Claudia Mitchell

Dr. Claudia Mitchell, born in Virden, Manitoba, is a passionate advocate for encouraging young people to speak out about violence in their lives. For over two decades, she has supported youth around the world. A recognized leader in visual arts, Claudia has conducted research on areas including the testing of visual methods to engage and educate youth and teachers on topics such as gender, HIV, and AIDS, gender-based violence, girlhood studies, and sexual and reproductive health.  

Claudia is a distinguished James McGill professor, and the founder and director of the Participatory Cultures Lab at McGill University. The Lab fosters collaboration around the use of tools such as photovoice, digital storytelling, and participatory video and cellphilming. In Canada, Mitchell’s research has examined how community organizations working with Indigenous youth can use participatory visual and arts-based methods to address gender-based violence. Her work with, and for, girls and young women is strongly focused on “from the ground up” policy dialogue. She is also the co-founder and editor-in-Chief of the award-winning Girlhood Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal.

Claudia’s research has been recognized in many ways, including by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Gold Medal in 2016. She is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada’s Academy of Social Sciences.

“Through my research, I want Canadians to understand the importance of putting young people at the centre in defining what needs to be changed in relation to their own lives. This kind of participatory work, however, requires community leaders and policy makers to do a great deal of listening and acting.”