The International Capoeira Angola Foundation (ICAF) was founded in 1995 by Mestre Cobra Mansa, Mestre Jurandir, and Mestre Valmir in order to cultivate, preserve, and grow the Afro-Brazilian cultural art Capoeira Angola. The Seattle branch of ICAF was established in 1997 by Mestre Jurandir with the support of a small group of dedicated students. Housed in the vibrant space of the Union Cultural Center, their mission is to connect and empower the Pacific Northwest community through Capoeira Angola and cultural arts. The Seattle chapter is one of 29 ICAF groups around the world. Maestro Silvio Doe Reis of the Seattle chapter shares, “I see capoeira as a powerful tool to educate, build self-esteem, and develop our critical view of the world. Capoeira promotes interpersonal and social healing through the learning of its fundamentals such as movements, music, history, and philosophy.”