The theme of this year’s gathering was “Rebels and Rebellions: Past, Present, Future.” This immersive three-day event, building off the inaugural convening last year brought together dozens of accomplished storytellers—organizers, filmmakers, playwrights, journalists, and historians—to explore and reimagine borderlands as spaces of connection, resilience, and possibility. In a time where borders have been hardened and xenophobia has ticked up rapidly, it is more critical than ever to spark new ideas about how we might reorganize the culture and politics of borders.
The Border Is a Story
Last month, we hosted the 2025 convening of The Border Is A Story with our Advisory Board Members, Kelly Lytle Hernandez and Alex Rivera.
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February 6, 2026
Application Live! Turkey Global Delegation
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The Action Lab is organizing a learning delegation to Istanbul, Turkey from April 12-18, 2025, bringing together 30 labor organizers, communication strategists, creators, strategic funders, and movement leaders to build power and challenge oligarchy.
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Understanding the Conservative Movement and Homegrown Screening
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Dennis Leroy Kingalee’s Play Takes on New Life
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The Kangalee Arts Ensemble, led by our Advisory Board member and Artists in Action fellow Dennis Leroy Kangalee, was recently awarded an artist initiative grant from the Venturous Theater Fund for: My Dying City Vol. II (The Social Justice Suicide Hour).
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January 12, 2026
In Memoriam: John Forté
In Memoriam: John Forté
John Forté, a beloved member of The Action Lab community and longtime Advisory Board member, unexpectedly passed away last month.
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January 12, 2026
2026 Law and Organizing Academy Application is Open!
2026 Law and Organizing Academy Application is Open!
We invite current law students from New York-area law schools or with New York-area summer internships to apply to our fourth annual Law & Organizing Academy (LOA)
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December 30, 2025
My Dying City Vol. II
My Dying City Vol. II
A new stage work by Dennis Leroy Kangalee, an Action Lab Artist in Action, explores grief, activism, and movement fracture under rising authoritarianism, using theater as a space to wrestle with the emotional and political costs of long-term organizing.
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February 23, 2026
New Bill Seeks to Guarantee Lease Renewals for NYC Small Businesses
New Bill Seeks to Guarantee Lease Renewals for NYC Small Businesses
New legislation supported by The Action Lab was introduced on Monday to cap commercial rent increases and guarantee lease renewals for small businesses across New York City. The Small Business Rent Stabilization Act (S8319/A5568A) would create a Commercial Rent Guidelines Board to set maximum annual rent increases for commercial tenants and provide lease renewal rights with a default 10-year renewal term.
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February 21, 2026
SALSACTIVISM
SALSACTIVISM
The Action Lab is excited to bring our SALSACTIVISMseries into the new year!
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February 19, 2026
Sen. Salazar, AM Gallagher team up to stabilize rent for small businesses
Sen. Salazar, AM Gallagher team up to stabilize rent for small businesses
Sen. Julia Salazar and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher introduced a bill called the “Small Business Survival Act” in an attempt to prohibit unaffordable rent hikes and guarantee lease renewal for small businesses across New York.
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February 6, 2026
Application Live! Turkey Global Delegation
Application Live! Turkey Global Delegation
The Action Lab is organizing a learning delegation to Istanbul, Turkey from April 12-18, 2025, bringing together 30 labor organizers, communication strategists, creators, strategic funders, and movement leaders to build power and challenge oligarchy.
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February 5, 2026
Understanding the Conservative Movement and Homegrown Screening
Understanding the Conservative Movement and Homegrown Screening
On Thursday, February 5, we co-hosted a screening and Q&A of the powerful new documentary Homegrown at NYU.
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January 31, 2026
Hands Off NYC Training
Hands Off NYC Training
The Solidarity Organizing Initiative team collaborated with Hands Off NYC to put on a massive training for close to a thousand New Yorkers on Saturday, January 31.
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