Member Profiles

Carlan da Silva (Zezinho)
Founder and Secretary
rocinhajj [at] yahoo.com.br

Zezinho is the founder of the Rocinha Arts and Cultural Institute and the driving force behind our long-term goals of making lasting social change in Rocinha.  Zezinho was born in Rocinha, and has since lived in the United States and Canada in addition to Brazil.  He spends much of his time traveling between Brazil and his current home in San Francisco, California promoting the organization.  Some of Zezinho's favorite pastimes are creating music and art, and he often makes appearances as a guest lecturer speaking about his personal life in Rocinha and favela life in general at institutions such as Columbia University, New York University, and the Oxford Academy.  He works as a professional DJ and Brazilian Jiu Jitzu Instructor. 


Arthur Hamilton
Chief Executive Officer

Arthur was born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan and was student at the Interlochen Center for the Arts.  He received his BA in Music at the College of William and Mary in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.  Arthur also is an accomplished concert pianist, actor, painter and sculptor.  He currently teaches at the Harvey Milk Academy and Sunset Learning Center in San Francisco, California.  He has known Zezinho for two years, and is eager to help bring music and arts programs into Rocinha.


Andy Silva
Chief Financial Officer

Andy was born in San Francisco, California and has spent much of his career in the technology sector as an electrical engineer and IT consultant.  More recently he has worked as a volunteer tutor in the Bay Area and as an English teacher in Rocinha, where he lived for eight months.  Andy enjoys traveling and has since visited much of Latin America, Europe, India, and Central and East Asia.  He has an intense interest in economics and informal organizations and their potential for positive social change.  He currently works as an IT consultant and spends much of his time preparing for graduate studies.  Andy now lives in Oakland, California.


Esneider Huasipungo
Board Member

Bio to follow.


Mark Irvine
Board Member

Bio to follow.