Saturday’s event celebrated the 50th anniversary of Cape Verdean independence by honoring the freedom fighter Amílcar Cabral, and hearing from three freedom fighters who were on the ground helping in the U.S.Carleen Cordwell, a New Bedford native and Vineyard resident, second-generation Cape Verdean American, and lifelong advocate for empowerment, entrepreneurship, and inclusion, moderated the evening. To him, it was the liberation of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde.”Second-generation Cape Verdean American Yvonne Smart shared stories about her activism through the Cape Verdean American Federation, which she helped form. The federation set about preserving culture, providing social services, advocating for its community’s needs, and supporting the fight for Cape Verdean freedom. Other presenters included Cape Verdean poet Iva Brito, who shared poems about her Cape Verdean roots and who she is as a Creola woman. Amid the hubbub, third-generation Cape Verdean American John Cruz reflected, “I’m educated.