JR - Co-Founder

JR, a French artist and photographer, opened Casa Amarela Providência in 2009 after his project Women Are Heroes, which gave a voice to the women of Morro da Providência through art.

He always sought to find a way to help the community through art, and Casa Amarela Providência was created as an attempt to support the children of the community, establishing a cultural center that would become their safe space to grow and develop their artistic skills.

MAURÍCIO HORA - Co-Founder

Maurício Hora, a local photographer and resident of Morro da Providência, co-founded Casa Amarela with JR following the Women Are Heroes project, in which he collaborated. Maurício uses photography to document life in conflict zones, and his projects are internationally recognized. With over 20 years of dedication to photography and his deep knowledge of the community, Maurício also plays a key role in communicating with local residents and promoting the work being done at Casa Amarela Providência.

TIPHANIE CONSTANTIN - DireCtor

Tiphanie Constantin is Franco-Brazilian, holding a Master's degree in International Relations and a Bachelor's degree in Letters and Editorial Translation from Sorbonne University - Paris III. She has worked with NGOs such as the Ford Foundation, UNESCO, Le Journal International, Casa do Menor, Autres Brésils, Filhos do Marajó, and AEDA - Enfants d'Amazonie. Having settled in Rio de Janeiro since 2015, she worked for France Télévisions as an interpreter, which is how she first connected with Casa Amarela by interviewing its co-founder, Maurício Hora.

Tiphanie has been involved with Casa Amarela since March 2016, leading teams and producing projects. After five years at Casa Amarela, she became co-director and co-founded the Mulheres Independentes da Providência Collective. In 2019, she co-produced the Festival Planeta Ginga in celebration of Casa Amarela's 10th anniversary. In 2020, she represented Casa Amarela on the SOS PROVIDÊNCIA emergency committee, alongside other important socio-cultural projects in Providência and the Port Region. She led the construction of the Santo Skate track in Providência and co-founded the annual Novembro Negro Festival.

In 2024, Tiphanie took over as the general director of Casa Amarela, managing the Inside Out projects in Brazil, and became the Brazilian representative for the Can Art Change The World foundation.

ERNANE FERREIRA - General Coordinator and Art Educator

Ernane Ferreira holds a degree in Commercial Management and specializes in Strategic Business Management from Pitágoras College in Minas Gerais. He is the General Coordinator of Casa Amarela and is also responsible for proposing and ensuring the implementation of our educational and emancipatory projects. Ernane supports proposals, coordinates, and contributes to the creation of actions between managers, educators, the team, and residents in connection with the territory, while overseeing and safeguarding these actions. He manages daily practices such as activities, classes, courses, lectures, and projects. His continuous monitoring and evaluation of project results ensure the smooth development of all work related to Casa Amarela.

With a strong belief in education through the arts—having been shaped by social projects—he started studying Afro dance in 1998 with Marlene Silva (Afro Primitive). He later explored contemporary, classical, and flamenco dance and studied theater. Ernane is a disciple of Marlene Silva and Evandro Passos (Traditional Afro), Carlos Afro (Afro-Brazilian), and continues to research with masters in Rio de Janeiro, such as the late Carlos Mutalla and Charles Nelson, with Charles being the most prominent reference in Afro-Brazilian dance and a significant partner and supporter.

Ernane is the creator of the ICAB Project, a cultural integration proposal for Afro-Brazilian heritage. He is also the founder of ColErê Providência, an Afro dance collective for children and teenagers, which originated from an educational proposal and is a pioneer in the territorial focus.

He forges partnerships with Afro-referenced initiatives focused on preserving and valuing Afro-Brazilian traditions rooted in heritage from terreiros (Afro-Brazilian religious spaces) and African legacies. Ernane is a permanent educator in dance at Casa Amarela Providência and continues to believe in the transformative and political power of popular dances, grounded in educational processes.

MIRIAM GENEROSO - Coordinator of MiP

Miriam Generoso, a black woman, favela resident, and territorial organizer in Morro da Providência. She holds a degree in Law from the Brazilian Faculty of Legal Sciences and a Master's in Justice and Public Security from the Federal Fluminense University (UFF). She is also pursuing postgraduate studies in Education and Ethnic-Racial Relations through the Pedagogy for Freedom program.

She is the co-creator and producer of Afro Cine Ípadé, a film club with Afro-centered and referenced perspectives, aiming to encourage reflections and debates on issues related to the Brazilian Black population and their position in society. She is also an Afro entrepreneur and owner of Coser da Nêga, a business focused on researching and creating traditional garments related to Afro culture and popular dance manifestations.

Currently, she coordinates the MiP - Mulheres Independentes da Providência collective, aiming to be an agent of transformation in building collective knowledge through self-care practices and educational initiatives that strengthen narratives, identity, and territorial actions.

TALITA MILANEZ - PEDAGOGICAL COORDINATOR AND ART THERAPIST

Talita Milanez, born in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, is an art teacher specializing in art therapy and art education, with postgraduate studies in pedagogical coordination. She has been working in the social sector for eight years. Talita develops her work viewing art as a historical and philosophical human activity. This perspective enables critical construction around the socio-historical narratives of humanity, providing tools for learning and self-awareness, believing that her contributions help transform society in a fairer and more equitable way.

