Event Introduction: Digital Ethnography, Storytelling and Grassroots Community Building
How can academic research, particularly digital ethnography, transcend the boundaries of academia to create real-world, community-driven impact? In this session, we’ll explore how research skills can be effectively applied to grassroots NGO work, actively contributing to social change.
Mariana Vazquez is the Head of Community Building and Outreach at Code Your Future, a charitable coding school that helps underserved communities gain coding skills and access jobs in the tech industry. Mariana's journey began as a digital ethnographer, where her research on the Code Your Future community not only provided valuable insights but also led her to transition into a key leadership role within the organisation.
As a digital ethnographer, filmmaker, and decolonizing educator, Mariana will share her experiences in this session, offering a unique perspective on how these diverse skills can be harnessed to foster meaningful community engagement, drive impactful NGO work, and empower marginalised communities.
Chair: Xin Zhan, Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Associate, Affiliated Lecturer, Department of Social Anthropology (xz434)