Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Rio - a review

Rio was quite wonderful. The crew includes myself, Heather Arnet (writer/director/producer) and Veronica Marques (Producer for ELAS in Brasil). Veronica is also the current Director of Communications and incoming Co-Executive Director of ELAS the women's fund in Brazil. We are joined by Nathan Golon (Cinematographer/Director of Photography); Emilia Freire (Line Producer), and interns Louisa and Carolina who are have been managing the logistics of everything on the ground. And in Rio we are also joined by our driver Marcus, security guard William, and Sound Assistant Junio.

So now you know the cast of characters. :-) Everyone has been wonderful to work with and so welcoming to us. In Rio we have interviewed many incredible women. Here are just a few highlights and photos below from our week in Rio:
- Day One: We interviewed Delanie Costa from IBAM who has held candidate trainings for women and is on the Board of UN Women & has amazing knowledge of women's political trends in Brazil. Then we interviewed Marta Rocha, Chief of Police for all of Rio and discussed her long career in the police force, her experience as the first woman Police Chief of Rio, and we visited a women's police station, especially created to be a place where women can come to report sexual assault, rape, or domestic violence and receive support and assistance from female police officer and specially trained male police officers.
- Day Two: We met with Candace "Cindy" Lessa, the Board Chair of ELAS who has also worked with Ashoka, and is a leader in the development of social change philanthropy and the non-profit (or as they call it here "the citizen sector") in Brazil.
- Then we went to interview Tia Surica at the Portela Samba School. Surica is an Internationally famous singer and samba dancer and she has been instrumental in the development of this school - one of the oldest and most famous in all of Rio. We watched Surica sing and dance with the children at the samba school and talk to us about the critical role samba plays in the culture of Rio and in these children's lives. AND the role it had in empowering her to become a successful woman when her beginnings were so modest.
- Day Three: We met with a political science scholar who has written books and made a documentary about the role of women in the construction trades and development of Brazil. She has also written books about the representation of women in government and was a tremendous resource to us, giving a historical perspective to the importance of Dilma's presidency. Then we visited and interviewed Lillian who lives in and runs a business in a Favela and is a grantee of ELAS.
- Day Four: day We met with Fernanda Keller, 10 time winner of the IronMan triathlon she is an incredible inspiration. So strong, so smart, so beautiful. She spoke of the power of sports to transform her life, and the lives of other women and girls, and how important it is to have a dream and to work hard and to go for it!
- Then we interviewed Eliane Potiguara, who is a writer and activist for the rights and legacy and rich history of the Indigenous People of Brazil. She is a very spiritual woman and this meeting was very powerful. She told us how she was speaking on behalf of generations and generations of ancestors. We spoke of the role of indigenous women in politics in Brazil now and into the future.
- Then we met with Benedita da Silva. WOW! First black woman elected to Rio's city council, then to Congress, then to the Vice Governorship of Rio, then Governor of Rio, and now the Federal Senate. She participated in the crafting of the new Brazilian constitution and she was instrumental in both Lula and Dilma's presidential campaigns. I look forward to coming back to Brazil to volunteer on her Presidential Campaign after Dilma has been re-elected to a second term of course!
And these are just some highlights of the 14 women we interviewed in Rio. Now we off to Brasilia and will write more from there. Love, Heather
































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