Leading with Passion, Empowering Communities, and Fighting for Justice - 4 X 33

Kalaya'an Mendoza is a Queer, Disabled, Filipino human rights defender, street medic, and community safety & mutual protection expert. For the last two decades, he has worked in solidarity with frontline communities worldwide to co-build their capacity to respond to state and non-state actor violence. He currently serves as the Director of Mutual Protection at Nonviolent Peaceforce. Nonviolent Peaceforce is an international organization that protects civilians in violent conflicts using unarmed protection strategies. Kalaya'an shares his journey and the influences that shaped his activism. From his upbringing in the Bay Area to witnessing the People Power Uprising in the Philippines, Mendoza's experiences fueled his passion for social justice. He discusses his challenges as a member of multiple intersecting communities and the importance of self-care in activism. Mendoza highlights the rewarding projects he has been involved in, including working with Tibetan refugees and learning from colleagues worldwide. He emphasizes the need for community care and building sustainable models of safety.