| DIRECTORS
Lisa Marie Urgo
President
Lisa Urgo is Founder and Executive Director of Dreams
Can Be Foundation. Lisa has spent a majority of her life working
in the entertainment industry and has always had an affinity for
Brazil's culture and people. Lisa spent the last 15 years before
founding Dreams Can Be Foundation in the role of artist manager,
publicist and producer of concerts, festivals, tours, conferences,
television specials, videos and documentaries working with numerous
production companies, promoters, clubs, record labels, artists and
corporations. While specializing in Brazilian music she visited
Brazil many times over the years and was in contact with and moved
by the Brazilian street children and the plight of impoverished
youth there. In 1999 Lisa retired from the music business and after
spending some time volunteering in the 3rd sector in Brazil she
decided to start a charity as a vehicle for international partnerships
with the United States to bring awareness and resources to benefit
organizations working with Brazil's impoverished youth. Lisa attended
NYU Tisch School of the Arts, The UCLA School of Theatre, Film and
Television, and Marymount Manhattan College and has studied theater
at Circle in the Square, The Actors and Directors Lab, HB Studios
and with such acclaimed teachers as Uta Hagen and Stella Adler.
Her career incarnations took her from being a professional actress
to a 4-year stint at Drexel Burnham Lambert, in their High Yield
and Convertible Bonds business to a fitness trainer and competitive
bodybuilder in the early 80's to the music and entertainment business
in the late 80's. Lisa now splits her time living between Brazil
and the U.S. in order to remain close to the issues relevant to
impoverished youth in Brazil and working closely with our many dedicated
partners, advisors and friends when in the U.S. Lisa is thrilled
to be off the treadmill of the high life and in a position to help
make dreams come true.
Mark Pasquerilla
Vice President
Mark is CEO of Crown American Realty Trust a public
mall company listed on NYSE and Chairman of Crown American Hotels.
Mark completed a Master of Science degree in International Relations
at the London School of Economics. As a Fulbright-Hays scholar under
the auspices of the European Research Institute, he also studied
International Affairs at the University of Cologne, Federal Republic
of Germany. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Government
from Notre Dame University. Mark is a member of the International
Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and was appointed to serve on
that organization's Political Action Committee in 1991. In addition
he is currently a member of the Governor of Pennsylvania's Economic
Development Partnership Council, the Education Committee for the
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Southwestern
Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Committee and the National Association
of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT). Mark is also Director
of Ameriserve, a regional bank listed on Nasdaq, trustee of Marywood
College, Scranton, PA, a Director of the Pittsburgh Opera, Director
of the Community Foundation of the Laurel Highlands and Director
of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
Mark loves Brazilian music, jazz and Brazilian culture and is a
big supporter of the arts.
Deborah L. Herbert
Treasurer
Debbie Herbert is the owner of her own Certified
Public Accounting firm in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, serving individual,
business, non-profit and governmental entities. Ms. Herbert is a
member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs and is
a past Treasurer of the PICPA. Ms. Herbert currently serves as Treasurer
of the following non-profit organizations: Sunnehanna Country Club,
Beginning Early Intervention, Inc., Cambria County Student Hockey
League and Dreams Can Be Foundation. Ms Herbert is also currently
the President of the Community Arts Center of Cambria County and
has previously served on the Board of Directors of the United Way
of the Laurel Highlands and the YWCA of Greater Johnstown.
Thomas Mulready
US Secretary
Principal, MulreadyGROUP and Creator, CoolCleveland.com
Thomas has served as a guest lecturer and panelist
for The National Endowment for the Arts, the Bush Foundation, the
Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, The Ohio Arts Council, Maryland Institute
College of Art, Cleveland Institute of Art, The School of the Art
Institute of Chicago, and Oberlin College. He was one of eight in
the U.S. to be awarded a residency in the United Kingdom to develop
cross-cultural artist exchanges and partnerships, and has been listed
in the Who's Who of Entertainment since1990. As principal of MulreadyGROUP,
he works with business and arts groups on management, marketing
and Internet strategy. He most recently served as Senior Vice President
of E-Commerce Strategy for the tenth largest bank in the U.S. He
currently writes for a number of publications and is the creator
of the CoolCleveland.com weekly e-letter.
