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  • [ July 23, 2026 ] Surf Legend Ricardo Bocão’s Enduring Legacy in Rocinha [OBITUARY] by Community Contributors
  • [ July 17, 2026 ] ‘Favela Tourism as Citizenship: Pathways to a Community-Based, Sustainable Model’ — Public Hearing Highlights the Potential of Community-Based Tourism in Rio de Janeiro by Community Contributors
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  • [ July 14, 2026 ] ‘There Is No Climate Justice Without Adequate Housing,’ Argue Leaders at First Brazilian Housing and Climate Forum *Highlight
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Favela Culture

Caixa de Surpresa: A Center of Cultural Production in Rio’s West Zone

By Lovinia Reynolds • February 11, 2016

Clique aqui para Português A community organization in the West Zone neighborhood of Bangu is working with young people, children and families to combine cultural events, classes and activities and citizenship discussions and put West Zone […]

Event Reports

Vidigalerativa Cultural Festival in Vidigal Celebrates 2nd Edition

By Iman Ahmed • March 13, 2015

Clique aqui para Português The second Vidigalerativa festival took place Thursday March 5 in Vidigal’s Cultural Center. The festival was organized and promoted by the Favela Criativa program with the objective of spreading culture and art throughout […]

#GentrificationWatch

Arts, Culture & Integration at Hanging Garden Festival in Babilônia

By Ed Bentsi-Enchill • August 28, 2014

On Saturday August 23 over 4000 revelers gathered at the top of Morro da Babilônia in Rio’s South Zone for the Hanging Garden festival, an annual celebration which aims to promote the dissemination of inclusive arts and culture. […]

Civil Society

Circulando: Community Voices Unite for Dialogue and Cultural Expression in Alemão

By Courtney Allen Crumpler • November 19, 2013

On Saturday November 9, the ninth edition of Raízes em Movemento (Roots in Movement) Institute’s Circulando event took place in Complexo do Alemão in Rio’s North Zone. Subtitled “Dialogue and Communication in the Favela,” the day’s […]

Favela Culture

Performing Arts as Transformation in Bangu

By Mary Allison Joseph • October 28, 2011

Clique aqui para Português It’s 4 o’clock on a Thursday afternoon, and a mix of hip hop and traditional Brazilian rhythms blare through the second floor windows of the Caixa de Surpresa Cultural Center in […]

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RioOnWatch’s anti-racist reporting series won silver in the 2022 inaugural The Anthem Awards, in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category among Best Local Awareness Programs.
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About

In May 2010, Catalytic Communities launched what was originally Rio Olympics Neighborhood Watch (hence RioOnWatch), a program to bring visibility to favela community voices in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. This news site, RioOnWatch.org, grew into a much-needed and unique reference featuring favela perspectives on the urban transformation of Rio. With diverse and deeply interlinked articles by a mix of community reporters, resident opinions, solidarity reporters, international observers, and academic researchers, we work to engender a more accurate picture of favelas, their contributions to the city, and the potential of favela-led community development in Rio and around the world.

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Special Thanks

Fundação Heinrich Böll Brasil
World Habitat
Fideicomiso de la Tierra Caño Martín Peña
Pastoral de Favelas
Center for CLT Innovation
Global Land Alliance
Ecocity Builders
Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation
SDSU Behner Stiefel Center
The Rio Times
Forum Grita Baixada
Beto Paixão Graphic Design
Architecture Museum of Vienna
Yale School of Architecture

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