In 1980, Mestre Ralil founded Centro Cultural de Capoeira Raízes do Brasil, headquartered in Brasília, with the goal to empower the city’s under-represented children, adolescents and adults. Despite facing incredible socio-economic odds, many of Mestre Ralil’s students have employed the lessons of capoeira to overcome challenges outside of the roda and now thrive as active and visible leaders in their families and communities. In addition to his work at the Centro Cultural, Mestre Ralil often participates in social outreach projects in partnership with the city, state and federal governments. Together with his students, he has performed for each of Brazil’s last three presidents: Fernando Collor de Mello, Fernando Henrique Cardoso and the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.