The samba schools are important constituents of the identity and representation of places in which they are situated and Portela is certainly a symbol of Madureira - its old guard (guardians), its square, the Portelão, its colours and symbols (such as the eagle) endow Madureira with a unique 'Portelense' identity. There is a strong symbiosis between Madureira and the Portela, because there is a reflexivity between the blue and white school and the suburban Rio neighborhood. The samba schools can also be seen as promoters of sustainability because they run social projects, benefitting the communities that surround them. Portela houses the Project 'Gente Que Samba É Feliz' (People who Samba are Happy), in the Oswaldo Cruz and Madureira communities.