Trifecta Trans Film Night: Flawless

Flawless (1999)
Robert De Niro, Philip Seymour Hoffman,
Joel Schumacher (Director) Rated: R

This movie is a triumph of human connection across great difference.
A former NYPD Hero homophobic cop hates but needs an eccentric,
younger upstairs neighbor. That neighbor is a female impersonator
who is saving money to transition. It is funny, sad, and beautiful.

We are hosted this movie as a first in a series designed to build community,
have fun, and raise money for the Initiative for Transgender Leadership
Fellowship launching in January. It was fun, conversation-provoking, & yielded $100 for the 100 x $100 campaign.

Thank you to Rainbow Alliance, everyone who attended, donated money, and baked cupcakes and cookies. People teaming up to make things happen is energizing, inspiring, and making connection possible.

Next in this series will be The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), Friday, January 28th, 7:00 pm.

100 x $100 Campaign

This is it, 100 x $100 is the game to take us to our goal. We are enrolling 100 people/groups/organizations to donate $100 to place us within shooting distance of the final target. You can shape the way Pittsburgh sees and experiences transgender people and cause a ripple to impact 100 more communities.

1. Peter K.
2. Dr. J.
3. Wayne
4. Alpha Mates
5. Jeff S. Ellison
6. Lonnie
7. NNIP
8. There's No Romance Without Finance
9. Jen Saffron
10. Gary and Ellie
11. Desert Queens
12. Community House Presbyterian Church
13. Mighty Corporal Hershey
14. Zev
15. DOWF
16. Bart Rauluk
17. Rev. Janet Edwards
18. Goddess DuDu
19. Dr J
20. Alvi
21. Laughlin Artz
22. BFBE
23. Dr. J
24. Jen Saffron
25. Susan Haugh
26. Satire Doc
27. Dr J
28. Wendi Miller
29. Karri
30. Anna Marie Mostyn
31. lsn
32. Dr. J


Place your name on the contributor list empowering Trans Youth by donating:

$100 = donated with a single hit on the PayPal button
$100 = $20/mo for 5 months while receiving email reminders
$100 = you + 4 friends ($20 each) & name your group (e.g. Fans of Priscilla)
$100 = non-profit organization showing solidarity with Trans Community
$100 = write TransLeadership@gmail.com with your $100 donation idea
$100 = recruit someone else to be a donor
$100 = host a movie with 10 people paying $10 suggested donation to ITL
$100 = write check to Persad Center with ITL in memo line & mail*
$100 = recently donated $100, write RTPeck@gmail.com with name for list
$100 = add to your recent donation to make $100 & email RTPeck name

* Persad Center, 5150 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Here goes...

Hello, all!

First things first, thanks to all those working hard behind the scenes to make this fellowship possible. It's very exciting to be the ITL's first fellow!

Earlier this month I met with both the Regional Internship Center and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to discuss each organization's goals and what a fellowship might look like.

At the PPC I met Marijke Hecht, Director of Education, and we talked about the behind the scenes work of the PPC is mainly education and fund-raising, with an emphasis on community involvement. I mentioned my interest in creating a more bike-friendly city. I think if I were to do a project with the PPC it would involve bike commuting.

This is an exciting time for the PPC because they are in the process of evaluating and updating their Master Plan, which will guide the direction of the PPC for years to come. The city of Pittsburgh is also undergoing a similar planning and transformation period which includes and emphasis on open space and transportation. I think Marijke and I got along very well. She happily introduced me to everyone in the office at the time (some were out in the field).

Later that day I found myself on the South Side, having a much needed latte at Beehive. Next on the list was the Regional Internship Center housed on Terminal Way, an historical and beautiful building where I met Regina Anderson, Director, and Trisha Hyatt, Program Manager. There are many leadership and development programs available thanks to the RIC, Public Allies and Coro Pittsburgh (who all share an office). We discussed how the RIC works with those seeking internships to help them find the best match and how companies and non-profits seeking interns can create beneficial internship programs. Again, I was introduced to colleagues and given a full tour.


After much deliberation and seeking advice from mentors, friends and family I have decided to work with the Regional Internship Center. I feel that this fellowship is an opportunity to really step outside my "comfort zone" and I think that working with the RIC will be the most challenging for me. I am drawn to their leadership programs and the opportunity to be a part of a broad network of students and employers. Additionally, it is easier for me to get to that part of the South Side by bike or bus from home.

