Leadership Development
BUILDING TRANS JUSTICE THROUGH TRANS LEADERSHIP
Leadership development among transgender communities is a core component of TSCās work. Much of our work is focused on helping organizations grow and become increasingly effective and sustainable. But we know that this cannot happen without leaders who are supported, trained, and engaged in meaningful and relevant leadership development.
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This means that there must be trans-designed and led trainings that meet the learning, professional development, and content needs of trans leaders, particularly BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) leaders. We know that too often, leadership development trainings and models were not built for trans communities. For transgender participants, engaging in these trainings can feel unsatisfying, and even alienating. The only leadership development trainings TSC offers are trans-informed, designed, and led. We also offered individualized leadership coaching, based on individual needs and professional goals.
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Below are examples of TSC leadership development efforts and partnerships:
Leadership development among transgender communities is a core component of TSC’s work. Much of our work is focused on helping organizations grow and become increasingly effective and sustainable. But we know that this cannot happen without leaders who are supported, trained, and engaged in meaningful and relevant leadership development.
ā
This means that there must be trans-designed and led trainings that meet the learning, professional development, and content needs of trans leaders, particularly BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) leaders. We know that too often, leadership development trainings and models were not built for trans communities. For transgender participants, engaging in these trainings can feel unsatisfying, and even alienating. The only leadership development trainings TSC offers are trans-informed, designed, and led. We also offered individualized leadership coaching, based on individual needs and professional goals.
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Below are examples of TSC leadership development efforts and partnerships:
The Master Class
In partnership with the Holistic Empowerment Institute (HEI), an emerging organization founded and led by Valerie Spencer, TSC has incubated and piloted a unique and visionary leadership development model, The Master Class (TMC). The initial pilot was designed by and for trans women of color (TWOC).
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Participants completed an 8-month program which included learning about leadership and related topics, self-reflections, mentorship, a service learning component, and real-life applications. The entire program applies an academic approach matched to the needs and interests of the participants. The initial pilot took place with grantees of AIDS Unitedās FREE initiative.
The Master Class empowers TWOC to not only step into leadership, but to step ahead as leaders. It is an opportunity for participants to put a plan in place to realize their professional aspirations, while also learning new skills and insights on self-care. The program is framed in a holistic approach, using whole-person, evidence based practices, cultural affirmation, and spirit as primary tools to empowerment. As Valerie states, āsing all of who we are we are building our leaders organically, culturally, professionally, and holistically.ā
TMC includes a service-learning component that is designed by participants, as well as one-on-one mentoring. The Masterclass strengthens skills on topics including:
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Networking, communications, public speaking
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Grant-writing and fundraising
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Management/admin
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Self-care and healing
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Advocacy and campaign development
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Intersectional work
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Integrating racial justice
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Integrating Meaningful Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS (MIPA)
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Building confidence
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Building a vision and planning the path to achievement
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How to coalesce with other trans/community leaders
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Honoring individuality while understanding professional culture
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TSC’s definition of capacity building is specific training or coaching in areas of organizational development that need attention and strengthening for an organization to thrive and be sustainable
Capacity Building
TSC offers capacity building (CB) at no cost to all TGNC led organizations*. We assert that capacity building is important for historically under resourced TGNC-led organizations and believe in TGNC people’s ability to develop effective solutions to address the issues that affect our communities.
With each CB project, we utilize self-determination, which is where we let those requesting our services decide what topic they want to focus on and how they want to work on it. This is where our capacity coaches come in! Based on the specific needs of the organization, we pair the organization with a capacity coach who is an expert on the topic of focus for the CB project. The capacity coach will work with the organization to develop a work plan to address their concerns, from the initial scope of work to final deliverables .
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Our approach is to offer a continuum of tailored capacity building that exceeds entry-level workshops to address gaps that often harm TGNC-led community-based programs. You can see our range of topics below with examples of potential capacity building projects.
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Utilizing art for advocacy campaigns
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Integrating art within programming, services, and communications
Art as a Tool for TGNC Advocacy & Social Justice
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Following a tailored professional development plan for the Executive Director
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Assessing key issues for individual work with goals
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Researching and connecting to resources to supplement coaching
Executive Director Coaching (or leadership)
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Developing and implementing local and national policy
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Mapping out a strategy for advocacy
Policy & Advocacy Campaigns
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Addressing historical trauma for TGNC communities
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Building skills as a leader in an organization impacted by trauma
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Establishing what a trauma informed work culture looks like
Trauma, Self-Care & Organizational Emotional Capacity
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Assessing organizational needs
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Developing protocols and systems
Building an Administrative Infrastructure
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Creating a basic budget
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Understanding financial statements
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Reporting for grants
Finance & Budgeting
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Developing a comprehensive organization/program evaluation plan
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Collecting and analyzing data
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Telling your story with data
Program Evaluation
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Creating your training program
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Developing and piloting curriculum
Building Curriculums & Trainings
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Writing a successful proposal
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Fundraising
Grant writing & Fundraising
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Presenting with confidence
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Preplanning and best practices for presentations
Public Speaking & Building Presentations
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Understanding Board of Directors (BOD)Recruiting and retaining a strong
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Creating a succession plan for a strong BOD
Building Your Board
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Recruiting and retention
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Creating TGNC inclusion policies
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Developing internal manuals and procedures
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Creating relevant processes for an organization
Human Resources Management
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Developing a comprehensive strategic communications plan
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Planning organizational promotion and marketing
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Crafting key messaging for advocacy projects
Strategic Communications
90
%
of organizations that have received capacity building services from TSC are BIPOC-led
TSC uses the Trans Justice Funding Project definition of TGNC led organizations, which defines TGNC led as - “the majority of the people in charge of your group identify as trans or gender non-conforming."
Here “in charge” means :
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If you have a director, your director should identify TGNC
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If you have a board, a collective, or an advisory committee, the majority of staff, collective or committee members should identify TGNC.
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If you have a staff, the majority of staff members should identify as TGNC.
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If you are volunteer-run, the majority of your volunteer leaders should identify as TGNC.
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If your group has a TGNC-related program that includes trans or gender non-conforming leadership, but the majority of your organization’s leadership (director, staff, board, etc) do not identify as trans or gender non-conforming, your group is not TGNC-led.