Adverse Possession | Squatter’s Rights
Federal guarantee of the right to adverse possession for the purpose of housing provided via the 1988 Brazilian Constitution, based on the “social function of [...]
Articles by Theresa Williamson
A City Planner Responds: What is a Favela?
by Theresa Williamson, Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning and Executive Director of Catalytic Communities After fourteen years visiting favelas across Rio on a weekly [...]
Educational Community Visits
Since 2004 Catalytic Communities has worked with visiting university departments, graduate researchers, journalists, conference goers, and volunteer groups to provide [...]
Journalist Support
There are many important and fascinating stories to be told in Rio today. Many involve the city’s favelas. Yet rarely are community voices represented. This is partly due [...]
Vidigal Visit w/ IMD – Institute for Management Development
May 29, 2013–A group of 28 corporate executives from 14 countries, on a 1-week study trip during their course at Switzerland’s Institute for Management Development [...]
‘City as Play’ Community-Centered Design Workshop
‘City as Play’ is a simple yet effective activity that allows people to use the materials they have at their disposal to plan, create and share ideas and solutions for [...]
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 [...]
Community Mapping through Transect Walks
A transect map, accomplished through a transect walk, is a tool used by a group undertaking observation-based community improvement, which should include informed community [...]
