Intervenções urbanas em espaços de desvalia. Transformar para valorizar.

The worldwide transformations that took place in the 20th century redefined the cities fate in this new century. The consolidation of urbanization, the technological revolution that fostered globalization, the economic restructuration and informalization, modified space and time concepts, bringing populations closer together and provoking political transformations. They made contemporaries cities protagonists of world events and as a consequence of such processes, worthlessness spaces appeared and cities all over the world started to bet on the strategy of acting in this problematic areas through initiatives aimed at promoting intentional transformations to obtain a multidimensional valorization urban, financial, environmental, cultural and social. In short, such urban initiatives intend to make cities more competitive, sustainable, creative, productive and fair. Also in Brazil, countless worthless spaces appeared in waterfronts, central areas, and deactivated industrial/urbanized areas, as well as in sub-used or misused areas lacking infrastructure and public services where it is imperative and urgent to perform urban initiatives. This research proposes as a thesis that urban initiatives, when carried out based on an adequate politicalinstitutional model, transform and give value to worthless spaces in their multiple dimensions, offering better quality of life to their residents and helping to fulfill the social role of the city. We intend to prove this thesis through the analysis of national and international cases and by introducing thoughts, critique and guidelines as a contribution to the improvement of the urban initiatives implementation processes, in particular to those regarding worthless areas of Brazilian cities

Reflexões sobre o dito e o feito nas intervenções pedagógicas no Programa Segundo Tempo

Ao longo desta pesquisa, defendemos que projetos sociais como o Programa Segundo Tempo podem ampliar seus objetivos e ações interventivas para além da inclusão social de pessoas excluídas socialmente do acesso a direitos sociais, considerando esses espaços também como promotores de possibilidades educativas. Dialogamos com diversos autores da área da Educação, da Educação Física e das Ciências Sociais, para fortalecer nossos argumentos. Nesse sentido, nossa proposta de pesquisa orientou-se pelo método de pesquisa ação e pelas estratégias e técnicas de pesquisa que o apoiam, desenvolvendo uma proposta de intervenção e acompanhamento sistemático caracterizado basicamente pela realização de seminários e ciclos de observação da prática pedagógica dos monitores e coordenadores de núcleo do PST no convênio da Prefeitura Municipal de Riacho da Cruz, a fim de contribuir para processos de tomada de consciência e mudanças na prática pedagógica que se apresentassem indesejáveis às orientações teóricas e metodológicas do PST. Para tanto, buscamos analisar os problemas da transição das orientações teóricas e metodológicas do PST e contribuir para essa transição por meio de acompanhamento pedagógico sistemático. Partimos de uma questão de estudo que não se encerra em si mesma, mas que foi constantemente alimentada por novas problemáticas e objetivos emergidos do campo empírico durante a pesquisa: quais são os limites e possibilidades encontrados pelos monitores e coordenadores de núcleo do PST para aplicar as orientações teóricas e metodológicas nos núcleos do programa? Os resultados demonstraram que as principais limitações enfrentadas pelos recursos humanos do convênio da Prefeitura Municipal de Riacho da Cruz para aplicar as orientações do PST são: não formação específica na área de Educação Física ou Esporte; experiências de trabalho com o ensino do esporte anteriores ao trabalho no PST, insuficientes ou inexistentes; fragilidades no processo de capacitação segundo modelo do PST que não possibilitaram mais exemplos de experiências para o ensino do esporte nos núcleos; e fragilidades no formato de acompanhamento pouco assíduo realizado pela Equipe Colaboradora. Sobre as possibilidades para superação desse quadro encontramos, justamente na participação e envolvimento do próprio grupo sujeito em tentar minimizar essas limitações, buscando na proposta de acompanhamento pedagógico por seminários e ciclos de observações das atividades desenvolvidas, uma alternativa importante para a resolução das situaçõesproblemas emergidas nesta pesquisa. Desse modo, o sucesso da proposta desenvolvida nos levou a algumas conclusões, dentre as quais está a de que o sucesso do PST não reside somente na cobrança da especificidade da área ou grau de formação dos monitores e coordenadores de núcleo que lidam com o trabalho pedagógico nos núcleos dos convênios, mas na realização de um acompanhamento mais assíduo das Equipes Colaboradoras aos núcleos, que possibilite maiores momentos de troca de experiências entre as Equipes Colaboradoras do PST e o recursos humanos, inclusive considerando as variantes de contexto, estreitando assim a relação teoria e prática no PST. Por fim, reconhecemos as limitações do nosso estudo, o que abre perspectivas para futuras reformulações, mas esperamos contribuir para a interface estabelecida entre as áreas de Educação Física e Ciências Sociais, ampliando os conhecimentos relativos à prática pedagógica em projetos sociais

