TransGriot Note: One of the interesting things that's going on here in DC. You may wish to contact Danielle King at (240) 388-7201 or e-mail her at theauroraproject@yahoo.com for more information about it.
Community Support Vital to Mayor's Transgender Initiative
Local Transgender Activist Request GLBT Community and Its Allies to Lend Their Support
Washington, DC – Last week, 20 of the District's brightest Transgender Citizens eagerly embarked upon a four week journey to change their lives.
Soldiering on, undeterred by the hate crimes and discrimination which continue to ravage their community, they have enrolled in the District’s, Department of Employment Services’ Project Empowerment Program, an initiative which is a directive of Mayor Vincent C. Gray.
The original Project Empowerment Program had previously found great success among the Welfare to Work and Returning Citizens populations. This Project Empowerment Program, a cohort of the original, targets Transgender Citizens for job training and placement.
Each weekday, from now until this coming October 7th, participants will attend class from 9am to 4pm to receive training on subject matters ranging from computer literacy to corporate culture. And in an effort to provide a comprehensive curriculum, Transgender leaders have also been encouraged to present lectures to the class.
Danielle King, Executive Director of The National Aurora Campaign, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Transgender People of color Live Longer and Healthier Lives said, "The government has kept its promise thus far, now we, the GLBT community and our allies, must do our part to ensure the success of this program and its participants.”
What Ms. King is referring to are the vital supportive services which the government cannot provide and are severely lacking. For example, this past Monday, with the help of the National Aurora Campaign, nine of the twenty Project Empowerment Participants successfully began the costly and time consuming process of petitioning the court to have their names legally changed. With the aid of community partners like the Washington Blade, all nine participants will soon have a legal name that is congruent with their gender identity and subsequently not a barrier to securing employment.
And yet, for many participants, there remain daily obstacles to overcome. One of the participants who did not wish to be identified said, "I'm hungry. I used my lunch money to get to class and I didn't eat breakfast this morning but I refuse to prostitute anymore. This program gives me hope and I can't jeopardize that.".
Ruby Corado of DC Trans Coalition summed it up by saying,"It's just that simple, these young people are committed to succeeding, and all who are involved have taken note. Many have witnessed how this class has stuck together. They often give one another rides to school, encourage one another with kind words and even share their lunches. But of course, this is what the GLBT community is known for - coming together when times are tuff."
The National Aurora Campaign
Empowering Trans People of Color to Live Longer Healthier Lives!
1232 Franklin St NE | Washington, DC 20017 | (240) 388-7201
Community Support Vital to Mayor's Transgender Initiative
Local Transgender Activist Request GLBT Community and Its Allies to Lend Their Support
Washington, DC – Last week, 20 of the District's brightest Transgender Citizens eagerly embarked upon a four week journey to change their lives.
Soldiering on, undeterred by the hate crimes and discrimination which continue to ravage their community, they have enrolled in the District’s, Department of Employment Services’ Project Empowerment Program, an initiative which is a directive of Mayor Vincent C. Gray.
The original Project Empowerment Program had previously found great success among the Welfare to Work and Returning Citizens populations. This Project Empowerment Program, a cohort of the original, targets Transgender Citizens for job training and placement.
Each weekday, from now until this coming October 7th, participants will attend class from 9am to 4pm to receive training on subject matters ranging from computer literacy to corporate culture. And in an effort to provide a comprehensive curriculum, Transgender leaders have also been encouraged to present lectures to the class.
Danielle King, Executive Director of The National Aurora Campaign, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Transgender People of color Live Longer and Healthier Lives said, "The government has kept its promise thus far, now we, the GLBT community and our allies, must do our part to ensure the success of this program and its participants.”
What Ms. King is referring to are the vital supportive services which the government cannot provide and are severely lacking. For example, this past Monday, with the help of the National Aurora Campaign, nine of the twenty Project Empowerment Participants successfully began the costly and time consuming process of petitioning the court to have their names legally changed. With the aid of community partners like the Washington Blade, all nine participants will soon have a legal name that is congruent with their gender identity and subsequently not a barrier to securing employment.
And yet, for many participants, there remain daily obstacles to overcome. One of the participants who did not wish to be identified said, "I'm hungry. I used my lunch money to get to class and I didn't eat breakfast this morning but I refuse to prostitute anymore. This program gives me hope and I can't jeopardize that.".
Ruby Corado of DC Trans Coalition summed it up by saying,"It's just that simple, these young people are committed to succeeding, and all who are involved have taken note. Many have witnessed how this class has stuck together. They often give one another rides to school, encourage one another with kind words and even share their lunches. But of course, this is what the GLBT community is known for - coming together when times are tuff."
The National Aurora Campaign
Empowering Trans People of Color to Live Longer Healthier Lives!
1232 Franklin St NE | Washington, DC 20017 | (240) 388-7201
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