Holistic Security in a Time of Chaos
In moments of widespread uncertainty, one truth becomes impossible to ignore:
When some of us are not safe, none of us are safe.
This idea is not new. It has lived at the heart of civil rights movements, women’s movements, and social justice efforts throughout history.
Yet today, we are still grappling with the same fundamental question:
Who gets protected and who does not?
Security Was Never Meant to Be Neutral
Over fourteen years ago, when I was first introduced to holistic security, its core principle was clear: security must begin with those most at risk.
Holistic security centers the human being. It protects the feminine. It prioritizes those who face the highest likelihood of harm not because they are weak, but because systems of power have consistently failed them.
And yet, in professional and institutional spaces, we are often told there are topics that “don’t belong.” Conversations about state violence, systemic harm, or community vulnerability are labeled too political, too personal, or inappropriate.
Outside those spaces, entire communities remain exposed.
History tells us this silence is not accidental.
A Brief Look at History and Harm
People have always moved in search of safety. Many of the earliest settlers of what is now the United States were fleeing persecution of one form or another. Few would endure such dangerous journeys without the hope of protection and a better life.
At the same time, Indigenous peoples, who initially welcomed newcomers, were themselves displaced, harmed, and subjected to violence.
Over time, a devastating pattern took hold: security for one group was pursued at the expense of another.
This cycle of violence justified in the name of protection has shaped much of our national legacy. And it continues to surface today.
What Holistic Security Actually Means
Holistic security is not abstract. It is not performative. And it is not limited to cybersecurity or physical safety.
It is a risk-based, human-centered approach that asks:
Who is most likely to be harmed?
What systems increase that risk?
How do we reduce harm—collectively and sustainably?
This is why nonprofits and civil society organizations have long been at the forefront of this work. Their leaders often act as human protection barriers supporting communities facing political, social, economic, and physical threats all at once.
They understand what many institutions are still learning: security is emotional, cultural, relational, and deeply human.
Why Silence Is No Longer an Option
As Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
In this moment, neutrality is not a virtue. Silence is not safety. And staying on the sidelines is no longer an option.
Every leader whether in business, nonprofit work, technology, or government has a role to play.
Not through fear. Not through control. But through accountability, dignity, and care.
What Each of Us Can Do
Holistic security is a collective responsibility. Practical actions matter:
Educate yourself on your rights and civic responsibilities
Engage with local representatives and demand accountability
Support community-based and nonprofit organizations doing frontline protection work
Have the hard conversations in your workplaces and communities
Vote with intention and awareness
Care for yourself so this work can be sustained
A Closing Reflection
Holistic security is not a theory. It is a practice of care. A commitment to protection. And a choice we make, again and again, to center humanity.
In a time of chaos, how we define security will shape the future we create.
And that choice belongs to all of us.