Elaboração e validação de instrumento para consulta de enfermagem à puérpera no âmbito da atenção básica

A pesquisa teve como objetivo elaborar e validar um instrumento para sistematizar a assistência de enfermagem à puérpera no âmbito da atenção básica. O documento foi construído com base na Teoria das Necessidades Humanas Básicas de Horta, na Padronização de um Conjunto Internacional de Dados Essenciais em Enfermagem e na Nomenclatura de diagnósticos e intervenções de enfermagem desenvolvida a partir dos resultados da Classificação Internacional para as Práticas de Enfermagem. Trata-se de um estudo do tipo metodológico desenvolvido em cinco etapas: identificação dos indicadores empíricos relativos à puérpera mediante revisão integrativa da literatura; avaliação dos indicadores empíricos e sua relação com as necessidades humanas básicas por grupo focal com cinco enfermeiras especialistas; estruturação do instrumento mediante a categorização dos indicadores; validação de forma e conteúdo do instrumento pelos especialistas, por meio da técnica Delphi; e aplicação e desenvolvimento das afirmativas de diagnóstico e intervenções de enfermagem. A coleta de dados da primeira etapa ocorreu nos meses de janeiro a março de 2013 nas bases de dados Scopus, Cinahl, Pubmed, Cochrane, e no periódico Journal of Midwifery and Women s Health. A segunda, terceira e quarta etapas se realizaram nos meses de maio a outubro de 2013. Participaram doze e sete especialistas na primeira e segunda rodada de avaliação respectivamente. A seleção dos especialistas ocorreu pela Plataforma Lattes mediante os seguintes critérios de inclusão: ser enfermeiro (a) docente e especialista em enfermagem obstétrica. A consulta a estes profissionais se deu via email e, ao aceitarem participar da pesquisa, assinaram um Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. A pesquisa obteve aprovação da Comissão de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, sob o protocolo nº 184.241 e Certificado de Apresentação para Apreciação Ética nº 11674112.3.0000.5537. Para análise dos dados da primeira etapa, utilizou-se a estatística descritiva e os resultados apresentados em forma de tabelas. Nesta etapa, identificou-se 97 indicadores empíricos e, quando relacionados com as necessidades humanas básicas, 46 desses encontravam-se nas necessidades psicobiológicas, 51 nas psicossociais e 01 nas necessidades psicoespirituais. Com relação à segunda e terceira etapas, os dados passaram por um processo de categorização e análise pelo Índice de Validade de Conteúdo. Os indicadores obtiveram um índice de validação de 100%. Na parte de avaliação da puérpera, os itens não validados foram excluídos do instrumento. Os demais itens obtiveram índice acima de 70%, sendo, portanto, o instrumento validado. O instrumento para a consulta de enfermagem é constituído de dados de identificação da puérpera, dados de avaliação das necessidades humanas da puérpera e itens do cuidado de enfermagem. Na versão final foram selecionados 73 Diagnósticos de Enfermagem e 155 Intervenções de Enfermagem a partir da categorização dos indicadores empíricos validados na segunda e terceira etapas do estudo. Com a conclusão do estudo, o enfermeiro disporá de um instrumento para sistematização da assistência à puérpera na atenção básica. Além disso, o documento servirá como ferramenta para o ensino e a pesquisa em enfermagem obstétrica

