Welcome to my site — a space where storytelling, research and change intersect.
I’m María Ávila, a writer and transdisciplinary researcher based in Mexico.
Whether through essays, digital storytelling, or community-based projects, I’m committed to building narratives that connect people, document lived experience, and imagine more just and livable futures.
Here you'll find a selection of the projects I've worked on, along with influences and collaborations that have shaped my practice.
As a writer and co-researcher for "(re)Ciclarse en la ciudad", I contribute to building a collaborative digital archive of urban cycling stories across Mexico. This project weaves together life stories, collective memory, and reflections on urban space and mobility. Through creative nonfiction, ethnographic writing, and collaborative workshops, we explore how everyday cycling becomes a political act and a way to reclaim our bodies and cities. This work culminated in the co-authored book Descubrir que hay vida (2025), shared stories to reimagine more livable, just, and caring urban futures.
I am currently working on a collection of creative nonfiction essays that explore the daily attempts of women across the Americas to reclaim their voices, bodies, and territories through storytelling.
Blending ethnographic methods and literary writing, this project is supported by an international residency at the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec thanks to a grant by the Sistema de Apoyos a la Creación y Proyectos Culturales (SACPC).
Over the past decade, I’ve collaborated with civil society organizations and collectives in Mexico working on community-based initiatives, educational projects, and advocacy efforts. From coordinating programs to facilitating participatory research, my work weaves together creative methodologies, art, writing, and research. I believe in collective action as a force for social transformation, and I use storytelling, deep listening, and collaborative processes to connect people and amplify their work.