Paulo Haus Martins, Esq.
Brazilian Secretary
Paulo graduated in Law and Political Science at the
State University of Rio de Janeiro, with post-graduate studies in
Corporate and Societal Law. His main activities have been related
to social projects, institutionalization of public policies and
evaluation of legal themes linked to social movements and technology.
He has also provided the services of consulting and setting up third
sector organizations from private initiatives associated with international
programs and public organizations, such as the IBD and the World
Bank. Paulo is the Coordinator of the sub-site Law and Internet
- Citizenship Portal, of the Internet site RITS -(Third Sector Information
Network). Paulo is also a member of the Executive Committee of Marco
Legal (Legal Initiative) for Conselho da Comunidade Solidária
(The Council on Community Solidarity) for Micro Finance in Brazil.
He has frequently participated as lecturer in events designed to
prepare and discuss new legal and normative mechanisms for public
policies. Some of his main clients include Doctors Without Borders,
Care, European Union (APD-Rio); GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft Für
Technishe Zusammenarbeit GmbH); PDA/PPG7; Network Information for
the Third Sector (RITS); IETS - Institute of Studies of Labor and
Society.
Roberto Rzezinski
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Roberto Rzezinski, a native of Rio de Janeiro, is
an investment advisor who began his career in 1986 working with
the BVRJ (the Brazilian Stock Market) with Banco Graphus where he
remained until 1999 when he founded A2R, an investment company specializing
in technology investments. At the same time, Roberto began his activities
as Director of Victori, another investment company with diversed
interests in real estate, telecom, etc.
Roberto is on the the Board of Directors of several companies such
as Teletrim, CBCC (Companhia Brasileira de Contact Center), E-Clipping
systems, Support Comm and Eco Aqua Soluções. Roberto
came to Dreams Can Be through his friendship with Brazilian rapper
and social activist Gabriel O Pensador and is a founding member
and sponsor of the Pensando Alto child sponsorship program. Through
his high profile business contacts and personal relationships, Roberto
is helping to inspire local social philanthropy and raise awareness
of the plight of Brazilian street children and impoverished youth.
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ADVISORY BOARD
Bill Bragin,
New York, NY
Director, Joes Pub Theatre
Bill Bragin is Director of Joe's Pub at the Public
Theater in New York City, responsible for programming nightly shows
of music, performance, dance and literary programs. Bill is also
the founder of Acidophilus: Live and Active Cultures, a music and
arts consulting company, whose projects have included programming
for Lincoln Center, music supervision for various choreographers,
film makers, Microsoft Encarta Bee, booking for Brazil's Abril Pro
Rock festival as well as sponsorship consultation for New York's
Center for Traditional Music and Dance. As a music journalist, Bill
has been a correspondent for CMJ Music Weekly, Canada Broadcasting
Company radio's Global Village, Sonicnet, Cdnow and VH1.com, and
as DJ Acidophilus he has spun in numerous clubs in New York, Berlin,
Vancouver and elsewhere. Previously Bill was Curator of Music Programs
at Symphony Space, was the Artistic Director and Executive Producer
of Central Park SummerStage and served as General Manager NYNO records.
For five years, Bill was a producer of jazz festivals and marketing
programs for George Wein's Festival Productions, producing the Boston
Globe Jazz Festival, the Carnegie Hall Centennial Festival, the
JVC Jazz Festivals New York and Newport, the Mellon Jazz Festival
Philadelphia, and others. He has organized, moderated and served
as a panelist for conferences including the Association of Performing
Arts Presenters, CMJ Music Marathon, the North American Folk Alliance
and Global Cafe, and has served as a music and multi-disciplinary
grants panelist for Arts International's Fund for US Artists at
Festivals Abroad. Bill is active as a member of the Board of Advisors
for Central Park SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn, the World Music
Steering Committee for the North American Folk Alliance, the Executive
Board of the Black Rock Coalition and the benefit committee of the
REACH Community School for previously homeless and disadvantaged
youth.
