I am the Founding Director of the Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab at the University of Southern California, a research and innovation hub that explores the intersections of journalism, race, and social change. With over 17 years of experience in the field, I have developed a unique expertise in how African Americans use mobile and social media to produce innovative forms of journalism — especially in times of crisis.I am also the author of the best-selling book Bearing Witness While Black: African Americans, Smartphones and the New Protest #Journalism, which examines the lives of 15 mobile journalist-activists who documented the Black Lives Matter movement using only their smartphones and Twitter. As a pioneer in mobile journalism (MOJO), I have launched the first smartphone-only college newsroom in 2010, and expanded the MOJO Lab curriculum throughout the continent of Africa. My work has been recognized by multiple awards and honors, including the Nieman Foundation Journalism Fellowship at Harvard University. My mission is to empower the next generation of journalists and activists to use technology and storytelling to challenge injustice and create positive social change.