I am looking forward to brainstorming with folks from the RIC about the next step: creating an independent project that is exciting, helpful and doable by next November.

--Rayden

We Have Our Fellow: Ray Sorock

From five compelling candidates, ITL has selected Ray Sorock. First each application was reviewed and scored by a three person Selection Committee. Then each was interviewed and scored by the three of us. Ray is the candidate who had the highest combined score valuing both ability to achieve success with a self-selected project while also in significant need of a professional opportunity.

Ray will now be charged with designing a project in collaboration with a Pittsburgh area Non-Profit Organization and executing it across the first 10 months of 2011.

Below is Ray's bio and photo. Please check back here each week for information about the matching process with an area non-profit, Ray's progress, and ways to contribute.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ray grew up in Massachusetts, learning to love the outdoors, local history, and making the best of suburban life. He achieved a B.A. in Literature from Purchase College in New York in 2008. He moved to the Pittsburgh area after falling in love with the city and lived and worked on an organic farm for seven months.

Now he spends his time baking cookies at a coffee shop in Lawrenceville, reading nerdy books, and riding his bike. He is passionate about good health care access, environmentally-friendly food production, and art that doesn't look like Art.

Friends encouraged him to apply for the fellowship and he is excited to work with and learn from the ITL team to create a worthy project for a local organization.

OutOnline Video Interview with ITL

Click on the title above to see Madeleine Hershey and Jen Saffron interviewed by Nayck B. Feliz on OutOnline.com or use the link below.

http://outonline.com/positive-outlook/index.html

5 Fantastic Fellowship Applicants

We are thrilled and fortunate to have 5 trans-identified young people applying for the Fellowship. All 5 of these enthusiastic and committed young people were unknown to us before creating this opportunity. One of these candidates will create a community project in cooperation with a Pittsburgh area Non-Profit Organization.

This week the Selection Committee is reviewing and scoring the applications. We are contacting the references to learn more about the applicants, then finally we interview each one. November 1st we will announce the winner.

GLBT History Month

October is GLBT History Month. Today's GLBT Icon is Mara Keisling.

In 2003, recognizing the need for a cohesive voice in Washington for transgender people, Mara Keisling founded the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), a social justice organization dedicated to advancing equality through advocacy, collaboration and empowerment.

Keisling has over 25 years of professional experience in social marketing and opinion research. In 2005, Harvard University named Keisling Outstanding LGBT Person of the Year.

5 Ways to Contribute

Break out of the status quo with us by providing a trans-youth with professional skills & chance to create a 10 month project with a Pittsburgh Non-Profit.

1. Find and mentor a trans youth applicant (17-25 year old gender non-conforming person). Application located in a post below.

2. Make a monthly donation to ITL insuring the out-of-the-box perspective & experience of transgender people gets space and a voice. ITL has no office or paid staff. Your donation goes directly to funding a Fellowship.

3. Find and mentor a non-profit organization in Pittsburgh who will sponsor a trans youth fellow and create a mutually fulfilling project. Application for a Sponsoring Organization available in a post below.

4. Make a one time donation by clicking the PayPal Donate button on the left side of this blog just below the video.

5. Make a fund raising goal of your own. Write to us at TransLeadership@gmail.com and ask for fund raising support. We will assist you in hosting a gathering at your home with a collage-making party, Trans 101 Training, or provide information with which to ask your friends to contribute.

Trans 101 Vocabulary: Genderqueer

Genderqueer (GQ) and intergender are catch-all terms for gender identities other than man and woman. People who identify as genderqueer may think of themselves as being both man and woman, as being neither man nor woman, or as falling completely outside the gender binary.

* Wikipedia: genderqueer

Fellow Application Deadline extended

The start of the school year has made everyone's schedules more full. To make the Fellowship available to more trans youth, we have extded the deadline for applications to October, 15, 2010.

Read the Application post & write us a letter as your application. We are offering a part-time, 10 month, paid fellowship/internship to a trans youth starting January, 2010 here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Send it to transleadership@gmail.com.

