Friends of Ayni Speaker Series

The Friends of Ayni Speaker Series began as part of our 12th Anniversary celebrations. What started as a way to honor our journey so far has grown into an ongoing space to learn from the people who shape Ayni and the broader movement ecosystem.

At Ayni Institute, we are bringing together leaders who have made a profound impact on our work and on social movements more broadly. Through a series of workshops and conversations, these speakers will share their experiences, strategies, and key learnings to help deepen our collective capacity for social change.

We invite you to join us for this ongoing series, with gatherings offered both online and in person at our Movement and Training Center in Revere, MA. All events are free and open to the public.

We will be announcing more speakers and sessions soon, so stay tuned for the full lineup.

More speakers to be announced in the coming months

The Speakers

Posponed Events

The Climate Crisis: What comes next?

Given rapid climate change, where is the world going politically? In this talk, Professor Joel Wainwright will present the analysis he develops in his book Climate Leviathan, co-authored with Geoff Mann. Wainwright and Marx argue that—without solving the climate crisis—capitalism is generating a fundamental political shift in the organization of power in the world system. The most likely outcome, they argue, is an adaptation in the form of sovereignty—the emergence of a capitalist form of planetary sovereignty they call Climate Leviathan. But

Climate Leviathan is not the only possibility. Indeed, Climate Leviathan is supported by most elites in the world today but cannot be born because it is fighting a war with Climate Behemoth. We see this new political formation in people like Bolsonaro, Trump, and Modi worldwide, which is hard for most people to understand. It as a reaction to the planetary crisis that seeks to prevent the possible emergence of Climate Levithan. Thus, the political crisis reflects the fact that two potential future pathways, Climate Behemoth and Climate Leviathan, are at war. As with the wars of early European modernity, there are fundamentally different possibilities in conflict. In this talk, Wainwright will sketch the various prospects and propose strategies of resistance for those who desire collective emancipation and climate justice.

How this workshop support people engaged in social change work?

Much climate activism today contributes to the legitimate of Climate Leviathan—which will not prevent rapid climate change nor produce justice for most people. We need a better strategy.
To grasp the climate crisis, we must understanding capitalism’s role in creating it.
The struggle for climate justice requires an understanding of the geopolitics of climate change.

Speaker Bio

Joel Wainwright is a professor of Geography at Ohio State University, known for his interdisciplinary work that bridges political economy of development, environmental and agrarian change, and social theory.

He earned his BA in Environmental Studies from Bucknell University in 1995, followed by an MA and PhD in Geography from the University of Minnesota, completing his doctorate in 2003.

His most notable publications include:

Decolonizing Development: Colonial Power and the Maya (2008), a critical analysis of colonial dynamics in development, which won the James M. Blaut Award in 2010.
Geopiracy: Oaxaca, Militant Empiricism, and Geographical Thought (2012), a sharp critique of contemporary geography and its entanglements with military interests.
Climate Leviathan: A Political Theory of Our Planetary Future (2018), co-authored with Geoff Mann, which outlines a political theory of global responses to climate change.
The End (2025), a radical interpretation of Marxism offering fresh perspectives on the current planetary crisis.

Wainwright has also served as a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia and has published extensively in academic journals on topics including climate justice, Marxist critique, and political geography.

His work is marked by a deep critique of global power structures and a continuous search for more just and sustainable alternatives to address contemporary environmental and social challenges.

This event has been postponed until further notice.
If you’re interested in this topic and would like to attend when we’re able to offer it in the future, please leave us your information and we’ll make sure to let you know once it’s back on the calendar.

Past Events

Tactics for Tyrants: Wither Activism in the Age of Democratic Backsliding

We explore a range of options for activists confronting the growing threat of authoritarianism, examining both immediate and long-term strategies for resistance. By understanding the underlying dynamics of authoritarian takeovers—how they emerge, consolidate power, and suppress opposition—we can better equip movements to respond effectively. This session will provide key lessons from historical and contemporary struggles, offering insights into the diverse tactics that have been used to challenge authoritarian rule and adapt to shifting political realities. This session will be led Ivan Marovic the Executive Director of the International Center of Nonviolent Conflict. He was one of the leaders of Otpor, the student resistance movement that played an important role in the downfall of Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia.