Interações físicas e psicossociais em mulheres com fibromialgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a non-inflammatory rheumatic syndrome of unknown etiology, with symptoms of diffuse musculoskeletal pain and presence of specific anatomic sites called tender points. The symptoms are often associated with fatigue, sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, alterations in pain perception, anxiety and depression. Fibromyalgia exhibits a correlation between physical and behavioral symptoms, which have a negative influence on the quality of life of patients. Emotional skills are important factors since they are related to subjective well-being, personal productivity, social interaction and interpersonal relationships. We aim to describe the physical and psychosocial interactions in women with FM, showing the association between perceived social support and affect with symptoms of pain, functionality and mood. We will also describe a body representation of pain in women with FM. Data were collected over 3 years and the sample size ranged between studies. This is an exploratory cross-sectional study conducted with a convenience sample of 63 women with FM and 42 healthy women as a control group (CT), aged 20-76 years, recruited through spontaneous demand at Onofre Lopes University Hospital (HUOL) and the Clinical School of Physiotherapy of Universidade Potiguar (UNP). The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Social Support Scale (MOS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Scale of Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), in addition to pressure algometry were used. For data analysis, we used parametric and non-parametric tests and a general linear model with adjustment variables and analysis of variance. A significant difference was found between pain threshold and tolerance, functionality, depression, anxiety, social support, and positive and negative affect between the groups. Affective states and social support were associated with anxiety, depression and functionality. A body was drawn representing pain with higher incidences in trapeze, supraspinatus and second ribs. The reason for studying sensory aspects, affective behavior and social support in FM patients opens perspectives for scientific and clinical research of this syndrome. Women with chronic pain such as FM appear to have altered mood states, less social support and affective dysfunctions, influencing the other symptoms of the syndrome

Atenção precoce do câncer de mama :um olhar sobre o cotidiano institucional de uma unidade de saúde de Natal

Breast cancer has been considered a grave global public health problem due to its increase in incidence, in women s mortality and in the amount of financial resources spent on the therapeutic interventions used in the treatment of this neoplasia. However, this scenario presents some variations. In developing countries, the incidence of breast cancer is increasing but, on the other hand, the mortality is declining among patients because of public health actions toward early diagnostic that also result in cure of patients and decreasing levels of physical and psychosocial stress. In Brazil, we face of both the increasing number of breast cancer incidence and number of mortalities. Almost always the reason for that is a delayed detection that will provide a late diagnostic. The early detection of breast cancer has been studied in several researches. Some of them are concerned with women s experiences. Despite that, there is a lack of researches on dynamic comprehension of early attention to breast cancer from the health professionals points of view. The present research was carried out at the Unidade Mista de Felipe Camarão (UMFC) and it was conducted with 11 professionals who work in the Family Health Program (PSF). The aim was to understand how early diagnostic and attention to breast cancer is being planned, discussed and accomplished by health professionals in their day-to-day actions. Semi-structure interviews were held individually with each professional, in a way that they could feel free to express their ideas about several issues. All the information from these interviews was analyzed and discussed using an Institutional Ethnographic approach. It was observed that the actions of health professionals working with early detection of breast cancer does not take place in a vacuum; they occur within institutional, relational and social ways. This interdependence influences their actions and points of view on the theme

Os novos quixotes da psicologia e a prática social no âmbito do terceiro setor

A pesar del cuadro crítico de la pobreza y desigualdad social en que vivimos en el país, las perspectivas actuales apuntan para el fin del Estado Interventor y para la reducción del gasto público destinado a las políticas sociales. Con el enjugamiento del estado, el Tercer sector está encargado de pacificar la cuestión social, reduciéndola al ámbito del deber moral. Convocado al compromiso social, el psicólogo también empieza a trabajar en la frontera de la exclusión, sin cuestionar la finalidad y las implicaciones políticas del nuevo escenario. El objetivo de este trabajo es investigar la práctica social del psicólogo, en el ámbito del tercer sector , buscando el análisis que hace del nuevo campo de trabajo, así como las estrategias utilizadas en el enfrentamiento de la pobreza. Para la investigación, fueron realizadas 20 (veinte) encuestas semiestructuradas con psicólogos que actúan en instituciones del tercer sector . Las encuestas fueron analizadas cualitativamente, a la luz de la perspectiva gramsciana de sociedad civil y emancipación humana, bien como de los preceptos de la Psicología Comunitaria y Intervención Psicosocial. Utilizamos como base de análisis, todavía, el Método Comparativo Constante. Los resultados fueron agrupados en tres ejes: quien son los nuevos quijotes de la Psicología, las demandas del Tercer Sector y las estrategias utilizadas por el psicólogo en el Tercer Sector . La perspectiva defendida en este trabajo es la de que en el campo de las intervenciones sociales, y más acentuadamente en el Tercer Sector , los psicólogos serían nuevos quijotes , actuando con buena voluntad, con grandes sueños de transformación, pero realizando acciones que no parten de una lectura crítica y adecuada de la realidad, no percibiendo sus posibilidades reales y sus límites de actuación. Finalmente, defendemos que se debe buscar, con la inserción profesional; mejorar la calidad de vida y el bienestar, a través de una intervención proactiva, buscando el desarrollo, la organización y la emancipación de las personas, grupos y comunidades

