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 [...]
Articles by Theresa Williamson
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, [...]
CatComm Co-Organizer of Debate on Water
On Tuesday, April 15, a forum focused on water and sanitation was hosted in Morro da Providência with six panelists consisting of community members, technical experts, and [...]
Why We Should Call them Favelas
Rio’s favelas are some of the most written about, scrutinized, and studied low-income communities in the world. Yet in this constant, often well-meaning spotlight, favela [...]