2026 Hybrid Annual Conference
ACTION RESEARCH NETWORK OF THE AMERICAS
2026 HYBRID ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Dissolving Barriers: Weaving knowledge in the territories of the Americas
. . . And Beyond
SOBRAL, BRAZIL
JUNE 16th to 20th, 2026
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Michel Thiollent is a French-Brazilian sociologist known for his work in action research and
participatory methodologies. He has a long academic career, primarily in Brazil, and is the
author of several books on research methodology.
His work focuses on qualitative and participatory research methodology, action research, and
the management of social and educational projects. He is considered an important figure in the
Latin American tradition of participatory research.
Publications: He has authored multiple books, including Metodologia da Pesquisa-Ação
(Methodology of Action Research), which has seen several editions.
Michel Thiollent's action research approach emphasizes the active participation of the people
being studied, positioning them as co-researchers rather than passive subjects. It is a flexible,
qualitative methodology intended to bridge the gap between theory and practice and drive
social change.
Travel Information
Visa Requirements for USA, Canada, & Australia. eVisa Brazil https://evisatravel.org/brazil/
Apply before May 18, 2026!
Study Day – Dia de Estudio
Where: Várzea da Cobra
Date: Tuesday June 16th, 2026
Cost: Free
About: In the community of Várzea da Cobra, a rural area of Forquilha, participants will be able to understand how the territorialization of the paradigm of living with the semi-arid region occurs, through the observation of social water technologies such as slab cisterns and paved walkways, which guarantee the water security of local residents, as well as learn about an agroforestry system and understand how it provides food security and sovereignty to the families involved.
*Additional activity available to 25 on-site conference registrants.
*Transportation provided.
*Interpreter available, Portuguese to English & Spanish.
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Register here by June 9th: tinyurl.com/ARNA2026
Field Day – Visita de Campo
Where: Aldeia Tremembé y Comunidade Quilombola
Date: Saturday June 20th, 2026
Cost: $5 usd
About: The conference field visit program includes experiences in traditional territories of Ceará, providing direct contact with realities, knowledge, and historically marginalized struggles. In the Quilombola community of Jardim, located in Patriarca, a district of Sobral, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the trajectory of resistance, community organization, and identity affirmation of the quilombola people, engaging in dialogue about territory, rights, and ways of life. In the Tremembé Indigenous Land of Córrego João Pereira, in Itarema, participants will experience the cultural richness of the Tremembé people, recognizing the significance of being in the first officially recognized Indigenous land in the state of Ceará. The experience includes listening to local narratives, engaging with cultural practices, and tasting traditional cuisine, fostering a sensitive and respectful exchange with the ways of life, ancestral knowledge, and forms of resistance of these communities.
*Additional activity available to 40 on-site conference registrants.
*Transportation provided.
*Interpreter available, Portuguese to English & Spanish.
Comunidade Quilombola:
Fransquinha – community leader – líder comunitária fiscal
Hello, my name is Fransquinha. I come from the Quilombola community of Jardim, located in Patriarca, a district of Sobral, Ceará. I am a community leader and community inspector, and I am 60 years old. I am a Black woman, a descendant of a Quilombola community, with curly black hair and dark skin, and I take immense pride in my identity and in my color.
Francisco Leandro Faustino – community president – presidente da comunidade
My name is Francisco Leandro Faustino. I come from the Quilombola community of Jardim, located in Patriarca, a district of Sobral, Ceará. I am currently the president of the community. I am a Black man with curly black hair, 40 years old, and with a richly melanated skin—something many people admire.
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Register here by June 9th: tinyurl.com/ARNA2026
2026 Conference Committee
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