“Ivan Marovic is a master strategist in civil resistance, a mentor to many of us, and a revolutionary thinker with decades of experience supporting movements worldwide. As we navigate an era of increasing authoritarianism and shifting political landscapes, understanding resistance tactics is more urgent than ever.”

– Ayni Team

Speaker Bio

Ivan Marovic is an organizer, software developer and social innovator from Belgrade, Serbia. He was a student organizer and one of the leaders of Otpor, a resistance movement which played an important role in the downfall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. Ivan holds a BSc in Process Engineering from Belgrade University and an MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. He currently lives in Washington, DC where he heads the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict.

Participatory Action Research Workshop

In this workshop we will explore the connection between knowledge and power. In Colombia in the 1970’s, community-driven research emerged as a tool for agrarian reform. Investigación Acción Participativa or Participatory Action Research, is a powerful research paradigm that many communities in the Global South and US marginalized communities employ to empower themselves and change the conditions of their lives. Participants in this session will gain a greater understanding of participatory action research and how it relates to building power for social movements through a bottom-up approach to knowledge creation. We will present examples from our own experience and include interactive discussions for organizers to begin to identify potential participatory action research projects.

“Alexandra Piñeros Shields and Tom Piñeros Shields have been trusted mentors in rethinking how research can be a tool for liberation. Their leadership has helped shape our approach to community-driven knowledge production, and we’re grateful to bring their expertise to this workshop. Whether you’re part of a community organization looking for methodologies to integrate research into your work, or a scholar rethinking research ethics and practice, this workshop is an invaluable opportunity.”

– Ayni Team

Speakers Bios

Dr. Alexandra Piñeros Shields identifies as a Midwife for Power and has organized in Latino communities for many years. Currently, she is an Associate Professor and directs the Master of Public Policy Program at the Heller School, Brandeis University. She teaches courses on immigration policy, economic justice, and participatory action research. Prior to joining the Heller faculty, she was the Executive Director of the Essex County Community Organization (ECCO), an interfaith network of 40 congregations organizing for racial and economic justice. Over her 35-year career in the Boston area, Dr. Piñeros Shields has worked with Black and immigrant communities to dismantle mass incarceration in the criminal legal system and the immigrant detention system. Dr. Piñeros Shields serves as Chair of the Board of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center and on the Boards of the ACLU of Massachusetts and Philanthropy Massachusetts.

Thomas Piñeros Shields, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Politics, Policy and International Relations (PPIR) at Salem State University and the founding director of the North Shore Policy Lab where he engages students in participatory community-based research and learning projects. For almost three decades, Dr. Piñeros Shields built university-community partnerships through action research projects in Lowell, MA, New York City, East St. Louis, IL, Waltham, MA and with the Student Immigrant Movement (SIM). He has also managed, collected and analyzed data for quantitative and qualitative evaluations to prove and improve youth-based community programs in the areas of civic engagement and service-learning and higher-education. Thomas earned a B.S. from Cornell University and a M.A. from Tufts University and his doctorate in the joint Sociology/Social Policy program at Brandeis University. His dissertation was ethnography of the Student Immigrant Movement that explains how DREAMers emerged as new political actors.

Fierce Vulnerability Book Launch and Workshop

Our world is in crisis. Our social systems are being torn apart, our economic systems have created historic levels of wealth disparity and our ecological system is on the brink of collapse. The need for a powerful movement that nurtures a radical, fundamental transformation has never been greater.

Yet our need is not only a transformation of systems and laws and policies. What we yearn for is a fundamental transformation of our hearts, our values and our relationships – to ourselves, to each other and to the earth.

Fierce Vulnerability envisions a movement that recognizes that injustice is not a political issue, but a manifestation of our collective trauma, and we can’t “shut down” injustice anymore than we can “shut down” trauma. Resistance to injustice, therefore, is an attempt at healing our collective wounds.

How do we build a movement that has the militancy to occupy a government building and see it as an act of healing?
How do we build a movement that can shut down a highway while creating a culture of opening up?
How do we stop injustice in its tracks while acknowledging the interconnectedness of all people?
How do we protect ourselves while having a relationship with our heart-brokenness?
How can we view vulnerability as a strength, not as a weakness?
How do we heal and transform ourselves, our relationships and our world?