Bradley Brooks
New York, NY
Journalist
Bradley Brooks has spent the last seven years working as a journalist
for the Associated Press and United Press International. He also served
for one year as the editor and chief of the Santiago Times, an
English-language daily publication in Chile. In reporting from Brazil
for nearly three years, Bradley became intimately aware of the difficult
social situation that many of the country’s citizens face and he decided
to become more involved than journalism would allow.
Bradley returned to New York in 2003 to pursue a master’s degree in
international relations from Columbia University. While on summer leave
in 2004, Bradley divided his time between a research project on the
commercialization through fair trade of products produced by the
Movimento Sem Terra, Brazil’s landless workers movement, and creating a
strategic media communications plan for Dreams Can Be.
Born in 1974, Bradley is a native of Hill City, Kansas.
Greg D'Alessandro (Del)
Los Angeles, CA.
Screenwriter/Producer
Greg D'Alessandro is a screenwriter/producer. He is currently the head
writer for a popular animated children's show in China entitled "The
Zodiac Kids" produced by Shanghai Digital Media Group. He is the
co-founder of Slap Happy Productions which has three television shows
currently in development with networks in the U.K. and the U.S. He
recenlty published an article in Cinema Journal on screenwriting
entitled "The Ideal Interpreter." He is a writer/performer in a sketch
comedy troupe "Helen" and the creator of an original series about the
music industry entitled "In the Mix." He was the co-producer of an
award-winning documentary "Queens of the Big Time" and another
documentary "AIDS: A City's Response." He earned an MFA in screenwriting
from USC's prestigious School of Cinema and another MFA from UCLA's Film
School. Before moving to Los Angeles, Greg lived in New York City where
he saw a number of his plays produced Off-Broadway. He is founder of
Amosaya Records, which released over 30 records since 1994. He has also
served on the staff of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. In the last
eight years, Greg has worked closely with the Salesian Sisters of St.
John Bosco, helping raise money for disadvantaged teenagers.
Joanna Fabozzi
New York, NY
Joanna is a graduate of Russell Sage College for
Women, Magna Cume Laude and Recipient of the Edna Travis Business
and Economics award. Joanna spent years as a Mental Health Counselor
at Four Winds Psychiatric Hospital specializing in teens and adolescents,
where she was responsible for doctor-patient relations and all therapy
activities including art, recreation and meditation therapy. She
has worked for CitySearch.com in New York City as an Internet Business
Advisor and Internet Marketing Advisor, where she created marketing
and sales material for all metropolitan CitySearch offices. She
was a Business Manager for a small media firm in Soho, New York,
responsible for managing all aspects of the firm; financial, sales,
marketing etc. She is currently working in TV corporate news media
for the early morning shows on NBC and CBS and will continue her
education working toward receiving a MBA in International Business
focusing her studies in non-profit management in Rome, Italy. Joanna
is also an active volunteer with Huntington's Disease Society of
America and Angelwish Foundation assisting in event planning, sales
and business development. She has set up a donation fund with Dreams
Can Be Foundation where she receives contributions for the marathons
and triathlons that she competes in.
Rubem César Fernandes
Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
Anthropologist, Human Rights
and Public Safety Activist
Director of Viva Rio
Rubem Cesar graduated in History from the Federal
University of Rio de Janeiro, has an MA in Philosophy, University
of Varsovia, Poland an MA in History of Social Thought from Columbia
University, New York, and a PhD in History of Social Thought also
from Columbia University. Rubem has taught at Columbia, UNICAMP,
UFRJ, Maison de Sciences de l'Homme, UFF and UERJ. His work experience
includes: the Executive Secretary of ISER (Institute of Religious
Studies), President of North/South network - Culture and Development,
Coordinator of Inter-Religious Movement, Rio de Janeiro, Counselor
of Joint and Several Community, Brasilia, Scientific Counselor of
the Institute of Culture and Education Studies (IEC), and Coordinator
of Research Center of Urban Violence, ISER. Rubem has received numerous
honors including: Mellon Fellow, Jornal do Brasil, Marketing Personal
Conspicuousness, Marketing Brazilian Association; Personality of
the Year, Association of Foreign Correspondents in Brazil; Prize
of the Federation of Commercial Association of Rio Grande do Sul,
Adolph Bloch Prize, Israeli Foundation of Rio de Janeiro, Medal
Homero dos Santos, Lyons from Rio de Janeiro.