Por uma pedagogia do oprimido midiático: meios de comunicação e suas intervenções na escola

En este trabajo nos ocupamos de la convergencia de la fotografía, el vídeo y la música, intermediado por una estación de radio en la escuela, instalada en la escuela Municipal de Djalma Maranhão, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, en una clase de 5º año de jóvenes y adultos en el año escolar 2007. Se analizan las intervenciones causados los que participan en la vida escolar, a partir de las actividades realizadas por ellos, en la producción de programas de radio. Los procedimientos metodológicos sobre la base de la etnometodologia (COULON, 1995a, 1995b), en la investigación cualitativa (BOGDAN, BIKLEN, 1999, DENZIN y LINCOLN, 2006), participante como observador (MAY, 2004) y la investigación-acción (THIOLLENT, 1992). La comprensión de Paulo Freire en la comunicación e la educación es nuestro principal referente teórico. Los experimentos citados en los medios de comunicación revelaron varias posibilidades de mejora en la enseñanza y el aprendizaje, como el aumento de la autoestima de los estudiantes, social y de inclusión educativa de personas con discapacidad, disminución de la timidez y facilitar la comunicación entre los sujetos, lo que permite el diálogo entre ellos, intervino en sus relaciones sociales, más allá de los límites de la escuela. La investigación confirma, entonces, que la comunicación y la educación son parte de la misma naturaleza

Caracterização das intervenções em grupo na rede básica de saúde em Natal-RN

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Mulheres com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico: sintomas depressivos e apoio social percebido

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease, rare, multisystem, with a very heterogeneous clinical and serological manifestations standard. The patient, in addition to suffering injuries on his physical and physiological functioning, may also face a number of psychosocial problems. Research indicates that SLE can cause significant damage to the psychological realm, especially with the presence of anxiety and depression. In 1999, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), proposed the establishment of 19 neuropsychiatric clinical syndromes attributed to SLE. Depression lies between mood disorders and is one of the most common psychiatric manifestations in this group, being found more frequently in these patients than in the general population. Studies also suggest that social support plays an important role in the development of coping strategies, in SLE management and depression. This study has as main objective verify the association between depressive symptoms and perceived social support in patients with SLE. The specific objectives turned to: investigte the prevalence of depressive symptoms; investigate the perceived social support and verify if there is an association between depression, social support and sociodemographic variables. We used a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Beck Depression Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. The analysis was performed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The final sample could count with 79 SLE women, with an average age of 35.7 years. 44 (55.7%) of the participants were married. Only 6 (7.59%) had completed higher education and 32 (40.51%) have not finished high school. Seventy-one (89.87%) had an income below three minimum salaries and 71 (89.87) practiced a religion, and the Catholic (67.71%) was the most mentioned by them. Of the total sample, 37 (46.74%) had been diagnosed SLE more than 7 years before, and 25 (31.65%) had the disease for more than 10 years. Only 19 (24.05%) had some work activity. Forty-two of them (53.17%) had depressive symptoms levels from mild to severe, and 51 (64.46%) reported pain levels of 5, or above. The study found a significant association between depressive symptoms and pain (p = 0.013) and depressive symptoms and work activity (p = 0.02). When we examined the perception of social support, the results showed high levels among participants. Using the Spearman correlation test we found a strong correlation between depressive symptoms and social support (p= 0,000037). It means that the higher the frequency of support, the lower the score of depression. These findings are relevant because depressive symptoms in patients with SLE have a multicausal and multifactorial character and may remain unnoticed, since many of them are confused with the manifestations of the disease. This fact requires a careful assessment from professionals, not only in the clinical setting, but also considering other psychosocial reasons, that may be influencing the emergence or worsening of symptoms. These results also corroborate other studies, which not only confirm the predictive role of social support in the physical wellbeing, but also in the psychological.

