Mission
Action Arc Labs LLC is a social change organization that combines community organizing and storytelling to build power, shift paradigms, and disrupt the status quo.
With roots in New England, we provide campaign support, consultation, and training to community-based organizations, movement groups, and independent artists to develop stronger people, stronger communities, and stronger movements. We and our clients seek to create the conditions for all people to thrive – not just those with wealth and power.
Who We Are
Kenyatta Muzzanni Robles (they/she)
Founder & Director
Kenyatta Muzzanni Robles is the Founder and Director of Action Arc Labs. Having been a writer and a participant in social movements since they were young, Kenyatta lives at the intersection of arts and organizing. This duality comes natural to them having grown up in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, a community with a long history of resistance. Kenyatta began Action Arc Labs to combine her social movement experience alongside her artistry.
They has over 10 years of experience in the criminal justice reform field, and over 15 years of experience in social movements. Some of Kenyatta’s work history includes Social Movement Technologies, where they served as a Fundraiser, Coach, and Coordinator for the international BIPOC Campaign Fellowship; the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, where they served as the Director of Organizing across New York and Connecticut; and Roca Inc, where they worked with young people impacted by the criminal justice system in Western Massachusetts. Kenyatta first began organizing as a student activist in the early 2000’s where they participated in the anti-war, immigration, and education reform movements.
Kenyatta’s artistry crosses genres and disciplines. She has written on topics ranging from grief to criminal justice reform, and have been published in the Hartford Courant, the Northend Agent’s, Aislin Magazine, Harvesting Chaos: Seed Packets for Liberated Practice, and elsewhere. An influential internship with National Public Radio’s Science Friday introduced Kenyatta to strategic communications through audio and film, which she blends into her artistry and organizing. She is a prolific and socially conscious writer, filmmaker, and performer. Kenyatta brings this experience to Action Arc Labs, where they work with community-based organizations, movement groups, and independent artists to build power, shift paradigms, and disrupt the status quo.
An avid rugby player in undergrad and graduate school, Kenyatta made it off the pitch and across the stage to get a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Juniata College, and a Masters of Social Work with a Policy Practice focus from the University of Connecticut. When not working or creating art, you can find Kenyatta rollerblading through their neighborhood, reading an Akwaeke Emezi novel, or watching new episodes of Abbott Elementary. Kenyatta lives with their spouse in Western Massachusetts.
About Our Name
Our name is composed of three parts:
Action – In organizing, groups engaged in direct action often have a movement-related verb in their name. Action is central to our work. At Action Arc Labs, we’re not here to only talk about issues– we’re here to take action and build power.
Arc – For us, “arc” has many meanings. In one definition, it’s short for “architect.” Kenyatta is a builder (and a destroyer). In another definition, it’s short for “character arc,” which is the transformation of a character throughout a story. In another definition, it’s short for “archive”. At Action Arc Labs, we see ourselves as movement architects developing our skills and documenting our stories while organizing for change.
Labs – Kenyatta is a scientist at heart. Action Arc Labs is an experiment without a solution; we find the solutions in the questions along the journey. Action Arc Labs is a space to incubate, to experiment, and question everything.