Matheus is a public school geography teacher who grew up in the outskirts of São Paulo. Matheus is a graduate of the University of São Paulo (USP), the most prestigious institution in Latin America. He seeks to give back to his community everything it has given him. His greatest tool for impacting the youth in his neighborhood is education. He has the privilege of being a teacher in his own community, and, the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (FCS) Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN), São Paulo, and the Juventudes Potentes team, he leads various social impact initiatives that help young people who are on the verge of shining—they just need to connect and learn how to dream!

Throughout his journey, he has learned that true social impact happens collectively. That’s why he continues organizing and taking action to promote new social practices and a globalization that can be reimagined.

"The world is formed not only by what already exists but by what can effectively exist."—Brazilian geographer, Milton Santos