Mulheres com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico: sintomas depressivos e apoio social percebido

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease, rare, multisystem, with a very heterogeneous clinical and serological manifestations standard. The patient, in addition to suffering injuries on his physical and physiological functioning, may also face a number of psychosocial problems. Research indicates that SLE can cause significant damage to the psychological realm, especially with the presence of anxiety and depression. In 1999, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), proposed the establishment of 19 neuropsychiatric clinical syndromes attributed to SLE. Depression lies between mood disorders and is one of the most common psychiatric manifestations in this group, being found more frequently in these patients than in the general population. Studies also suggest that social support plays an important role in the development of coping strategies, in SLE management and depression. This study has as main objective verify the association between depressive symptoms and perceived social support in patients with SLE. The specific objectives turned to: investigte the prevalence of depressive symptoms; investigate the perceived social support and verify if there is an association between depression, social support and sociodemographic variables. We used a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Beck Depression Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. The analysis was performed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The final sample could count with 79 SLE women, with an average age of 35.7 years. 44 (55.7%) of the participants were married. Only 6 (7.59%) had completed higher education and 32 (40.51%) have not finished high school. Seventy-one (89.87%) had an income below three minimum salaries and 71 (89.87) practiced a religion, and the Catholic (67.71%) was the most mentioned by them. Of the total sample, 37 (46.74%) had been diagnosed SLE more than 7 years before, and 25 (31.65%) had the disease for more than 10 years. Only 19 (24.05%) had some work activity. Forty-two of them (53.17%) had depressive symptoms levels from mild to severe, and 51 (64.46%) reported pain levels of 5, or above. The study found a significant association between depressive symptoms and pain (p = 0.013) and depressive symptoms and work activity (p = 0.02). When we examined the perception of social support, the results showed high levels among participants. Using the Spearman correlation test we found a strong correlation between depressive symptoms and social support (p= 0,000037). It means that the higher the frequency of support, the lower the score of depression. These findings are relevant because depressive symptoms in patients with SLE have a multicausal and multifactorial character and may remain unnoticed, since many of them are confused with the manifestations of the disease. This fact requires a careful assessment from professionals, not only in the clinical setting, but also considering other psychosocial reasons, that may be influencing the emergence or worsening of symptoms. These results also corroborate other studies, which not only confirm the predictive role of social support in the physical wellbeing, but also in the psychological.

Praias urbanas e racionalidade ambiental: avaliação da gestão, das intervenções urbanísticas e dos usos na praia de ponta negra

This dissertation addresses issues considered essential for sustainable development of urban waterfronts and beaches. Many of these spaces, even though they are of public authorities, economic market and general population interests - due to its landscape, its importance for recreation purposes and as a basis of " Sun and beach Tourism " (Turismo de Sol e Praia), among other factors - have shown aesthetic, health and cultural degradation, entailing environmental, economic and social losses and conflicts. Based on this perception, the research aims to understand the main reasons for these negative results for beach spaces. To this end, it was chosen the case study of a typical urban beach, Ponta Negra Beach, located in Natal, RN. Ponta Negra is associated with the "postcard" of the city and it has been deserving of municipal urban planning legislation that legally recognizes the importance of its landscape. Also it has received constant investments by the Government through urban projects, arguing to leave the site attractive to its users. Nevertheless, in the last fifteen years, the beach has lived with the expansion of its problems, such as those related to bathing water, to coastal erosion, and to the mangling of its natural surroundings. Social conflicts have also been frequent in this time frame: conflicts between residents of the waterfront and traders who work on the beach, between the traders themselves, between the managers of space and fishermen, between managers and formal and informal traders. Many of these social and environmental conflicts have taken such grand proportions that became legal matters. Assuming that the problems identified are related to the issue of rationality - understood as a system of values, norms and actions that relate means and ends - and upholding the need for focused research on "environmental rationality" to understand and interpret the dynamics of social and environmental problems encountered on site, the research that guides the study relies on the Mexican economist Enrique Leff's theory on "environmental rationality" which, briefly, can be defined as a system of values, norms, actions and means and ends relations based on the principles of environmental management and sustainable development. Among other aspects, rationality encompasses cross-sectional planning of public administration, the participation of society in the management of environmental resources, interdisciplinary reorganization of knowledge, the clash of opposing interests and the conciliation of common goals of different social actors. The study evaluates the relationship between "environmental rationality", as proposed by Enrique Leff, with the management, urban interventions and uses observed in Ponta Negra Beach. For that, some benchmarks were established and considered in the research as related to sustainable development of the "beachy" atmosphere. Analytical instruments chosen were the urban transformations and the environmental and social problems that have been the target of lawsuits. Also part of the study, the problems that were the subject of civil investigations, which are investigation procedures carried out by the Prosecutor's Office.

