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:
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:
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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
Our Services
Leadership Development
TSC is dedicated to expanding the transgender leadership pipeline, particularly among trans people of color. TSC ensures that more transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) leaders hone their skills and embrace their passions as recognized and compensated leaders, aligning with our principle of economic equity.
TSC offers TGNC -designed and TGNC -led leadership development coaching and training, for both future and established trans community leaders. We support community leaders who have been organizing for the TGNC community for decades, as well as uplifting the next generation of TGNC directors and advocates.
TSC will work with leaders to design a plan that best fits their needs and growth areas—from executive director coaching to learning how to secure funding for your organization. TSC is here to support you!
Capacity Building for
TGNC Organizations
TSC is committed to building TGNC power and sustainability. Our mission prioritizes providing support, training, and coaching to grassroots TGNC-led organizations throughout the United States. We believe genuine trans liberation only comes through the leadership of TGNC communities.
TSC provides grassroots TGNC-led organizations with a wide range of capacity building and technical assistance topic areas, from program expansion to executive leadership training. TSC is here to help in the development, planning, and implementation of your next project. We apply a trauma-informed lens to all projects. Through the breadth of expertise from our coaches and staff, and the development and piloting of TGNC-driven programs, TSC is designing strategies to build and sustain organizations.
Corporate Consultation
Team members at Transgender Strategy Center understand how corporations function and how to make change within them. We are experts at identifying stakeholders and communicating with them about the importance of transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) inclusion. We can lead them through steps that result in meaningful action. Perhaps most importantly, TSC’s team of dedicated TGNC leaders has lived experience that makes us uniquely qualified to help you find solutions to fundamentally improve your employees’ everyday lives.
We can work with you to review and update policies, educate and train staff members, or advise on other approaches to change culture and systems. No matter the work at hand, we ensure that it is tailored to fit the needs of your business and staff. TSC is here to support your efforts to better understand, support, and work with the TGNC community.
Strengthening our Allies
TSC recognizes and appreciates the support of allies who offer services and support to our TGNC community members. We provide a partnership that will ensure organizational success. TSC can bridge the gap many allies face in addressing the needs of the TGNC community, ensuring organizations have support and proper guidance. TSC assists in building ally capacity and cultural humility through organizational support for community based organizations that are not trans led, but are ready to learn how to best support the TGNC community.
TSC trains and coaches cisgender led organizations on the lived realities of TGNC people. We offer strength building by helping design community needs assessments, advising on the development of new programs, and delivering training on how to provide services that are truly TGNC informed.