Leadership Development

BUILDING TRANS JUSTICE THROUGH TRANS LEADERSHIP

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.

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.

Below are examples of TSC leadership development efforts and partnerships:

Image by Adeolu Eletu

Leadership Development

BUILDING TRANS JUSTICE THROUGH TRANS LEADERSHIP

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.

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.

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).

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 United’s 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, “sing all of who we are we are building our leaders organically, culturally, professionally, and holistically.”

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:

Networking, communications, public speaking

Grant-writing and fundraising

Management/admin

Self-care and healing

Advocacy and campaign development

Intersectional work

Integrating racial justice

Integrating Meaningful Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS (MIPA)

Building confidence

Building a vision and planning the path to achievement

How to coalesce with other trans/community leaders

Honoring individuality while understanding professional culture

Holistic Empowerment Institute-01.jpg

Providing immediate and urgent support to organizations serving Black and Brown Transgender and Gender Non-conforming (TGNC) people who are directly affected by COVID-19 and HIV in the United States.

Gilead TRANScend

February 2021

TSC is honored to serve as the capacity building partner for Gilead Science’s TRANScend grantmaking initiative. This fund supports trans-led organizations working to improve the safety, health, and wellness of the transgender community, including funding to community organizations working to end the HIV epidemic. Organizations are direct grantees of Gilead, or, for smaller grassroots trans-led organizations, grantees of Destination Tomorrow, the TRANScend grantmaking partner

As the capacity building partner for TRANScend, TSC provides capacity building, training, and technical assistance to trans-led organizations that request assistance, for grantees of TRANScend, as well as organizations that are not a part of the grantee cohort. From leadership development to program management and skill-building , TSC works alongside organizations and leaders to develop and implement a plan to best serve their goals and ensure organizational sustainability. TSC is committed to ensuring that all capacity building is based on the self-determined needs of the organization or leader.

TSC is assisting grantee organizations through small group work with organizational leadership teams, as well as one-to-one training with leaders. We also organize and facilitate an annual grantee convening, with training and conversational sessions that are reflective of key issues facing trans communities across the US.