Bahia Street » News articles

Defining Beauty in Brazil

Nancy Bacon — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:43:33 +0000

The New York Times just published an interesting article about changing concepts of beauty in Brazil. It reminds us of Rita’s tremendous effort to promote concepts of beauty for African-descent children. She has a bulletin board and pictures of black women all over the Bahia Street Center — models as well as “regular” women– to show Bahia Street girls and young women that they are just as beautiful as all of the southern Brazilian models that fill local magazines.

Stay Updated~

Bahia Street — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:36:39 +0000

An article was published about a recent yellow fever outbreak in a couple southern states in Brazil. According to the CDC, part of the state of Bahia is at risk for contracting yellow fever, but the area near the coast and Salvador is not included. Places with stagnant water and open sewage, like favelas and impoverished neighborhoods, are subject to increased risks with more areas for mosquitoes to breed. Many of Bahia Street’s students live in these kind of neighborhoods, but Bahia Street provides medical attention for each student. For more information about yellow fever and preventative methods read the Yellow Fever In Brazil article.

Bahia Street in Washington DC

Bahia Street — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:32:41 +0000

Bahia Street visits the Capitol

In December 2009, Rita won the Ivy Inter-American Humanitarian Award, bringing her to Washington DC for a week. Here she is joined by Seattle board member Melanie Wyffels, Program Director Nancy Bacon, International Director Margaret Willson, and our new friend Maria. We spent the week meeting with leaders working on issues related to Brazil, women, and poverty.

Bahia Street mentioned in The Nation!

Bahia Street — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:26:39 +0000

Nation columnist Katha Pollitt included Bahia Street in her December column about where to give money.

Global Violence: Connections between the US and Brazil

Nancy Bacon — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:18:52 +0000

Addressing poverty in Brazil– or anywhere for that matter– involves holistic solutions that bring citizens from all of our countries together to work for equality and better quality of life for everyone. One example of how we are all interconnected lies in the relationship between drugs, guns, and violence here and the same issues in the shantytowns of Brazil. Seattle International Foundation president Bill Clapp recently wrote in the Seattle Times about the connection between the drug trade in the US and the drug trade in Central America. Interwoven with the drug trade is violence and the gun trade, and how U.S. legislation regarding guns affects our neighbors to the south. Gun violence is a huge challenge for impoverished shantytown residents. A recent article in the Global Politician discusses the connection between violence and a depressed economy. To quote that article: “To make the matter worse, countries in Central and Southern America top the league for gun homicides, with Colombia suffering from a mortality rate of 50 deaths for every 100,000 people, according to United Nations figures. The statistics for gun deaths in Honduras , El Salvador , Brazil , Venezuela , Guatemala, Jamaica and Ecuador are only marginally less. For many ordinary citizens of these nations, however, the quality of life is getting worse due to the constant fear of the firearms. In the increasingly desperate towns and villages, people are killing one another in record numbers and the social costs of gun violence are alarming.”

Deadly Floods Strike NE Brazil

Nancy Bacon — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:01:57 +0000

Floods are once again affecting Brazil’s northeast. Shantytowns are built precariously up steep hillsides, and these rains cause tremendous devastation to impoverished people living in these communities. CNN Link

Climate Change News

Bahia Street — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:32:27 +0000

Bahia Street was recently mentioned in an “International Educator” article about university programs that teach students about climate change. Bahia Street has partnered for two years with the University of Washington’s Department of Chemistry in a program that brings students to Brazil to learn about climate change in the context of local culture.

WBAI Radio Broadcast with Margaret

Bahia Street — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:04:14 +0000

On December 3, 2007, Margaret Willson was interviewed on WBAI, New York’s alternative radio station. Click here to listen. Go to the December 3, 2007 show and scroll ahead to the 30 minute mark.

Margaret Willson receives Jefferson Award in March 2008

Bahia Street — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:28:35 +0000

Bahia Street International Director Dr. Margaret Willson was honored with the 2008 Jefferson Award at a luncheon in Seattle, Washington. The Jefferson Awards were created by Jacqueline Kennedy, among others, in 1972 to encourage and honor citizens for their achievements and contributions through public and community service. Read the Seattle Post Intelligencer article about Margaret.