Paths of New and Current Loeb Fellows Intersect in Brazil
Report by James Stockard, Curator, Loeb Fellowship
In the spring of 2005, on their class trip to study housing and design in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Loeb Fellows met a dynamic and imaginative mayor of a rapidly improving suburb of that great city – Diadema. And the mayor met 10 bright, thoughtful, engaged Loeb Fellows. In the fall of 2008, the Class of 2009 began to consider where they might want to go on their study trip and finally decided on Brazil. In the winter of 2008, that same mayor, coming to the end of his third term, decided to apply to the Loeb Fellowship and was chosen for the program in the spring of 2009, shortly before the Class of 2009 left for their trip.
And so it was that on a warm day in May, Jose de Filippi, LF ’10, greeted the Loeb Fellows of the Class of 2009 and proudly showed them “his town.” But it was not the standard tour of leafy downtown parks and new office buildings by prominent architects. Jose de Filippi is one of those rare, elected officials who believes his role is to serve those in the community who are in the greatest need. He is most proud of his record of reducing violence, rebuilding the informal communities (favelas), and making good quality health care available to all citizens. And those persistent problems were exactly what the Loeb Fellows were there to learn about.
The tour began in one of the last remaining favelas in Diadema as we walked single-file through the narrow corridors between ad-hoc housing built with scavenged materials. It was clear there was no sewer system and no running water. We knew from previous trips that those who live here have no legal title to their land or, in some cases, title to the roof over their heads. We saw the devastation a recent flood had caused. Jose described the painstaking process of many community meetings, of careful planning, and of the decision to build replacement housing on a vacant site nearby. He explained that each family could decide for themselves whether to move to the new housing or choose to relocate temporarily while their part of the favela was rebuilt with running water, sewer systems, well-lit streets and legal title to their property. Then they could return. The Loebs of ’09 had questions, of course. How do you pay for it all? What about the families that aren’t capable of handling the responsibilities of home ownership? How do you keep the criminal elements from returning? Jose has honest answers for all the questions, including, in some cases “We hope. . .”
Later, we walked the streets of a modest, but well-ordered community that was the “after” view of the neighborhood we had just visited. In each of these areas, Jose was greeted as a hero. Children grabbed him by the knees for a hug. Adults called to him from their windows. He greeted many by name and often told us their stories.
Our final visit was to a modest, but very well equipped health clinic in the midst of another rebuilt neighborhood. The smiling staff of doctors, nurses, social workers, and outreach staff told the Fellows of the broad range of free services they provide, giving special attention to children and the elderly. They have made youth their priority, and the children’s dental clinic is a state-of-the-art facility. Before we left, as the cameras were coming out to record this stop on our trip, the staff of the clinic could no longer contain themselves. They rushed the former mayor and crowded around to have their pictures taken with him.
On this rich day of learning, the Loeb Fellowship was operating at its best. A brand new Fellow was showing his colleagues some of his work and they were intrigued to learn more. The current Fellows were asking questions, many of which they might not have thought to ask before their Fellowship year. And the new Fellow was imagining, based on his brief contact with the group, what his coming year at the GSD might be like and the extent of new knowledge he would bring back to his community in Brazil. It is the essence of the Loeb Fellowship to introduce outstanding practitioners to new ideas and to other exceptional professionals who will stretch their thinking. This has been the tradition for nearly 40 years, and with each incoming class of Loeb Fellows, the possibilities for new learning increases exponentially.
Top - Loeb Fellows in Brazil: Front row: Peter Lee and John Werner; Second row: India Lee, Roger Cummings, Lin Wang, Dorji Yangki, Jose de Filippi Jr. (former Mayor of Diadema and incoming Loeb Fellow),and Sue Stockard; Third row: Robert Lane, Susannah Sayler, Heather Tremain, James Brown, Dutra Brown, and James Stockard.
Middle - Loeb Fellow James Brown with children in a favela.
Bottom - Loeb Fellow Edward Morris in a favela.
Photos by John Werner.