Fellowship Application (re-post)

Application Deadline:
October 15, 2010

Introduction:

The purpose of the Initiative for Transgender Leadership (ITL) is to positively impact community life through professional and leadership development of transgender youth.

ITL is a project that will grant a paid, 10-month, part time Fellowship to one motivated trans-identified young person (age 17-25).

Our idea is that one motivated young trans person can change the world through their creativity and dedication if provided with a welcoming and supportive place to work. Not enough doors have been open to trans youth for professional development; in fact, hazards and concerns around simply coming out in the professional realm have presented a barrier to learning and accomplishment. We are committed to generating a new experience of safety and agency for trans youth in the working world.

The ITL Fellowship will connect a Sponsoring Organization (SO) with a self-directed young trans person, whether or not they possess previous professional experience. The SO will gain fresh perspective, an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to a diverse workforce and a unique project that serves their mission and expands their service capacity. The ITL Fellow will gain valuable professional skills from interactions with their SO supervisor, participants in their project, and from the ITL mentorship team.

The ITL Fellow will:

• Complete 1000 work hours over the course of 10 months (approximately 25 hours/week) from mid-January through mid-November, 2011;
• Receive a total grant of $12,000 in monthly installments;
• Choose one SO from several Pittsburgh area organizations with which to partner for the duration of the Fellowship;
• Create, manage, report on and complete a project that serves the mission of the SO; and
• Receive professional mentorship from the ITL team.

Qualifications:

• Trans-identified person age 17-25 years;
• Able to live and work in the Pittsburgh region;
• Committed to providing direct community or public impact;
• Willing to lead and learn in new ways; and
• Able to demonstrate a strong work ethic.


Application:

Instructions – Complete the following in no more than 4 pages of single-spaced text, in either 11 or 12 point font.

• Include a cover letter explaining your motivation for applying for the Fellowship, plus contact information for 2 references (1 who can tell us about your work ethic, and 1 who can tell us about your leadership ability. If necessary, specify which reference can best speak to each area);
• Describe a time when you took initiative to make a difference for others and got people to work with you.
• What skills, knowledge and personal qualities do you have that will contribute to your success in this Fellowship?
• If your work environment were already supportive of your gender identity and presentation, in what areas of your life would you most like to grow and develop?

Transgender Terms & Definitions

Not familiar with transgender people or terms?
Check out Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender

Important Dates and Events

July, 2010:
• Application period OPENS for Fellowship candidates and Sponsoring Organizations
• Upon receipt of application, Sponsoring Organization will be vetted
• Upon acceptance as a potential Sponsoring Organization, Transgender Cultural Competency training will be scheduled

September 30, 2010:
• Application period (extended to Oct 15, 2010) for Fellowship candidates and Sponsoring Organization CLOSES

October, 2010:
• Selection Committee reviews Fellowship applications and recommends finalists
• Fellowship finalists are interviewed by the ITL Team
• The Fellow is selected

October 31, 2010:
• Transgender Cultural Competency Training has been scheduled or completed for all potential Sponsoring Organizations

November 1, 2010:
• Initiative for Transgender Leadership Fellow is announced!

November, 2010:
• ITL Fellow meets with Mentorship Team to review Fellowship structure, sign contract, and prepare for meetings with potential Sponsoring Organizations to select their S.O.
• Meetings between the ITL Fellow and S.O. Pool members are conducted
• Fellow selects S.O.

November 29, 2010:
• ITL Fellow and Sponsoring Organization match is announced!

December, 2010:
• Welcome packets are provided to SO and ITL Fellow outlining specific structural requirements and measures of the Fellowship project
• Mentorship schedule is set and mentorship begins
• ITL Fellow is encouraged to begin envisioning the ITL project

January 18, 2011:
• ITL Fellow reports to Sponsoring Organization/Fellowship for first day of work

November 18, 2011:
• ITL Fellow’s Project Presentation is made to the public
• ITL Fellowship Wrap Party!

Fellowship Application

Application Deadline:
September 30, 2010

Introduction:

The purpose of the Initiative for Transgender Leadership (ITL) is to positively impact community life through professional and leadership development of transgender youth.

ITL is a project that will grant a paid, 10-month, part time Fellowship to one motivated trans-identified young person (age 17-25).