He has participated in numerous international conferences
covering wide- range social-political topics and has published articles
in Portuguese, Spanish, English, French, Italian, German and Polish.
Toni Garrido
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Singer/Actor
A native of Rio de Janeiro from the slum neighborhood
of Bangu, Toni began his performing career singing in the local
church as a young boy. In 1983 he began singing with local bands
and in 1986 was one of the members of the Rio favorite “Banda
Bel”. In 1992 Toni graduated in Physiotherapy at the Brazilian
Institute for Medical Rehabilitation but his performing career soon
took over the spotlight. In the same year he was accepted into the
actors workshop of Brazil’s largest media conglomerate Rede
TV Globo and there began his career as singer and actor. In 1993
Toni joined as lead signer of the Brazilian pop/ reggae band “Cidade
Negra,” and his first recording with the band “Sobre
Todas as Forças” sold over a million records –
Cidade Negra became a pop sensation and Toni Garrido was a star!
In 1997, Toni participated in the movie “How to be single
in Rio de Janeiro”, and he recorded the films hit single “Solteiro”.
In 1998, he starred in the Oscar nominated hit film “Orfeu”
by Brazil’s famed director by Cacá Diegues which was
a remake of the 1958 legendary Brazilian film “Black Orpheus”.
In 2000 Toni hosted the hit TV series FAMA (like the US American
Idol.) In 2002, Cidade Negra launched their most recent album, “Acústico
MTV”, which is currently touring worldwide. The singer/actor
also participated in 2002’s “Deus é Brasileiro”-
“God is Brazilian” also directed by Cacá Diegues.
Toni has been a long time friend of Dreams Founder Lisa Urgo and
graciously joined our Board of Advisors in 2003. He became our Dreams
Ambassador in Brazil in 2004 to use his celebrity to spread the
word about Brazil’s impoverished youth, to inspire local philanthropy
in Brazil and to help inspire the youth Dreams Can Be serves.
Molly Haydon
Los Angeles, CA
National Marketing Director TMG - West
Molly began her career in Entertainment Marketing
in Canada eleven years ago where she promoted concerts, outdoor
festivals, and Broadway theatre Since then she has worked for Jam
Productions as their Director of Theatre Marketing touring Broadway
productions including RENT, STOMP, West Side Story, Defending The
Caveman, and Annie starring Nell Carter. In the summer of 1998,
Molly joined TMG as the National Marketing Director for Annie starring
Sally Struthers. Since then she has represented such shows as The
Sound Of Music tour starring Richard Chamberlain, The Sound Of Music
starring Barry Williams, Dame Edna: The Royal Tour, Kiss Me, Kate
and the Mel Brooks hit The Producers. Molly has also coordinated
promotions for the Broadway productions of Jekyll & Hyde, The
Weir, Kiss Me, Kate, Kat and the Kings and The Original Broadway
SWING!
Karine Hourtoule
Paris, France
Researcher and Activist
Karine holds two Masters of Art Degrees, one in Internationals
Relations from the French Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics
(Catholic University of Paris), and a second in Speech and Interpersonal
Communication from New York University. Karine’s professional
experience with Dreams Can Be in Rio de Janeiro offered her the
opportunity to combine her work with her passion for Brazil. While
studying for her masters’ Karine carried out two internships
with Dreams Can Be Foundation in the capacity of Development Coordinator
on a pro bono basis. Her degree in International Relations
earned her a place on the Dean's Honour list with a “Degree
of Great
Distinction”. Karine has been invited to lecture further on
the subject of
Children in Armed Violence at the French Faculty of Social Sciences
and Economics and to participate in research on the subject in Africa.
