Webinar: Participatory Action Research

Participatory Action Research

Using participatory research for grassroots impact

Why PAR Matters:

• Emphasizes collaboration, empowerment, and social justice
• Ensures marginalized communities lead research and solutions
• Promotes sustainable, contextually relevant approaches

Meet the Panelists leading this session.

Panelist: Anjuli Fahlberg

Dr. Anjuli Fahlberg is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Tufts University. Her research applies an intersectional lens to the study of social movements, urban violence, and uneven development in Latin America, with a particular focus on the possibilities for and types of activism in gang territories. Dr. Fahlberg employs mixed methods, including ethnographic fieldwork and survey research, though all of her research follows the principles of participatory action research. Dr. Fahlberg received the 2019 Best Dissertation Award from the American Sociological Association for her dissertation “Activism under Fire: Violence, Poverty and Collective Action in Rio de Janeiro.” She has published in several peer-reviewed journals and received funding from the Social Science Research Council, the National Science Foundation, the American Association of University Women, and several others. Dr. Fahlberg was raised in Brazil and dedicated much of her pre-academic career to working with immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Panelist: Faiza Arshad

I’m Faiza! I graduated with a Bachelors in Clinical Psychology and I now lead the Retention Marketing team at Fresh Prints. I’m passionate about all things education and community

Panelist: Francis Arinaitwe

Francis Arinaitwe is a community development expert with over a decade of experience in youth engagement and youth-led research. Currently a board member at Restless Development Uganda, he has worked on initiatives like the Mastercard Foundation’s Youth Forward and the Youth Think Tank. As a youth leader for the Youth Think Tank, he helped harness the potential of the hospitality and tourism sectors for youth employment and driving conversations about youth financial inclusion, contributing to all stages of the research process. 

Francis is also affiliated with the Dutch-based INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, where he contributes to discussions on youth employment and decent work. As a Business Facilitator on Heifer International’s Mastercard Foundation-funded SAYE Project, he continues supporting youth in agriculture and entrepreneurship. 

Francis’s expertise has been showcased in various forums, including webinars on meaningful youth participation. His dedication to youth empowerment and experience in youth-led participatory research make him a highly respected expert in the field. 

Panelist: Eibhlín Seoighthe

I’m Eibhlín Seoighthe, the Social Democrats Councillor for Galway City Central.

I’m committed to making our city the best place to live.

I’ve lived in Galway for most of my life and I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else. Everywhere I go, I am very proud to tell people that I am a Galway woman. But Galway isn’t an easy place to live in, like it used to be and like it should be. We need better public services and greater investment in our communities, housing, and transport infrastructure.

“People make communities and communities build cities. “