Writer: Joelma Araújo

Joelma Araujo is an undergraduate Geography student at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and a resident of Jardim Gramacho, Duque de Caxias. A Black woman, single mother and daughter of a waste picker, she has been conducting research for over three years on sanitation, illegal garbage dumps and socio-environmental justice. She is a scholarship holder with the Baixada Fluminense Geodiversity, Heritage and Education Study Group (Geopart BF); member of the Baixada Fluminense Interdisciplinary Studies Center (NIESBF), the Unified Black Movement (MNU) and the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB); founder of Dona Black Fotografias; and serves as coordinator of the Environmental Working Group at the Jardim Gramacho Community Forum and Duque de Caxias Municipal Black Women’s Forum.