Her previous professional experience at Christie's and Euro RSCG
allowed her to learn about two complex and fascinating sectors (fine
arts and advertising) and to work in a city teeming with creativity,
New York where she lived for more than four years. As a young adult
Karine spent time in Asia helping set up facilities at two orphanages
in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and during a humanitarian mission to Romania,
Karine evaluated the conditions of accommodation of the state orphanages
and helped conduct a report study on child psychiatry.
Candace A. Lessa
Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
Brazilian Associate, Synergos Institute
Candace "Cindy" Lessa, is the Brazilian
Associate for Synergos Institute, a NY based non-profit organization
with offices worldwide. The Synergos Institute works with partners
to mobilize resources and bridge social and economic divides to
reduce poverty and increase equity around the world. Cindy brings
over fifteen years experience with the third sector in Brazil. She
was the Ashoka representative up until the mid nineties and before
joining Synergos worked as an independent consultant for international
organizations in Brazil and for Brazilian non governmental organizations.
She holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College and a graduate degree
in history of art from the Pontificia Universidade Católica
do Rio de Janeiro.
Joyce Silveira Moreno
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Artist
Joyce is an award-winning singer, composer and guitar
player who for more than 34 years has been touring internationally.
She has over 300 songs recorded worldwide, 26 albums released since
1968, one book published, and wrote a weekly column in O Dia, a
large Brazilian newspaper. In addition she is currently the creative
director and host of a Brazilian TV program about the history and
tradition of Brazilian popular music. She has been an activist for
civil rights in Brazil, is considered a feminist and fights for
environmental causes along with rights for underprivileged children
and families.
Gabriel O Pensador
Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
Artist, Social Activist
Musician and social activist Gabriel O Pensador is
a pioneer of Rap Music in Brazil. A native of Rio de Janeiro he
grew up and still lives near Rocinha (the largest favela or slum
in Latin America). For over a decade Gabriel's music has been an
inspiration to the Brazilian people - representing the voice for
those who live the injustices in Brazilian society. In the early
90's Gabriel discovered the works of such artists as Run DMC, Public
Enemy and Bob Marley. Disturbed by the injustices that he was seeing
in Brazil at the time, he began to write music with lyrics to inspire
change and provoke thought. Born Gabriel Contino, he took on the
stage name; Gabriel O Pensador (Gabriel, The Thinker). Driven by
the many social ills that plague Brazilian society, Gabriel drew
upon his frustrations to bring about change under the disgraceful
regime of the President at the time Fernando Collor. In 1992 Gabriel
recorded a demo tape of "Tô Feliz - Matei o Presidente"
(I'm Happy -I Killed the President) that found its way to a Rio
de Janeiro radiostation. The song shot to number one within 5 days
(was subsequently bannedwhen then President Collor was impeached.)
The success of this song launched his career with Sony Music (Brazil)
and his first national record release of the self-titled O Gabriel.
His ability to voice the thoughts and feelings of an oppressed society
and to champion their cause has brought him world wide acclaim.
He continues to churn out hits tackling subjects such as poverty,
violence and drugs, alcoholism, public health issues the environment
and unemployment. Gabriel does not want to just sing (and think).
He wants to protest and increase awareness as well. Therefore, Seja
Você Mesmo Mas Não Seja Sempre o Mesmo ("Be Yourself
But Don't Be Always The Same") - the fifth record in an 8-year
career - ended up as an album focused on corruption, police brutality,
injustice and generalized submission. "I'm really obsessed
with making people think, protest and demand for change. We always
believe that the situation can't get any worse and that it is time
that things changed, but then they do get worse. Though I think
it's too much, right now. It can't go on like this", Gabriel
explains, referring to the political scandals and muddy stories
that appear daily in Brazilian newspapers. Gabriel shares his home
with his wife Aninha Lima and their new son, Tom. Much loved by
people from all walks of life Gabriel O Pensador continues to evoke
change.
