!

A fun moment from the event: the President had initially planned to address us in Portuguese. After we were asked to introduce ourselves and share our work in the community, I was the only one who spoke entirely in Kriolu. Inspired by that, the President chose to deliver his speech in Kriolu as well ✊🏽

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

An ultimate sign of being secure in oneself, is giving credit where it is due.

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

I'm Cabo Verdean body, mind and soul. But I’m also a fan of beautiful futbol. I’ve rooted for Argentina for years, and them eliminating CV from the World Cup doesn't change that.

Also, let’s be real: for everyone calling out Argentina’s racism while wearing the jerseys of European colonial empires, save us some oxygen and STFU!

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

Congratulations Egypt 🇪🇬. Yet another point of pride for Africa in this World Cup.

What we just witnessed from Argentina is typical of true champions. No matter how many times you get knocked down, you get back up and you keep believing!

Vamo campeones 🇦🇷

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

Don't fall for the glitz and glam of being an entrepreneur.
86% of small business owners make less than $100k a year, and the majority of them would actually make more money and have less stress working a regular paying job.

Build something because its worth the cause, not because you think it’s a shortcut to easy wealth.

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

Netherlands vs Morocco 👀

This World Cup is heating up forreal now 🔥🔥

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

Japan was trying really hard to completely mess this up and they did it. SMDH 😤

[Casimiro Niggel @CasimiroNiggel]

NÓS TODOS TE AMAMOS EVORA, NÓS CRESCEMOS A ESCUTAR SUA VOZ Q NOS TROUXE O AMOR AO FUTEBOL

É TAMBÉM POR VOCÊ

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

Don't do it for the brand. Do it for the cause and the brand will come.

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

@V0ZINHA Da-l na kriole nha broda. No Bai!!

[Casimiro Niggel @CasimiroNiggel]

Vamos!

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

There is a big difference between creating content and solving problems.

Right now, the trendy narrative is blaming foreign entities for exploiting Cabo Verde. It’s a convenient distraction. Speaking in vague, abstract terms is safe because it requires zero accountability and makes for great content. But it's all smoke and mirrors.

Let's speak with precision: the number one reason the economic development of our islands is in a chokehold isn't across the ocean. It’s the greed in Praia.

The actual wealth and economic value are generated by the hard work of the other islands, but the capital island of Santiago hoards and consumes the benefits.

We lack the political courage to name the real culprit because pointing fingers at foreigners is easier than confronting our own domestic corruption. But until we stop hiding behind broad concepts and target the exact local mechanics bleeding our islands dry, we are just running in circles.

Real action doesn't start with fighting a global ghost. It starts with calling out the greed right at home.

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

You're not a victim of circumstance.
You're a fighter of your own destiny.

Its not today's conditions that dictate your future.
Its the decisions that you make!

Go get 'em y'all 💪🏽

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

In my view, the people running a country or municipality should have an extensive and provable track record of value creation and real-world problem-solving.

Give me engineers, scientists, teachers, athletes, military personnel, community leaders, etc... People who have actually built things or served communities.

Going straight into a career in politics will almost always be a major red flag for me.

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

There’s been zero breakthroughs since the arrival of AI.
Surely, output has increased by orders of magnitude, but the point isn’t output, it’s outcome!

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

The sweet science 🥊

[BOXING n BBQ @BOXINGnBBQ]

Brutal, yet beautiful.

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

Your ability to avoid distractions is the biggest predictor of your success.
Speaking of success... happy mother's day to all the wonderful mothers out there, especially mine 😊💐

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

Often times we show a lot of respect and admiration to those with a "redemption story." But what about the ones who have had the character to avoid the mess in the first place?

Don't get me wrong, I love me a comeback story.
I just think that we tend to mistake "drama" for "growth."
There's a lot more to celebrate in the quiet and underrated heroism of consistency.

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

Saturday Night Theory 🍷

[Edmar @edmarjsg]

What an incredible afternoon in Falmouth yesterday. We sat down with a powerhouse group of decision-makers—including the Superintendent of Falmouth Schools, BSU leadership, and the Cape Cod Cape Verdean Museum—to map out the future of Creole speakers.

We didn't just talk about an app; we talked about systemic change.

The mission is clear:
✅ Delivering heritage courses to build cultural pride.
✅ Training modules to support our teachers.
✅ Paving the way for the Seal of Biliteracy—an honor our Kriolu speakers have been denied for far too long in MA.

The ideas were flowing, and the commitment to our students and teachers is real.

Let’s work. 💪🏾

#Kriolish #Kriolu #CaboVerde #FalmouthMA #EducationEquity #SealOfBiliteracy #LetUsWork