New York school promotes awareness activity about Amazonian fauna

In New York, a city known for its cultural diversity and vibrant urban life, the Amazon gains prominence through the workshop ‘Protecting the Fauna of Acre’, led by Duda Mendes with support from SOS Amazônia. During the event held at the “House of Yes” school in Brooklyn, New York students were able to learn about Amazonian biodiversity and its importance to the ecosystem, as well as discuss the need for environmental conservation.

The event took place during OPA! Festa Junina 2026, one of the largest celebrations of Brazilian culture in New York, held on June 7th. Young Duda Mendes, 16, a member of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and a participant in the MoMA Teens in Residence program at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), led the workshop and also presented paintings she created specifically for the event.

“Acre in Celebration: Nature, Stories and New Futures” is produced by Angelica Walker Projects, with the support of SOS Amazônia, and invites children and teenagers to explore Amazonian biodiversity through artistic activities, cultural narratives, and discussions about environmental conservation.

“I want to show that Acre is not just a distant place. It is part of the stories, the animals, and the communities that depend on it. When we understand this, we begin to take better care of the world we share,” says Duda Mendes.

For Angelica Walker, cultural producer and curator of the visual programming for the workshop and art exhibition, Duda's presence represents the meeting point between art, education, and youth leadership. “Duda shows how the next generation can use creativity, culture, and civic participation to build bridges between communities. Her trajectory demonstrates that young people can be protagonists in important conversations about the environment and the future,” says Angelica.

Held at the “House of Yes” in Brooklyn, the “OPA! Festa Junina” is organized by the theater company Group Dot BR. The event brings together live music, dance, gastronomy, visual arts, and educational activities inspired by one of Brazil's most popular cultural traditions.