Igneous Quill

Catalytic Communities wishes you much success in your pursuits for a fulfilling, healthy, more humane and joyous New Year.

Like you, we are hard at work setting the scene for what we hope will be a successful 2010. 

Despite not having won the Ideablob or Chase competitions, we know our idea is good--vital, in fact--and we are more committed than ever to training as many Rio de Janeiro community leaders as we can in social media in 2010, starting with youth and veteran leaders from the 19 communities currently at risk for the 2016 Rio Olympics (see map).

Unfortunately, since we didn't win these online competitions, we are now counting on the generosity and commitment of our supporters--you--to make our Rio Olympics Accountability Reporters (ROAR) program happen.  If we come together to raise $10,000 by the end of January, we'll have the funds we need to train 200 community leaders from across Rio's favelas in a range of social media tools in 2010. And, thanks to a mileage donation from one of our supporters, everyone who donates $10 or more by January 31st will be entered into a drawing for a round-trip ticket to Rio, including room and board (and a tour) to see our work in person in 2010 (note: the deadline was extended from December 31st).

You still have time to pledge or donate by December 31st to receive a tax deduction this year.  Or you can wait until January to have your donation count for tax year 2010. 

If we succeed in raising $10,000 and implementing ROAR in 2010, we'll end the year having trained 200 community leaders from across Rio's favelas.  We'll have created a central news hub where their stories will be shared in English and Portuguese with the world.  And we'll have grown a network of support to spread their stories far and wide.  In this way, we'll make their voices heard by local officials in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympics.  And, just as importantly, in the process we'll have trained them in a variety of tools which will strengthen their work, and their voices, for years to come. 

Here is what a top Brazil researcher focused on Rio has said about the importance of this initiative:

"For over fifty years, politicians, urban reformers and security forces have projected 'solutions' onto Rio's favelas, often to the detriment of their residents, and almost always without considering their opinions in advance.  Digital technology has enabled greater numbers of faveladodos (favela dwellers) to make their voices heard, but often in diffuse and evanescent ways.  CatComm's ROAR (Rio Olympics Accountability Reporters) is exciting because it promises to create a network of young local leaders in order to share their insights and spread information in ways that will accumulate force.  This is an important step towards expanding access to Rio's political arena."

If you want to help strengthen communities in Rio de Janeiro while ensuring a positive Olympic legacy for the city, please support our efforts in 2010. 

Please take a moment out now to:

• Donate $10 or more (you'll be in the running for a free trip to Rio--by 01/31--thanks to a mileage donation!)
• Join our Facebook Cause (a donor has agreed donate $1 for each new Cause member by December 31st!) 
  

Thank you, everyone, for a great year!  With your help we'll make 2010 even better! 

Warmly,

Theresa Williamson 

Founder & Executive Director

Catalytic Communities

www.catcomm.org

• CatComm´s Olympics training initiative is currently featured in Dissent Magazine. In 'Is Rio de Janeiro Ready for the Olympics,' Bryan McCann, the head of Georgetown University´s Brazilian Studies Program, talks about the importance of Catalytic Communities´ plans to train residents from Rio´s communities adversely affected by the Olympics.
• Berkeley´s Wendy Sinek published her letter of support for CatComm´s ROAR (Rio Olympics Accountability Reporters) project explaining why this project is so important given Rio´s circumstances and her research findings.
• We have prepared a slideshow that introduces you to what´s happening in Vila Autódromo (please read the captions), a peaceful community and the first slated for removal to make way for the Olympics, so far demarcated for removal without opportunity for public comment.
• Community testimonials from Vila Autódromo can be watched in Portuguese on our YouTube Channel.
• Click here to watch my update about this Cause in a short video on YouTube.
• We have met with the city councilwoman responsible for the city´s Master Plan and in February will begin seeking out officials from the Mayor´s office to bring voice to communities at risk.  More on this then.