Transformations Youth Group

LIBERATION CAMP: In 2023, 22 BIPOC leaders attended Liberation Camp. Liberation Camp centers capacity building and leadership development in an exclusively trans, affirming, intergenerational organizing space. We bring together budding trans movement leaders of color and trans women of color elders to skill share and learn from each other as part of larger movement building efforts. The camp serves as a pipeline to build new networks of movement leaders, where trans people of color can bond with their peers and take on mentorship roles.

Microgrants include assistance offered to trans community members. This includes our holiday microgrants for trans young people, to support costs related to housing, food, medical, school, and professional development. It also includes other assistance to individuals to cover emergencies, healthcare, and necessities.

LIBERATION TOUR: In direct response to the attack on our trans community across every legislature, we dreamed up the Liberation Tour. This tour served as a platform to raise awareness about the concerning anti-trans bills in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas and amplify the voices of trans girls and trans women of color. Through the Tour, we engaged local trans communities of color throughout our region, identifying what our community members need to survive and thrive in these times, building networks of support, and shifting the narrative on these bills. The tour visited 10 cities across our three state region.

Leadership Development: Transformations offers various leadership and skills development opportunities to trans leaders of colors throughout its broader community. Transformations held a retreat for community leaders in 2023. Other activities can include media advocacy coaching and mentorship, legislative advocacy training, and attendance at professional conferences and networking events. They can also include more informal sisterhood building opportunities designed to build relationships between local leaders of trans communities of color, especially for trans women and femmes of color. In 2023, Transformations also worked to launch the Community Advisory Board, which subsequently launched in January 2024.

Community building and outreach: Transformations hosts and participates in a number of events throughout the year to celebrate trans people of color in our services area as well as bring attention to the challenges facing our community members. Transformations regularly participates in Pride Month events, Trans Day of Remembrance, and Trans Day of Visibility, as some examples. It hosts regular Hey Sis programming online to connect trans community members across the region and build collective knowledge on important topics and emerging trends. Transformations also conducts outreach and hosts programming to build greater relationships among trans communities of color throughout our service area.