Kalaya'an Mendoza is a Queer, Hard of Hearing, Filipino American human rights defender, street medic, and community safety and mutual protection trainer. He is an award-winning facilitator of holistic safety and security, as well as a recognized expert in disaster preparedness and human rights observation and monitoring.

Kalaya'an has served as National Field Director for Amnesty International USA, the Head of U.S. Programmes at Nonviolent Peaceforce, and is the co-founder of Across Frontlines, a collective of practitioners that works alongside frontline human rights defenders around the world.

He has inspired, trained, and mobilized thousands of activists and community members in the U.S. and abroad to advance their human rights by utilizing strategic nonviolent direct action, holistic safety and security, community defense and protection and solidarity based grassroots organizing.

Kalaya’an has worked his entire decades long career to help people use the resources they have to build the power they need to make the change they want to see in the world.

Photo Credit: Cole Witter