Edinilson has an undergraduate degree in environmental management. He was the president of the Jardim Cristiane Community Association.  He works in the Santo André city government to promote public participation in slum upgrading projects and guarantee quality municipal services in informal settlements. Edi is the current president of the city-wide slum-dwellers’ organization, Movimento de Defesa dos Direitos de Moradores em Favela, (www.mddf.org.br).  He is the founder of the Young Environmental Leaders Project (www.jovensliderancas.org), obtaining support from the 2009 UN-Habitat Youth Fund.