WHAT WE DO
We partner with frontline communities to co-create trainings and resources, build holistic safety and security, and facilitate exchanges with social impact organizations driving social change.
Offerings
Team Building
Equity & Solidarity in the Workplace
Working with Community Partners
Leadership Development
Designing a Security Plan
Strategic Management
De-escalating Conflict
Media Strategy
Anti-Oppression
Formats
Half and Full-Day Trainings
Multi-day Trainings
Week-long Retreats
Field Learning
Attachés
Digital Platforms
Facilitated Discussions
Ongoing advisement
and more!
Our Approach
“Learning With, not Teaching Over”
Our tagline is inspired by lessons from partnerships with frontline communities around the world. Our methodology is based in the principles of emergent design and popular education. We co-create and tailor each learning space to the needs, specifications and goals of the participants. Human rights defenders have taught us the profound lesson that solidarity means – power with, not power over. We take that deeply to heart at Across Frontlines.
Theory of Change
Communities have a greater and more equitable impact when their strategy draws from lessons learned from frontline communities. By cultivating skills and knowledge in safety and security, equity, and solidarity, communities will be better equipped and more effective in reaching their goals.
Want to further your social justice learning? Please head over to our sister site, Check Yo’Self.
You'll find resources, activities and other tools to support you in your self education.
Who We Are
Kalaya’an
Pronouns: he/they
Kalaya’an is the founding director of Across Frontlines and currently serves as the Director of Mutual Protection for Nonviolent Peaceforce. He has dedicated the past three decades of his life to nonviolent direct action organizing, holistic safety and security and human rights defender protection from Turtle Island to Aotearoa. Solidarity and visionary organizing serve as his northstar in the movement work he is invited into and engages with.
Chand
Pronouns: she/her/they/them
Chand is a social justice activist, community organizer, web developer, designer and digital media specialist, currently residing on occupied Munsee Lenape land. She has an established history of making a meaningful impact by bridging technology and justice working with various nonprofit organizations, social movements and communities. Chand is the co-founder and Executive Director of Youth Boxing for Change, a nonprofit which empowers under-resourced youth of all gender identities through boxing, service, mentorship, leadership opportunities, and more.
Jasmyne
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Jasmyne is a writer and facilitator living on occupied Gabrielino/Tongva land. Her day-to-day work involves project management and implementation within the nonprofit industrial complex. Jasmyne believes in a world where people use their collective power and existential dread for social transformation. She began her anti-oppression work under the tutelage of the leaders of the Austin Justice Coalition in 2015. In her spare time she gorges herself on astrology and hipster groceries.
Bradley
Pronouns: he/him
Bradley is a social justice activist, tactical safety leader, and filmmaker born in occupied Hawai'i and currently residing on occupied Munsee Lenape land. For the past decade he has been telling stories through film with BIPOC cultural leaders and is committed to community building, sustainable activism, and co-conspiring to create just and equal societies for all of our siblings.
Robyn
Pronouns: they/she
Robyn is a social justice advocate, perpetual learner, and professional dance artist living on occupied Lenape land. They collaborate with organizers on community safety and support for direct actions, working to merge holistic care and tactical security in pursuit of a world beyond the settler-colonial police state. Robyn's other pursuits include creating dance for film, cultivating their voice as an essayist, and curating virtual events for the queer community.
What People Are Saying About Us
In these days of uprising when unity is our greatest strength we found ourselves cared for, protected, wrapped in safety and true solidarity during the NYC - Climate Justice through Racial Justice March / Rally. The outstanding, leading and important role taken by the Across Frontlines team made our action that much stronger as we felt protected and empowered enough to raise our voices and fists high to demand Climate and Racial Justice without fear or insecurity. A heartfelt thank you to Kalaya'an Mendoza for all his work, professionalism and much needed expertise.
– Claudia Velandia Onofre, International Liaison Officer, Semilla Warunkwa, Protect the Sacred NYC
My time with Across Frontlines was phenomenal. The way I think about centering communities, working as a team, and how my values show up in my work has forever been changed. Though the facilitators of Across Frontlines radiate great energy and lead by example, they will reveal the leadership qualities and kindness you already have in yourself.
– LJ Amsterdam, Director of Development and Special Projects, The Ruckus Society
“Across Frontlines came into our lives at a tense time in Charlotte in the summer of 2016, where nightly protests took a turn for the worse due to the increased state violence we faced. The facilitator led a powerful training with our core direct action organizers in holistic safety and security for human rights defenders with a focus on dealing with police tactics. Across Frontlines was able to assess the strengths and vulnerabilities within our movement, and design a training that was intimate, familial, and heightened the safety and security of our work, helping us to continue our fight. We still refer back to his lessons today.”
– Cat Bao Le, Executive Director, Southeast Asian Coalition
“Across Frontlines' particular strengths is in their ability to not only engage their audience but to make a real connection with them. The facilitators ensures that every member of the class is allowed to participate in a way that they feel comfortable with. The facilitators recognises and deals sensitively with those who would, if allowed, dominate the discussion and also creates opportunities that encourage contributions from those less inclined to step forward. Across Frontlines is innovative in their presentation style and in how they construct lessons and learning activities. They use humour to relax and engage their audience while still maintaining an aura of professionalism. I am an experienced and qualified trainer, however I was struck by the amount that I learned from the facilitators of Across Frontlines.”
– Gary White, Rule of Law Specialist, INEQE Group
“Across Frontlines led a transformational two day training with our young Asian staff and leaders at Asian American Organizing Project (AAOP). The facilitator has been intentional about planning the curriculum, meeting our organizational needs, and attentive in crafting a training that addresses the cultural nuances that were present in our Minnesota Asian community. Importantly, the facilitator is remarkable at holding spaces and versatile in accommodating attendees who had anywhere from basic to advanced skills on Nonviolent Direct Action. AAOP has received a high interest from our base and looks forward to bringing Across Frontlines back again.”
– Asian American Organizing Project, MN
“Across Frontlines provided us with some of the most inspiring trainers and talented facilitators I've come across in fifteen years of working in social justice movements. The facilitator's energy and brilliance shine through in his work as a trainer, while their humor and compassion made their presence an uplifting experience for the trainees and colleagues. Their contribution to the global Tibetan struggle as a trainer, organizer and facilitator is unparalleled.”
– Tenzin Dorjee, former Executive Director, Students for a Free Tibet
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