Our idea is that one motivated young trans person can change the world through their creativity and dedication if provided with a welcoming and supportive place to work. Not enough doors have been open to trans youth for professional development; in fact, hazards and concerns around simply coming out in the professional realm have presented a barrier to learning and accomplishment. We are committed to generating a new experience of safety and agency for trans youth in the working world.

The ITL Fellowship will connect a Sponsoring Organization (SO) with a self-directed young trans person, whether or not they possess previous professional experience. The SO will gain fresh perspective, an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to a diverse workforce and a unique project that serves their mission and expands their service capacity. The ITL Fellow will gain valuable professional skills from interactions with their SO supervisor, participants in their project, and from the ITL mentorship team.

The ITL Fellow will:

• Complete 1000 work hours over the course of 10 months (approximately 25 hours/week) from mid-January through mid-November, 2011;
• Receive a total grant of $12,000 in monthly installments;
• Choose one SO from several Pittsburgh area organizations with which to partner for the duration of the Fellowship;
• Create, manage, report on and complete a project that serves the mission of the SO; and
• Receive professional mentorship from the ITL team.

Qualifications:

• Trans-identified person age 17-25 years;
• Able to live and work in the Pittsburgh region;
• Committed to providing direct community or public impact;
• Willing to lead and learn in new ways; and
• Able to demonstrate a strong work ethic.


Application:

Instructions – Complete the following in no more than 4 pages of single-spaced text, in either 11 or 12 point font.

• Include a cover letter explaining your motivation for applying for the Fellowship, plus contact information for 2 references (1 who can tell us about your work ethic, and 1 who can tell us about your leadership ability. If necessary, specify which reference can best speak to each area);
• Describe a time when you took initiative to make a difference for others and got people to work with you.
• What skills, knowledge and personal qualities do you have that will contribute to your success in this Fellowship?
• If your work environment were already supportive of your gender identity and presentation, in what areas of your life would you most like to grow and develop?

Twitter: Bite-Sized News

Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/TransLeadership

Donate

Click our PayPal button to donate or
Send your check with ITL in the memo line:

Persad Center
5150 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

To Apply for the Fellowship or
Sponsor a Fellow, contact:
TransLeadership@gmail.com

ITL Sponsor Organization

Initiative for Transgender Leadership, Sponsor Organization Recruitment

The Initiative for Transgender Leadership (ITL) is a grassroots effort run by three partners committed to positively impacting community life through professional and leadership development of transgender youth. ITL is administratively supported by Persad Center and is wholly funded by individual donations.

ITL seeks to grant a paid, 10-month, $12,000 part time Fellowship to one motivated trans-identified young person (age 17-25). The Fellow will be selected through an application process, administered by a committee of community professionals committed to diverse causes.

Our idea is that one motivated young trans person can change the world through their creativity and dedication if provided with a welcoming and supportive place to work. Not enough doors have been open to trans youth for professional development; in fact, hazards and concerns around simply “coming out” in the professional realm can be a barrier to learning and accomplishment. We are committed to generate a new experience of safety and agency for trans youth in the working world.

The ITL Fellowship will connect a Sponsoring Organization with a self-directed young person, whether or not they possess previous professional experience. The Sponsor Organization will gain fresh perspective, an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to a diverse workforce and a unique project that expands their service capacity.

The ITL Sponsoring Organization will receive a direct donation of $6,000.00 from ITL to cover the administrative and physical costs of providing workspace, supplies and supervision to the Fellow.

Sponsoring Organization Candidates must possess:

Transgender Cultural Competency – Demonstrates a commitment to developing sensitivity to transgender people by familiarizing themselves on an organizational level with transgender terms, concepts and cultural history. This capacity may be already in place, or can be provided by ITL. A professionally-delivered transgendered cultural competency workshop can be provided free of charge as part of the preparation for the fellowship.

Capacity for adaptive supervision – Ability to assign a primary supervisor with whom the ITL fellow may collaborate creatively; who will assist with administrative direction and support, and provide nurturance in the area of professional development.

Willingness and openness -- to have the Fellow contribute to the organization as much as the organization will contribute to the Fellow, e.g. reciprocity and mutuality. This may include the Fellow promulgating a new project to assist the mission of the organization, and will require a collaborative, fresh approach.


To Apply

Send a Letter of Intent to Transleadership@gmail.com or to ITL, 819 Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15221