Qualities of Urban Informality
By 2050, around one third of the world’s population is expected to be living in informal settlements. The processes of informal production have an essential role in [...]
Articles by Theresa Williamson
A Lawyer Responds: What is a Favela?
by Alex Ferreira Magalhães, Professor of Urban and Environmental Law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro The construction of the concept of a favela, specifically [...]
A Planner Responds: What is a Favela?
by Theresa Williamson, Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning and Executive Director of Catalytic Communities After fifteen years visiting favelas across Rio on a weekly [...]
Favela Perceptions – Surveyors Needed!
Help us document how perceptions of favelas have changed, and fine tune our [...]
The Ladder of Citizen Participation
From non-participation to tokenism to citizen power. How do the gradations of participation apply in [...]
CatComm Introduces LEED-Up at São Paulo Greenbuilding Conference
Vale Encantado, a favela in the heart of the Tijuca forest, part of the largest urban forest system in the world in the middle of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, was [...]
‘Favelas’ Across Latin America: Interactive Map
Country-by-country translations for ‘favela’ and the policies and realities that shape them. Reflecting on the huge generalization which results in using just [...]
Translating ‘Favela’: The Problem of Translation
In the major cities of the world, there is a common urban phenomenon: informal settlements. According to the United Nations agency, UN-Habitat, which uses the English term [...]
Invitation & Resources for World Cup Journalists to #EndTheStigma
With the World Cup spotlight comes a fantastic opportunity to set the record straight on Rio’s favelas, for journalists covering the event to promote a more nuanced, [...]