Dandara

Dandara Tonantzin Silva Castro was born in Gurinhatã (MG) on January 23, 1994, grew up in the favela of the Justinópolis district (Ribeirão das Neves), and graduated in Pedagogy from the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), where she also actively participated in the student movement. She holds a Master's degree in Education from UFMG and has built her political career by advocating for social causes, racial equality, and quality public education, influenced by her parents' activism in the Workers' Party (PT).

Political Career

In her political career, Dandara was elected councilwoman in Uberlândia (MG) , being one of the most voted, and in 2023 she assumed the mandate of federal deputy for Minas Gerais for the PT , becoming one of the youngest parliamentarians in the House of Representatives and the first black woman elected by the party in the state. In the House, she was vice-leader of the PT-PCdoB-PV federation, is part of commissions and coordinates parliamentary fronts such as the Mixed Anti-Racism Parliamentary Front . In 2025, she was elected president of the Commission on the Amazon and Indigenous and Traditional Peoples , where she prioritizes environmental issues, the rights of traditional peoples and climate justice.

Performance in the House of Representatives

In the National Congress, Dandara has presented and defended a series of bills that reflect her work in education, human rights, racial equality, environmental protection, and regional development. Among the bills she has authored are:
• Bill 760/2025 , which ensures the annual replenishment of budget allocations for higher education institutions maintained by the Federal Government;
• Bill 5776/2025 , which increases the penalty for crimes of discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, or national origin when committed against children and adolescents;
• Bill 5013/2024 , which includes application schools linked to federal universities in the Federal Network of Professional, Scientific and Technological Education;

These proposals demonstrate his work in public education, social inclusion, civil rights, and institutional strengthening , as well as initiatives aimed at the cultural and sporting development of his electoral base in Minas Gerais.