HOLISTIC SECURITY
a comprehensive approach to collective protection
Mazorca’s work in security is rooted in a holistic, reflective, collective, and adaptive approach. Grounded in transfeminist and anti-racist principles, we place collective care at the heart of our facilitation, tailoring our work to each community and its unique context. We create spaces for reflection, allowing us to recognize and address the layered impacts of violence and uncover strategic, collective, and creative ways to protect ourselves.
Our approach to security encompasses digital, fiscal, and psychosocial dimensions. For social movements, activists, organizers, and human rights defenders, it’s essential to assess both individual and collective risks and develop security protocols that are responsive to our needs and grounded in our values. While socio-political violence aims to weaken our movements and prompt us to question our purpose, we reject the dominant narrative that equates safety with militarization and isolation. Instead, we believe in fostering generative, community-centered ways to protect and sustain our movements.
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Our team has extensive experience providing security support in high-risk zones across the Americas. We have facilitated risk assessments, developed tailored security protocols, and offered on-the-ground accompaniment to over 100 organizations and communities facing imminent threats. Our approach ensures that the security measures respond to the specific needs and contexts of the people we work with, including queer and trans organizations, mixed-status collectives, BIPOC groups, and campesino communities.
Workshop examples: holistic security
Organization
Security Protocol Development
What agreements exist to respond to security incidents? How do we respond individually and collectively when the risks we identified come to fruition? What roles exist in emergency response, and what can we expect from those around us? After this workshop, all of these questions will have clear answers.
We support nonprofits and community groups to design step-by-step security protocols, including emergency communication plans, staff safety trainings, and digital security practices. Organizations contact us when they need clear, practical guidelines to protect their teams and communities.
Event Security Planning
Are you planning an event and unsure how to talk to participants about security risks? Wondering how to set up your security team, or if the risks you’re worried about make sense? Not sure what kind of medical or safety support might be appropriate for your gathering?
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Groups reach out to us when they want their events to be welcoming, safe, and well-protected. Our team has supported conferences, both small and large, as well as community meetings by co-creating tailored safety plans. This involves reviewing roles within a safety team, pre- and post-event recommendations, travel protocols, de-escalation strategies, and ensuring that different risk levels of participants and staff are taken into account.
Risk assessment
Not sure which risks are realistic and which ones you can set aside? Wondering how to prioritize safety measures when resources are limited? Do you want a clearer picture of the threats your organization or community might actually face?
We help organizations and communities identify potential threats, understand their likelihood, and plan for their impact. A clear risk assessment makes it easier to prioritize safety measures and focus resources where they are most needed.
Support of ICE Rapid Response Networks
Are you part of a rapid response network and wondering how to keep your volunteers safe? Not sure if your current security protocols address the risks you’re most likely to face?
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We work with immigrant rights coalitions to strengthen existing rapid response efforts by developing security protocols that protect volunteers, hotline operators, and community members. This has included advising on to store sensetive information, care for ourselves and others in this process, and strategies for minimizing risks during urgent mobilizations.
Collective Care
We challenge the idea that self-care can only happen in isolation. When state-based security mechanisms fail us, we need community. Our approach is based on collective care frameworks to address the impact of socio-political violence on our communities, organizations, and bodies. Our goal is to move our collectives from mere survival to thriving by centering physical, mental, and emotional health and breaking the illusion that individual and collective well-being are in opposition. We focus on building a collective response to violence through transparent dialogue and relationship-building.
Poder Latinx
​"Poder Latinx worked with Mazorca to strengthen the safety and security of our field team ahead of the 2024 elections. Chel and Zia led an incredible risk assessment process with our team and helped us to quickly build actionable protocols to navigate a challenging landscape, both through helpful preventative and responsive measures. Mazorca’s advisory support, training and facilitation were vital in bolstering our team’s GOTV planning work! "