If I had $2500 to give to a nonprofit, I would give it to Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network (TWOCSN). TWOCSN is a local organization founded by, led by, and serving transgender women and femmes of color. Their work is focused on community-building, mutual aid, and housing assistance. I would select this organization for many reasons, but these are my top three.
- TWOCSN has a focus on housing justice. This is especially vital because trans people of color are more likely than cisgender and white peers to experience homelessness and housing instability, as well as discrimination in seeking and remaining in housing. There is furthermore a huge need for housing resources that are culturally responsive and welcoming–and ideally run by and for the communities they serve. TWOCSN was recently gifted property on which to create House of Constance, which would provide transitional housing and healthcare support for BIPOC transgender community members. There are huge barriers to small community organizations owning and operating transitional or affordable housing, so for TWOCSN to get to this point is a huge deal, but they need additional financial support to get the facility up and running. The services they would provide are sorely needed as soon as possible.
- As a white queer and trans person, I feel extremely indebted to the Black trans women and femmes who are my movement ancestors and who fought long and hard to win many of the rights and protections that I have today. There is still a long way to go to ensure a future that is truly equitable, but I believe that it is my responsibility to contribute what I can and fight alongside the folks in my community who continue to be most impacted by discrimination and inequality.
- TWOCSN is a small community-based organization without access to many larger forms of financial support like private grants. This is an endemic problem in nonprofit space–funders don’t want to invest in smaller organizations that are doing innovative community-informed work in new ways, and donors are taught that we should invest our money in “safe” organizations with a longer track record. It makes it extremely difficult for new orgs to get off the ground. This is why I believe in investing my donation money in the orgs that may not have access to other resources.