Collective Action for Safe Spaces

On the understanding that the legal system is unsafe for people of color, CASS empowers communities to build alternatives while also addressing the root causes of violence. A Black, trans, queer, and non-binary-led organization, its Transformative Justice hub is a space for survivors of interpersonal and state violence — and particularly those impacted by multiple systems of violence — to nurture relationships with each other and practice new systems of accountability. Participants grow together into facilitators and leaders who can respond to instances of community conflict. Direct cash support meets the material needs of trans survivors, while the Survivor Fellowship Program develops their skills as organizers. Public workshops train individuals and organizations to intervene, stop harassment, and repair harm without involving the criminal legal system. True community safety moves at the speed of trust.