Peer Mentorship Program Update -- Still Accepting Members!

The current 5 Peer Mentors voted to do another round of outreach to connect with more trans* young people in the area who are interested in the program. Below is the new campaign.

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Looking for an opportunity to change lives? (Including yours!)

Are you trans*-identified (anywhere on the trans* spectrum)?

Are you between the ages of 16-26?

Join ITL's PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM!

WHO WE ARE

We are a group of proactive and inclusive people who meet regularly to mentor each other, learn leadership skills and connect to resources.

We want to make a positive impact on our trans* community.

We value diversity in our trans* community and we welcome you.

PROGRAM INFO

We will meet 14 times on Sunday afternoons from Oct. 20, 2013 to May 18, 2014.

You will receive a small regular stipend, bus fare and lunch on program days.

LOCATION

Project Silk 810 Penn Avenue, 8th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

HOW TO SIGN UP

You can register immediately but last date to enroll is November 10^th

SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTER TODAY WITH THIS FORM.

QUESTIONS

Contact: transleadership@gmail.com or (412) 573-9784

Announcing: Peer Mentorship Program Kick-Off & Orientation Weekend

Initiative for Transgender Leadership is proud to announce our new

Peer Mentorship Program Kick-off Weekend for Trans* Youth!

Join us if you want to:

•   become a skilled, connected and confident mentor to your peers;

•   be part of a supportive and awesome group of people committed to making the world a better place for trans* youth;

•   develop your professional and leadership capacities.

Come to our kick-off weekend October 4-6th where you will meet other local trans* youth, learn the basics of being a mentor, practice non-violent communication, eat great food and find out about ITL's Peer Mentorship Program to see if you want to join. Meals will be provided, bus fare is available, and the whole weekend is free! 

Location: ITL co-founder Madeleine Hershey will be hosting the Kick Off at her house on Aurelius Ave. in Swissvale. The house is handicap accessible.

Who is invited? The ITL Peer Mentorship Program is for people of trans* experience, ages 16-26. The program will benefit from a diversity of experiences, backgrounds and identities.  If you identify as trans*, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or you feel you belong in this program, we welcome you. 

We hope that after participating in the kick-off weekend you will decide to commit to the full Peer Mentorship Program, which will meet for 20 3-hour sessions between October 2013 and May 2014. Those who choose to join the program will receive a small regular stipend, bus fare as needed, and lunch on program days.

The goal of the ITL Peer Mentorship Program is to produce a group of well-informed, confident and competent young trans* people who, by becoming experts in themselves, are ready, willing and able to provide information, mentorship and support to others in their communities.  The Peer Mentorship Program was designed by trans* youth and the ITL team to be participant-driven.  In other words: YOU decide what information and activities are priorities, and facilitate the program together with your peers. 

SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTER TODAY! 

Have questions? Contact transleadership@gmail.com

KICK-OFF WEEKEND SCHEDULE

We ask that you join us for all sessions

Friday October 4th

6:00-7:00pm Dinner 

7:15-8:00 Introduction to ITL and the Peer Mentorship Program

8:00-8:30 Sharing what you want to give and get from the program

8:30-8:45 Break

8:45-9:30 Icebreakers with Adil Mansoor

9:30 Close

Saturday October 5th

12:00-12:30 Lunch

12:30-3:00 Basic Training for Being a Mentor with J Wester

3:00-3:15 Break

3:15-5:15 Non-Violent Communication workshop with Dr. Judi Diven

5:15-6:30 Dinner

6:30-8:00 Participant-generated conversation: Program ground rules and language

8:00 Close

Sunday October 6th

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:30 Facilitation 101 with FEARLESS

2:30-2:45 Break

2:45-3:45 What's next? Hands-on workshop using Peer Mentorship Program manual

3:45-4:00 Choose whether to join the rest of the Peer Mentorship Program

4:00 Close

SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTER TODAY! 

Have questions? Contact transleadership@gmail.com

You're Invited! - ITL Interns' Presentation May 1st

Space is limited, so RSVP.

Trans youth especially welcome to attend.

On Wednesday May 1st from 6:30-8:30PM, the Initiative for Transgender Leadership will be hosting an event concluding our latest internship program and providing a platform for current ITL interns to share what they have designed for the next phase of ITL: a Peer Mentorship Program for trans-identified youth in Pittsburgh.

What: ITL Interns' Peer Mentorship Program Presentation
When: Wednesday May 1st from 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Irma Freeman Center for Imagination, 5006 Penn Ave 15224
Food: Light refreshments served
Cost: Free!

Come to hear Angelito Aya, Caiden Fratangelo, CeeJay Levine and Lawrence Dykeman each share their design for a part of the Peer Mentorship Program to begin this Fall. Ask questions, learn more about the program and how to get involved with the ITL.

Facebook link to share: https://www.facebook.com/events/125833267607757/

Please RSVP or send questions to transleadership@gmail.com

The Irma Freeman Center is handicapped accessible.

Hope to see you there!

Introducing: Angelito!

Hello My name is Angelito Aya and I worked for Persad for 3 years in their Street Outreach Services and Closing the Gap programs which involved working with the LGBTQ youth community on a one-on-one basis.  I participated in Dreams of Hope for 5 seasons.  Dreams of Hope educates audiences about current LGBTQ issues through their own works of art: singing, dance, spoken word, and small skits.  I work a lot with FTM folks who are venturing through their transition with hormones, gender reassignment surgeries, home situations, school situations, and casual dating scene.  With my training from Persad and Skills in Dreams Of Hope, I bring some project building to the "Service" unit of ITL's Peer Mentorship Program.