Praias urbanas e racionalidade ambiental: avaliação da gestão, das intervenções urbanísticas e dos usos na praia de ponta negra

This dissertation addresses issues considered essential for sustainable development of urban waterfronts and beaches. Many of these spaces, even though they are of public authorities, economic market and general population interests - due to its landscape, its importance for recreation purposes and as a basis of " Sun and beach Tourism " (Turismo de Sol e Praia), among other factors - have shown aesthetic, health and cultural degradation, entailing environmental, economic and social losses and conflicts. Based on this perception, the research aims to understand the main reasons for these negative results for beach spaces. To this end, it was chosen the case study of a typical urban beach, Ponta Negra Beach, located in Natal, RN. Ponta Negra is associated with the "postcard" of the city and it has been deserving of municipal urban planning legislation that legally recognizes the importance of its landscape. Also it has received constant investments by the Government through urban projects, arguing to leave the site attractive to its users. Nevertheless, in the last fifteen years, the beach has lived with the expansion of its problems, such as those related to bathing water, to coastal erosion, and to the mangling of its natural surroundings. Social conflicts have also been frequent in this time frame: conflicts between residents of the waterfront and traders who work on the beach, between the traders themselves, between the managers of space and fishermen, between managers and formal and informal traders. Many of these social and environmental conflicts have taken such grand proportions that became legal matters. Assuming that the problems identified are related to the issue of rationality - understood as a system of values, norms and actions that relate means and ends - and upholding the need for focused research on "environmental rationality" to understand and interpret the dynamics of social and environmental problems encountered on site, the research that guides the study relies on the Mexican economist Enrique Leff's theory on "environmental rationality" which, briefly, can be defined as a system of values, norms, actions and means and ends relations based on the principles of environmental management and sustainable development. Among other aspects, rationality encompasses cross-sectional planning of public administration, the participation of society in the management of environmental resources, interdisciplinary reorganization of knowledge, the clash of opposing interests and the conciliation of common goals of different social actors. The study evaluates the relationship between "environmental rationality", as proposed by Enrique Leff, with the management, urban interventions and uses observed in Ponta Negra Beach. For that, some benchmarks were established and considered in the research as related to sustainable development of the "beachy" atmosphere. Analytical instruments chosen were the urban transformations and the environmental and social problems that have been the target of lawsuits. Also part of the study, the problems that were the subject of civil investigations, which are investigation procedures carried out by the Prosecutor's Office.

Intervenções urbanas em espaços de desvalia. Transformar para valorizar.

The worldwide transformations that took place in the 20th century redefined the cities fate in this new century. The consolidation of urbanization, the technological revolution that fostered globalization, the economic restructuration and informalization, modified space and time concepts, bringing populations closer together and provoking political transformations. They made contemporaries cities protagonists of world events and as a consequence of such processes, worthlessness spaces appeared and cities all over the world started to bet on the strategy of acting in this problematic areas through initiatives aimed at promoting intentional transformations to obtain a multidimensional valorization urban, financial, environmental, cultural and social. In short, such urban initiatives intend to make cities more competitive, sustainable, creative, productive and fair. Also in Brazil, countless worthless spaces appeared in waterfronts, central areas, and deactivated industrial/urbanized areas, as well as in sub-used or misused areas lacking infrastructure and public services where it is imperative and urgent to perform urban initiatives. This research proposes as a thesis that urban initiatives, when carried out based on an adequate politicalinstitutional model, transform and give value to worthless spaces in their multiple dimensions, offering better quality of life to their residents and helping to fulfill the social role of the city. We intend to prove this thesis through the analysis of national and international cases and by introducing thoughts, critique and guidelines as a contribution to the improvement of the urban initiatives implementation processes, in particular to those regarding worthless areas of Brazilian cities