Our Mission

Levantamos’ mission is to develop partnerships between Americans and Afro-Brazilians focused on eliminating inequality and provide technical and financial assistance to Afro-Brazilian community-based organizations

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About

Brazil is most frequently known as the land of samba, sun, and celebration. For decades those in North America have enjoyed Brazil’s music, food, dance, and culture. The Brazil that North Americans have come to love and appreciate is the Brazil that is at its essence Afro-Brazilian: the samba, the capoeira, Candomblé, and feijoada. Even the cane that makes the cachaça for a caipirinha was historically picked by African slaves on sugar cane plantations. Despite Afro-Brazilians’ contributions, they lag behind all others in leading indicators in Brazil, and are the country’s poorest, most disenfranchised people, victims of overwhelming levels of systemic discrimination.

Levantamos: The Center for Afro-Brazilian-American Cooperation is a non-profit corporation founded in January 2004 with the vision to affect profound educational, social and economic change in the lives of Afro-descendant populations.  In keeping with this vision, Levantamos’ mission is to develop partnerships between Americans and Afro-Brazilians focused on eliminating inequality and provide technical and financial assistance to Afro-Brazilian community-based organizations.

Levantamos is therefore committed to promoting a vibrant and fruitful exchange among peoples of African descent in Brazil and Americans in the United States by working in partnership with and support of groups and organizations in Brazil that focus on improving the conditions of the country’s Afro-descendant population.