Women establish first Hip Hop center for women in Brazil

Claudisseia Santos, known as B-Girl Ceia, opened the Casa de Mulheres do Hip Hop in the Restinga neighborhood of Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2023.

The center occupies a space in the Distrito Industrial da Restinga that the hip hop movement began occupying in 2018. A team of 12 black, lesbian, bisexual, and trans women coordinates the project to increase female participation in the culture and provide opportunities for people who historically lacked access to decision-making roles.

The center functions as a hub for artistic training, income generation, and social support. It offers workshops in music, dance, and visual arts, as well as a community garden and a woodworking project. The facility also serves as a reception point for women experiencing violence and their children, offering guidance on accessing legal and social rights. The project aligns with national guidelines that recognize hip hop as a tool for citizenship and public policy.

Santos and her team advocate for stronger public protections, such as a specialized police station in the Restinga area. They argue that the current distance to the city center makes it difficult for victims of violence to seek help. The center also provides direct social services every Thursday, where a team of professionals assists the community with issues ranging from obtaining documents to securing housing and healthcare.