Introducing: Caiden!

Hello! My name is Caiden and I am working on the Communication Unit of the peer mentorship program for ITL. The main goal in the Unit is to help in creating more effective speakers and active listeners. The Communication Unit involves topics such as different approaches to effectively communicate, self-expression, and coming out. I am originally from Pittsburgh and am currently enrolled at Chatham University. Where I am finishing my junior year studying political science and psychology. When I am not busy being in school, I enjoy traveling in between breaks. Whether if it is just a weekend away to a different state or a month away abroad I find it all to be exciting. For this project I am most excited about seeing how this project can impact trans* youth. I believe the trans* community is one of the most loving, accepting, and supportive communities and has given me so much in finding who I really am. I am just excited to give back.

Introducing: Lawrence!

Hi my name is Lawrence, and I am working on the Wellness Unit for ITL's peer mentor training, covering health topics from the physical to the purely spiritual.  I am a native of Pittsburgh, but recently graduated from Carleton College of Northfield, Minnesota with a B.A. in Japanese Language and Literature.  After spending four years away from town, I am excited to get to know the Pittsburgh community again.  I especially look forward to working with trans identified youth and hope that the work we do will have a truly positive impact on their lives as well as my own.

I am currently working as a produce clerk and contemplating how I'd like to spend the rest of my life.  l spend most of my free time with my family and writing, but I also love cooking new things and of course eating them! :)

Introducing: Cee Jay!

Y'assou! (That's Greek for 'hello'.) My name is Cee Jay Levine, and I'm helping to design information for the peer mentorship program. Working with Bobby Peck, I will be creating resources on the legal aspects of transitioning. I'm very excited to be helping with this project; it's the sort of thing that I wish had existed when I was a young person here in Pittsburgh.

Aside from the time I spent attending Allegheny College, I have lived in Pittsburgh my whole life. While I have an M.A.T. in Elementary Education, I'm currently working for the University of Pittsburgh as an Animal Care Technician. I also work for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History as an Assistant Supervisor for the Teen Docent program, a job that I've held for the past four years (I've been at the museum for 10). What free time I have is spent reading, writing, dancing, and practicing trombone. Oh, and I love science fiction, and frequently reference it in my interactions with others.
May the Force be with you!

Giving you a much-anticipated ITL update!

Dear faithful readers and supporters,

It's been a while and don't we know it!  We've had some changes over the past few months and we want to let you know all about it.  In January, our Peer Mentorship Design intern Quinn stepped down. We support their decision and wish them well.  In the process we learned what we do well, and what we can do to better support future interns.  Quinn also came up with some great ideas for the Peer Mentorship program, and we hope to incorporate those as we move forward.

Since we are still committed to having a solid Peer Mentorship program for trans youth ready to go this fall, we decided to ask some of the candidates who applied for the internship if they were willing to take on a piece of the program.  After discussion, we are happy to report that four qualified trans-identified youth have joined our team, working both independently and with each other to design a comprehensive program with the following four units: Wellness, Legal, Communication and Service.  Be on the look out for introductory blog posts from each of them!

On February 24th, all four Program Design interns will have the opportunity to meet members of our Advisory Committee, and to make connections that will utilize the Advisory Committee members' expertise for development of the program.

Save the date: Wednesday, May 1st from 6:30-8:30.  On May 1st, the Program Design interns will be presenting their work to an intimate crowd of community members and supporters. 

On the financial front, we've been applying for grants, and our current Peer Mentorship Program Design project is completely funded.  Any amount you decide to donate at this point goes directly to funding the Peer Mentorship Program, beginning this fall!

Thank you for your continued support,

Rayden
ITL Advisory Committee Chair

Introducing Advisory Committee Member: Jessica McGuinness

Jessica McGuinness is a transgender woman who worked as an EMT in the South Hills of Pittsburgh for 12 years. Her coming out letter to her coworkers was published in the book American Heroes Coming Out From Behind the Badge, edited by Greg Miraglia. She has done speaking engagements at a number of colleges, community centers and bookstores, has done outreach work for the transgender community and has been heavily involved in several advocacy issues. She was featured on the cover of the LGBT publication Pittsburgh's Out in April and has done several radio interviews including one on KDKA with Marty Griffin.

Jessica is currently employed by the Pitt Men's Study.

Welcome, Jessica, to the Initiative for Transgender Leadership's Advisory Committee!

Trans: The Movie Benefit Film Screening Recap

Wonderful Night at the Warhol + over $1,000 raised

On Saturday night November 3rd, more than 100 people came to the Andy Warhol Museum to join Persad Center and ITL for the Pittsburgh premiere screening of TRANS, a documentary that focuses on the stories of several people whose transgender identities cause them to seek gender affirming medical care.

The stories are poignant, and the film's production values are impressive.  In addition to the screening and a post film Q&A with the film's Producer Mark Schoen, attendees had the opportunity to make pin-on buttons with artwork of their choosing, and to make their own silk screened tee shirt with assistance from Warhol staff and volunteers from the GSA at Pittsburgh's CAPA High School.

ITL is especially grateful to the Warhol and Persad for cosponsoring the screening to benefit ITL's current Internship. The event was a great pleasure, and an equally great success.