Her journey has been built through dialogue with territories such as Santa Marta, Muzema, Sepetiba, Gardênia Azul, and Ilha Grande, collaborating on projects like Mariscarte and Projeto Eu Sou Arte. Since 2021, she has been a key organizer of Casa's pedagogical projects, coordinating educators and assisting them in day-to-day practices with the residents. Additionally, she is responsible for our educational development plans, organizing educators' meetings, and preparing agendas and reports on the residents' learning in collaboration with the educational team.

Talita believes in democratizing both formal and informal education from an anti-hegemonic perspective, focusing on racial issues. Influenced by teachers, philosophers, and researchers, her field of research explores art as a transformative agent that promotes autonomy through critical thinking. She firmly believes in affection as an inexhaustible source for any liberating process.

DOUGLAS OLIVEIRA - Audiovisual Manager

Douglas Dobby, a black man, photographer, speaker, and resident of Morro da Providência.

His interest in photography began in 2009 during a course taught by Maurício Hora when Casa Amarela Providência was founded by him and JR. He also studied photography at the Spectaculu School of Art and Technology, founded by set designer Gringo Cardia and actress Marisa Orth, with directors of activities Vik Muniz, Malu Barreto, and Giovanni Bianco.

Douglas's photographs reflect a more sensitive and affectionate view of the territory where he lives, seeking to deconstruct the stigmas and prejudices that affect the lives of people in favelas through images. He uses photography as a tool to create memories, allowing residents to build territorial and emotional narratives, becoming the protagonists of their own stories.

For over 15 years, he has been working as a photographer in his community, using his lens to capture the daily life of the favela and the relationships between its residents, understanding photography as a tool to establish memories and record the transformations of his place.

He is currently the official photographer at Casa Amarela and is responsible for audiovisual content, documenting educational activities and creating media content for social networks.

LUCAS PEREIRA - Administration and Logistics Manager

Lucas Pereira, born and raised in Morro da Providência.

He began his professional life in 2008 at the age of 9, working in local transportation, where he stayed for an extended period.

In 2009, through contact with the artist JR, he participated in the Women Are Heroes project, facilitating transportation and access throughout the territory. In 2018, he worked with contracts and procurement at the Federal Hospital of Servidores but had to interrupt his activities to serve in the military, where his responsibilities included stock and logistics control.

Currently, Lucas is responsible for the Logistics sector at Casa Amarela, resuming the cycle he began in 2009.

He is also part of the Inside Out Brasil project team, having participated in 15 actions in the community.

MARCIA ADRIANA - FOOD SERVICES

Marcia began working at the age of 12 as a nanny and cleaner in family homes to help her mother support the household. Over the years, this became her main source of income. In her 20s, she decided to move to Rio de Janeiro and settled in Morro Providência, seeking opportunities to take care of her children.

She currently works in the preparation and management of meals offered daily to Casa Amarela residents, prepares snacks for meetings and assists in the kitchen. Her work strengthens and ensures food security in the territory.

Marcia is a strong advocate for literacy, participating in courses for women and alphabetization workshops. She also integrates MIP, a collective of women who strengthen literacy through dialogue.

Her decision to return to literacy was hers, even though she was strongly encouraged by her son. She believes that literacy allows greater autonomy through writing, in addition to motivating her to pursue her studies.

Daiana Passos - WELLNESS SERVICES

Daiana Passos, 40 years old, black woman born and raised in Morro do Pinto, mother of three children, joined Casa Amarela in June 2023 and became part of the food sector team.

Graduated as a Nursing Technician, a dream profession she gave up to care for her children. She is now working at Casa Amarela, caring for cleanliness and organization and helping to prepare meals for residents of the Casa. Dedicated daily, Daiana is part of MIP, a literacy extension course, where she plans to continue and obtain professional qualifications.

Diogo Batista do Nascimento - POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHER

Diogo Batista do Nascimento, 19 years old, resident of Favela do Jacarezinho, arrived at Casa Amarela as an intern, working as an audiovisual assistant. He is a photographer by profession and influenced by his grandfather, who was never recognized for his work. Diogo believes that through the camera, he will connect with him.

He is also a violinist, writer, and a restless spirit.

Diogo seeks to bring, through photography, the importance of documenting and humanizing events, always exploring the experience of being photographed as a meaningful moment. He plans to continue photographing people in their communities, empowering them through self-expression, aiming to disseminate basic cultural concepts of life and bringing them into practice soon.

Vanessa Santana - nutritionist

Nutritionist focused on Food and Nutritional Education and Food Security, Chef specialized in sustainable gastronomy and full use of food. She holds qualifications in social gastronomy projects from PUC RIO and has additional training in gastronomic ventures through PAEG UFRJ.

From 2020 to 2023, she was in charge of two Solidarity Kitchens of Gastromotiva, with operations supported by institutions like BRF, CCFI France-Brazil, and Instituto Alok.

Consultant and Health Educator for the Healthy Gastronomy Alliance. Moderator of the "Sharing Knowledge" roundtable of Roda de Conversa at Redes Asplande.

Creator of the project A Comida é o Elo: workshops on sustainable gastronomy that contribute to the human rescue, income generation, awakening of healthy eating habits, and environmental awareness, especially for vulnerable women, for whom she believes food is a transformative tool.

Nutritionist at Casa Amarela, where she learns, discovers, reinvents herself, and is certain that art and education hold the potential for positive impact.

Natália de Deus - SOCIAL MEDIA

Natália de Deus, advertiser, working in digital content creation as a Social Media and StoryMaker Mobile with coverage of events and festivals.

Currently, she is the Social Media of Voz das Comunidades, Casa Amarela, and Director of Creation and Communication for Samba de Nava7ha.