We will be hosting two events a book launch of Haga’s new book Fierce Vulnerability (2025) on April 15th and day-long workshop on April 16th. In this day-long workshop, we will begin to explore these questions, as well as plant the seeds for a local chapter of a national, decentralized Fierce Vulnerability Network.

“We’ve had the privilege of working with Kazu for years, learning from his deep expertise in Kingian nonviolence, and we’re thrilled to celebrate this book that gives us the tools to evolve our movements. This is a must-attend event for anyone committed to justice, healing, and transformative change.”

– Ayni Team

Speaker Bio

Kazu Haga is a trainer and practitioner of nonviolence and restorative justice, a core member of the Fierce Vulnerability Network, a founding core member of the Ahimsa Collective, a Jam facilitator and author of Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm as well as the upcoming book, Fierce Vulnerability: Healing from Trauma, Emerging through Collapse. He works with incarcerated people, youth, and activists from around the country.

He has over 25 years of experience in nonviolence and social change work. He is a resident of the Canticle Farm community on Lisjan Ohlone land, Oakland, CA, where he lives with his family. You can find out more about his work at www.kazuhaga.com.

Living in Populist Times: Exploring Political Dealignment and Realignment

Since 2008, we have been living through a deep crisis of legitimacy—one that has eroded trust in political institutions and reshaped power dynamics. As traditional party loyalties weaken, new social and political movements have emerged, challenging the status quo from both the left and the right.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory, the rightward shift of Silicon Valley, and the intensification of MAGA 2.0, this moment demands deeper analysis. What does political realignment mean for our movements? Join us for a conversation with James Hayes, Co-Director of Ohio Voice, and Stuart McIntyre, Special Projects Director at Ohio Voice, as we examine the forces driving this political transition and the opportunities and challenges it presents for progressive movements.

Speaker Bios

Stuart McIntyre
Raised by a public school teacher and counselor in Columbus, Ohio, and shaped by global social movements after the 2008 financial crisis, Stuart brings 15 years of experience in community, labor, electoral, and social movement organizing.

He co-founded and directed the Ohio Student Association, the state’s largest progressive youth organization, training and mentoring hundreds of young organizers. He has led dozens of local and statewide campaigns, building organizations to empower everyday people and advance racial, economic, gender, and climate justice.

An accomplished strategist, Stuart is skilled in campaigning, fundraising, leadership development, and coalition-building. As Special Projects Director for Ohio Voice, he supports collaborative fundraising to expand and diversify revenue for partners and Ohio’s progressive movement.

James Hayes
James Hayes is a seasoned organizer and leader in the Ohio social movement landscape, with over a decade of experience. He is currently the co-director of Ohio Voice, where he works to support the ecosystem of progressive, nonpartisan community groups that are working to create a better Ohio for all of us.

In 2012, James co-founded the Ohio Student Association, where he cut his teeth as an organizer leading campaigns to address the criminalization of youth of color. For four years, he served as an organizer and director, fostering a vibrant community of young activists dedicated to positive change across Ohio.

Participatory Defense Workshop

Join Justine “Taz” Moore, cofounding member of The National Council for Incarcerated Women and Girls and founder of Empowerment: Before, During, and After for a virtual workshop on Participatory Defense.

In her own words, “Participatory Defense (PD) is a community organizing model that empowers people facing charges, their families, and entire communities to shape legal outcomes and transform the landscape of power in the court system. I was first introduced to Participatory Defense on November 4, 2017, during a training session in Boston, Massachusetts. The event was held in a spacious, historic home—a site once used for Civil Rights Movement meetings. Being in that setting was deeply moving; it served as a powerful reminder of the long history of struggle and progress. Even years later, we continue to search for new ways to support and uplift our community. Today, Participatory Defense is active in over 40 cities across the country. Its methods stand out for the unique way they address challenges within the criminal justice system. PD is applied at every stage, from the moment of arrest to post-conviction proceedings. Moreover, it extends beyond criminal cases to include support in various courts—housing, family, district, and even Supreme Court cases. By handling individual cases together, communities can build strength, share knowledge, and collectively advance the movement for justice.

