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PODER CIVICO Now focuses on small projects, led by people who have the lived experiences to solve the challenges in their communities. We believe that trusting and supporting these proximate leaders will lead to transformational impact.
We are currently featuring the Casa Mirants project: “My community needs you”
CALL TO ACTION: help us raise $10,000. Supporting Casa Mirants means investing in trust, social justice, and historical reparations, acknowledging that transformation in Brazil’s favelas happens only when those who live there have the means to lead, care, and dream collectively.
THE FAVELA: Palmital, located in Santa Luzia (MG), is one of the largest favela complexes in Latin America. Despite its cultural richness and the strength of its residents, it faces severe social, urban issues. Most public services are absent or limited.
THE FOUNDER: Casa Mirants is the creation of Cléber Rodrigues, a Black gay activist, a resident of the territory, who believes in being an agent of transformation within one’s own community. Cleber brings a long and strong track record of engagement in Palmital.
THE HOUSE: The first floor at Casa Mirants includes the main entrance, is the most accessible, and the largest. The second has two offices and the third is the terrace. The immediate focus of our project is completing the first floor.
HOW THE HOUSE WILL BE USED: Life in the favela is not simple, and social projects depend on adaptable arrangements. We plan to have the following three community organizations start operating in the Casa Mirants:
- LGBT+ Collective of Santa Luzia -- founded in 2017, it’s a community network promoting rights, visibility, and inclusion for local LGBTQIA+ residents. It participates in municipal councils, cultural and sports events (e.g., Pride parades, “gaymada,” “fut das mulheres LGBT+,” and “queimada da diversidade”). Through community listening, public partnerships, and social movements, it advances public policies and fights LGBTQ+ discrimination.
- TUCUM -- an NGO founded in 2011, focused on popular education, youth, and public policy, promoting human rights. It fosters community protagonism, enabling people to take initiative, exercise freedom, and engage in solving real community challenges.
- AETAL (Association of Afro-Luziense Religious Temples) -- created in March 2023 to preserve Afro-Brazilian culture and defend the rights of people of African-based religions. Under the leadership of Pai Luiz (President), Mãe Vulaio (Vice President), and Babá Jeanderson (Treasurer), AETAL is a key cultural and rights-defense reference in Santa Luzia.
Three additional collectives have been identified to occupy the second floor.
BUDGET ASK: $10,000 to be allocated as follows:
Labor $3,000
Construction materials $3,000
Kitchen utensils, industrial furniture, coworking setup $4,000
GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY
Casa Mirants commits to:
• Continue investing its own resources until completion, with at least six collaborative spaces in the property.
• Maintain transparent use rules, public calendar, and contracts for each collective.
• Present semiannual activity and impact reports (e.g., number of workshops, organizations supported).
• Support community communication through events and campaigns.
• Ensure current collectives remain and expand to three more after the next construction phase.
Email & PIX: [email redacted]
Website: https://casamirants.com/casamirants
We invite you to walk with us — believing that building the future in Palmital is building the future for Brazil.
Organizer
