Afonso Bandeira Florence was born on October 15, 1960 in Salvador, Bahia. He is married and has two children. The son of public school teachers, he studied history at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), where he became active in social causes. He headed the Academic Center and chaired the Central Bureau of Students (DCE).

He worked in the labor movement and as a staff aid to the Workers' Party (PT) in the State Assembly. With a Master's degree in Social History, he did research on the presence of black people in Bahia, emphasizing theoretical tools such as ethnic and oral history.

As a professor at the UFBA, he was also a researcher and coordinator of the Afro-Oriental Studies Center. He is on leave from the faculty of the Catholic University of Salvador. Mr. Florence was awarded the “Zumbi dos Palmares” medal by the Salvador City Council for his struggle in the fight against racism, discrimination and intolerance.

As Secretary of Urban Development for the State government of Bahia, his priorities included housing and sanitation. He coordinated programs for low-income communities such as “Casa da Gente” (A Home for Us) and “Água para Todos” (Water for All).

A member of the Workers' Party (PT), Afonso Florence was just elected to his first term as a Federal Representative for the State of Bahia.

 

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