I often reflect on my own experience and believe that if I had had access to Participatory Defense, I might have avoided a 20-year sentence, along with 10 years of supervised release and an $8,000,000 fine.”

We hope you can join us for this workshop.

“Participatory defense is a powerful model of bottom-up organizing that empowers communities to collectively confront the vast and oppressive criminal legal system. We are honored to have Justine “Taz” Moore share her expertise, bringing years of experience from the National Council, an organization we’ve been proud to collaborate with for many years. As we launch this speaker series, we couldn’t ask for a more fitting session to kick it off!”

– Ayni Team

Speaker Bio

Justine Moore, a native of Brooklyn, NY, served 16 years of a 20-year sentence in the federal prison for women in Danbury, Connecticut, with an anticipated 10 years of supervised release. She was released on December 24, 2013. Due to her successful completion of the Star Program, her supervised release was reduced from 10 years to just one, and she has since fully ended custody and supervision by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Even before her release, Ms. Moore was committed to making a difference while incarcerated. She participated in the CHOICES program, where incarcerated women shared their life experiences with students, lawyers, judges, and politicians. Additionally, she was part of a group of women who engaged in discussions about the criminal injustice system and explored ways to use their knowledge to create meaningful change.

Upon release, Ms. Moore began sharing her story and organizing formerly incarcerated women as a co-founding member of The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. She currently serves as the Director of Participatory Defense for The National Council and is part of the training team for Silicon Valley Debug. She is also the Founder of Empowerment: Before, During and After (EBDA). Through her work, she ensures that the voices of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women are included in policy discussions and advocates for an end to the incarceration of women and girls. Ms. Moore also assists individuals and families in navigating the court system through participatory defense, emphasizing the importance of advocacy in achieving fair outcomes. Reflecting on her own experience, she has said, “If I had participatory defense when I got arrested, I would not have received a 20-year sentence, 10 years supervised release, and an 8-million-dollar fine (which was later dropped).”

Co-Governance: Can Movements Stop Politicians from Selling Out?

Creating a model for how activists and politicians can work together.

In recent years, particularly since the 2016 Bernie Sanders campaign and the subsequent rise of the Squad in Congress, progressives in the United States have increasingly asked themselves what it would look like if we could elect true social movement champions to office. Instead of having movements mobilize to run promising candidates every two to four years, then sending off the newly elected officials to navigate the halls of power by themselves — a process that usually ends in disappointment — activists have worked to envision a different relationship with the politicians they support. They have asked, what would it mean if elected officials actually governed hand-in-hand with social movements as partners?

In this workshop, we will discuss the institutional pressures that result in politicians selling out, as well as the steps that social movements can take to counteract these pressures and create true alignment with our strongest elected officials. We will ask: If co-governance is to become more than an abstract ideal, what steps would we need to take to forge better relationships, and what common pitfalls would we need to avoid?

“I have been an organizer in unions and community organizations for more than two decades, and one thing is certain: after an elected official gets into office, even if you put them there, they get organized into playing the game and selling out. I am always shocked by how even very progressive candidates can quickly turn into compromising toadies. In this workshop, we’ll talk more about why this happens, and we’ll look at some of the strategies and best practices that activists are developing to stop it.” – Paul Engler

Speaker Bios

Mark Engler is a writer based in Philadelphia, an editorial board member at Dissent, and co-director of the Whirlwind Institute, a social change strategy center. He is author, with Paul Engler, of This Is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping the Twenty-First Century (Nation Books). Mark writes for publications including The Nation, N+1, The Guardian, Salon, Waging Nonviolence, the Los Angeles Times, In These Times, and The New Republic. He can be reached via the website www.democracyuprising.com.

Paul Engler is founding director of the Center for the Working Poor, co-founder of the Momentum training, and co-director of the Whirlwind Institute, a social change strategy center. He is author, with Mark Engler, of This Is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping the Twenty-First Century (Nation Books). Paul has worked for more than two decades as an organizer and trainer in the immigrant rights, global justice, climate, and labor movements.