Erica Ruben
New York, NY
Erica was born and raised in Princeton, New Jersey
and graduated with honors from Vassar College. After college she
worked in the film and television business working with NBC, MTV
and PBS. In 1990 Erica began working at Central Park SummerStage
as Assistant Director of the festival. In 1993 she was named Executive
Producer. In 1997 Erica moved to become the Director of Artist and
Repertoire for Rykodisc where she developed the record company's
artist roster. In 1998 she took a hiatus from the workplace to travel
extensively in South America including Brazil, the Middle East,
Asia, Africa and Europe. Upon her return to New York City, Erica
rejoined the staff of Central Park SummerStage, again as Executive
Producer where she continued until this year. Erica has been a board
member of New York State Chapter of the International Festivals
and Events Association and the programming committee for Earth Day
Festival. She has served as a panelist or featured speaker at the
European Forum of Worldwide Festivals Conference in Berlin; the
New York University Graduate Program of Arts Administration; New
Music Seminar; and Arts and Business Council. She has produced three
additional music series in parks throughout New York City for the
City Parks Foundation and Brooklyn Academy of Music, and she Associate
Produced a world music series at the Delacourte Theatre in partnership
with the Public Theater. Erica currently DJ's at local clubs and
is developing a new committee on world music for the National Academy
of Arts and Recording Sciences.
William E. Strickland Jr.
Pittsburgh, PA
President and CEO
Manchester Bidwell Corporation
Bill Strickland is the President and CEO of Manchester
Craftsmen's Guild and Bidwell Training Center, Inc., both founded
in 1968. His duties include: developing and implementing major fund-raising
plans of action; working with Boards of Directors and an Industrial
Advisory Board; encouraging participation of corporate executive
officials from major multi-national Pittsburgh corporations; and
planning and implementing other strategic plans. Throughout his
distinguished career, Strickland has been honored with numerous
prestigious awards for his contributions to the arts and the community
including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Arts Leadership and Service
Award, the Kilby Award and "Coming Up Taller" Award presented
in a White House ceremony by first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton,
the MacArthur "Genius" Award for leadership and ingenuity
in the arts. He has served as Chairman of the Expansion Arts Panel
of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C.
and served a six-year Presidential appointment as a Council Member
to the NEA. He was also a Council Member on the Pennsylvania Council
on the Arts and the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, a trustee
at the Carnegie, and a Consultant with the British/American Arts
Association in London, England. He has also served as a consultant,
grant evaluator and mentor in the field of arts and arts education,
community development and vocational training. He is a Board Member
of a number of corporations including: Mellon Financial Corporation,
Americans for the Arts, Phipps Conservatory, and Harvard Business
School. He is a consultant for British/American Arts Association,
London, United Kingdom, a Distinguished Alumni: University of Pittsburgh,
Laureate: University of Pittsburgh, Trustee: University of Pittsburgh,
Guest Lecturer: Kellogg School of Business, Guest Lecturer: Harvard
Business School, Guest Lecturer: Harvard School of Education, Guest
Lecturer: Stanford Business School. He has Honorary Doctorates from:
Chatham College, San Francisco Art Institute, Maryland Art Institute,
Rutgers University, Columbia College and Carnegie Mellon University.
He was a Former Adjunct Faculty, Harvard School of Education, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, Former Board Member: State Board of Education, Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, Former Board Member: West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, Former Trustee: The Carnegie, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Luciana J S de Souza
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Director of Studies
Britannia Jr., Rio de Janeiro
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1965, Luciana graduated
in English in 1984 and in Education at PUC-Rio (P.U.C. - Pontifícia
Universidade Católica) in 1991. She studied English in London
in 1987/88 and worked as an English teacher from 1985 to 1991. From
1992 to 1998 she worked as a photographer and cinematographer on
numerous Brazilian feature films. She is currently Director of Studies
at Britannia Juniors - English course for children with three branches
in Rio de Janeiro and is currently in her 4th year of Law School
at PUC specializing in Intellectual Property (copyrights). Luciana
is married to film director Miguel Faria Jr. since 1996 and has
two children Ana and Manuel.
