I’m Maria, the founder of Cri(ar)
In Portuguese, criar means to create. In Cri(ar), the word carries two sides: the act of creating, and ar—air, freedom, and adaptability. It reflects both my roots and the way I approach my work.
I’ve never lived in just one country, worked in just one field, or expressed myself in just one way. I’ve built a career across writing, creating, teaching, and coaching, and it’s in this space of plurality that I’ve found my work — supporting people through change and growth, while reflecting on my own experience of it.
Why Culture
Though Portuguese by nationality, I grew up around the world, (Washington DC, New York, The Hague, Lisbon, and Pretoria), and define myself more as a third-culture kid.
Culture is not simply something you inherit, but rather, something that is co-created, lived with, and sometimes pushed against. This belief continues to shape my personal path and professional focus.
- MA in Psychology of Intercultural Relations + BA in Psychology
- Founder & co-editor of Medium publication A-Culturated, dedicated to intercultural stories
- Experience teaching primary students Yoga and Positive Education in a Lisbon-based International School
- 7+ years mentoring globally mobile students through transitions and emotional growth
- Support for people navigating cultural multiplicity and change
Why Creativity
Creativity has always been—very poetically—my first language. Whether through words, sound, or movement, it’s the lens I use to understand myself and support others.
- Freelance writer and editor (creative nonfiction, essays, educational content)
- Work published across Substack, Medium, and other independent projects
- Background in music, songwriting, drama, and performing arts
- Use of movement, storytelling, and arts in socio-emotional learning, especially with children and teenagers
- Creative practices integrated into mentoring, teaching, and personal growth work
Why Community
At the heart of everything I do is the belief that growth happens in community, and not solely in isolation.
- Founder of an intercultural online community through the A-Culturated publication on Medium
- Ongoing local volunteering across schools, elderly homes, and food banks
- Focus on intercultural and intergenerational dialogue through play, storytelling, and movement
- IB graduate and long-time mentor and tutor of students in the International School community
- Designer and facilitator of workshops for all ages on creativity and wellbeing
Creativity is more of a way of being, than a thing of doing. My mission is to help people manage change, reconnect with themselves, and grow with intention.