Yesterday, a group of students from BUAS spent an inspiring day at Bairro Padre Cruz, exploring two remarkable organizations making a significant impact in the community.

The first part of the day was dedicated to visiting the work of Boutique da Cultura in this neighbourhood. The non-profit cultural association established in 2013 works tirelessly to promote culture, citizenship, and local development. Their efforts have helped transform Bairro Padre Cruz into one of the largest urban art galleries in Europe, featuring over 110 works of art adorning walls, buildings, and public spaces. Special thanks to Marta Mateus, who organized a great guided tour of these artistic masterpieces, showcasing the neighborhood’s unique cultural identity.

In the second part of the day, the students learned about the impactful initiatives of CRESCER – Associação de Intervenção Comunitária, an organization founded in 2001 by professionals specializing in community intervention. CRESCER focuses on supporting vulnerable and excluded groups, including people experiencing homelessness, refugees/migrants, and individuals dealing with substance use. One of their flagship projects is the neighborhood restaurant É UMA MESA. Together with BUAS academic staff, we organized a workshop where the students worked collaboratively to help CRESCER optimize their online marketing and social media strategies, ensuring their work continues to create lasting positive change in Lisbon. A big shoutout to Maria Carmona, Flor and the rest CRESCER's staff for creating such a welcoming environment and for the delicious lunch.