Marcelo Yuka,
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Músico e ativista
Marcelo Yuka sempre esteve atento a novos estímulos musicais. Sua primeira experiência profissional foi como baterista de uma banda de reggae num violento subúrbio de Rio de Janeiro. Em 1993, Yuka fundou O Rappa, uma banda que rapidamente atraiu a atenção das gravadoras. A WEA-Brasil lançou o primeiro disco da banda com boa aceitação de público e crítica, mas foi o segundo trabalho que trouxe o sucesso nacional e inaugura algo que poderia ser definido como estética O Rappa: uma banda com atitude, letras que fogem das bobagens pop e belas melodias que cativam o ouvinte. À frente da banda há dez anos no Rio de Janeiro, ele conseguiu fazer de sua singular carreira uma base de lançamento para novos e arrojados projetos que transcendem o aspecto musical e procuram alcançar objetivos culturais e sociais.
Foi também graças às composições e atitudes de Marcelo Yuka que a banda teve seu trabalho associado a questões sociais relevantes. Seu compromisso pessoal com ONG's ligadas a comunidades carentes fez com que O Rappa adquirisse um perfil de engajamento em lutas socias (direitos humanos, discriminação racial, violência). Após seis anos de atividade combativa e corajosa, o grupo chegava ao merecido reconhecimento artístico. Mas o que ninguém poderia esperar era que justamente uma das pessoas que melhor representava a mensagem de solidariedade e não-violência fosse vítima da guerra urbana comum às megalópolis de hoje: em novembro de 2000, Yuka foi atingido por diversos tiros ao presenciar um assalto perto de sua casa no Rio.
Após lutar pela vida durante vários dias, ele teve os movimentos das pernas e de um dos braços gravemente comprometidos.
Forçado a se afastar da rotina da banda e do seu instrumento, sua vida tomou novos rumos. Ele potencializou ainda mais seu articulado discurso em favor da valorização do ser humano e da arte como uma forma de libertação e conscientização. Como tantos outros que viveram situações-limite, Marcelo Yuka agora tem pressa por mudança, e vem participando de inúmeras palestras e congressos em todo o país discutindo novas formas de ações que promovam cultura e justiça social.
Em sua constante luta contra as armadilhas da indústria cultural, este ano ele colocará no ar uma estação FM sem fins lucrativos que promete ser uma verdadeira revolução na cena musical brasileira. Democratizando o acesso às ondas do rádio, há o desejo de quebrar o oligopólio econômico e cultural exercido pelas grandes empresas de comunicação. Além disso, após três anos sem gravar um material inédito, ele se prepara para lançar o primeiro disco do seu novo grupo, FURTO (Frente Urbana de Trabalhos Organizados).
Leslie Jose Zigel, Esq.
Miami Beach, Florida
Vice President,
Business & Legal Affairs
BMG Latin American Regional Office
Les began his career in the music industry working
with jazz festival impresario George Wein's Festival Productions
where he worked on a variety of projects and held numerous positions
including: Senior Producer of the Mellon Jazz Festivals (Pittsburgh
and Philadelphia) and the Boston Globe Jazz Festival; Director of
Hispanic Events for the Miller Maquina Musical national concert
tour; Marketing Director for American Express Gold Card Events;
Program Director for American Express Platinum Card By Invitation
Only; and European Tour Manager for the Branford Marsalis Quartet.
Les left Festival Productions to attend law school at University
of Miami where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Inter-American
Law Review and graduated Cum Laude. Les began his legal career at
the Miami office of Rubin Baum Levin Constant Friedman & Bilzin
where he practiced corporate, commercial real estate and entertainment
law. He was named Director of Business & Legal Affairs for BMG
US Latin (BMG's U.S. Hispanic Division) in 1996, and in July 2000
he was promoted to Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs
for BMG's Latin American Regional Office. As Vice President for
LARO, Les oversees all of BMG's Latin American affiliates' Business
& Legal Affairs operations and is responsible for negotiating
all major strategic marketing deals for LARO and counseling LARO's
Senior Vice President on all Business & Legal Affairs issues.
Les serves as Annual Meeting Chair for the American Bar Association
Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries and plays electric
and acoustic basses.
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