In Brazil, the top one percent of earners harness 28 percent of the nation’s income—the greatest wealth inequality in the world. Over the past decade, Brazil has experienced a series of political crises leading to an erosion of confidence in both political leaders and governing institutions. Autocratic leadership has taken hold—capitalizing on the frustrations citizens have with democratic processes and the lack of equity across Brazilian society. As institutions fail to respond to the country’s most pressing social issues, this frustration deepens, compounding the problem, and putting democratic norms and policies at increased risk.
NOSSAS is an “accelerator for activism” in Brazil. It focuses on bringing a culture of strategic, grassroots-led civic engagement to this relatively young democracy with a nascent domestic social sector. NOSSAS facilitates social innovation by creating platforms for communities of interest to self-organize to fill gaps in government social service provision and advocate for their collective needs within public policy.
NOSSAS is working toward a Brazil where power is more evenly distributed, and citizens sit at the center of policymaking. In this new reality, communities of interest and the less-powerful majority actively participate in civic dialog, efficiently support their fellow citizens, and effectively influence government decision-making at all levels of Brazilian society.
Over the past decade, Brazil has experienced a series of political crises leading to an erosion of confidence in both political leaders and governing institutions.
NOSSAS facilitates social innovation by creating platforms for communities of interest to self-organize to fill gaps in government social service provision and advocate for their collective needs within public policy.
Alessandra Orofino is a Brazilian nonprofit executive, activist, writer, producer, and director. In 2011, at age of 22, she co-founded the NGO NOSSAS.
NOSSAS creates a positive tension between citizens and decision-makers and increases civic participation to promote positive, effective, and long-lasting policy solutions and social services.
NOSSAS believes that a democratic society is an essential element for democratic institutions to thrive; that peaceful approaches to political struggle are more effective than violent action. NOSSAS creates a positive tension between citizens and decision-makers and increases civic participation to promote positive, effective, and long-lasting policy solutions and social services.
Facilitates practical, efficient ways for citizens to participate in civic life by orchestrating advocacy campaigns, building social solidarity networks, and sharing mobilization strategies, civic engagement technologies, and access to networks.
Executive Director, NOSSAS
Alessandra Orofino is a Brazilian nonprofit executive, activist, writer, producer, and director. In 2011, at age of 22, she co-founded the NGO NOSSAS, where she is currently the Executive Director. Alessandra Orofino has extensive experience in community organizing and activism. She was a founding team member at Purpose, a NY-based agency that incubated groups such as AllOut, GetUp, and Walk Free. Before joining the civic engagement world, Alessandra worked with GBV research in Brazil and in India. She also curated AQESE, a blog focused on gender inequality at Folha, Brazil’s largest newspaper, and wrote a column for the print version of the same publication. She is the showrunner at GregNews, one of Brazil’s most popular weekly political satire shows, which aired on HBO. In 2014, she spoke at the TEDGlobal stage. In 2019, she was selected as a fellow for the Obama Foundation. Alessandra holds a Bachelor's Degree from Columbia University in Economics and Human Rights.
