Embedded Files
Conversation Overview
Conversation Overview
Join us for a conversation on the joys and pains and all the in-betweens of living trans lives. Our conversationalists, Kyle Sawyer (he/they) and Cristina Salamanca (they/them), will deconstruct trans subjectivity and the US's institution of gender.
Guest Bios
Guest Bios
Kyle Sawyer (he/they) is an anti-oppression facilitator and educator specializing in working with individuals and organizations on how to turn privilege into change. He is a trans, queer, mixed-race, white-passing individual. Kyle has worked with teachers, nonprofit organizations, students, therapists, social workers, community members, family members, and many others on learning how to be Active-Allies through an intersectional lens.
Cristina Salamanca (they/them) is a Trans, queer, pansexual spirit. They were born in Bacatá (the Chibcha name), more widely known now by its colonized name, Bogota, Colombia, and immigrated to the US at age 8. Cristina is a licensed Shiatsu massage therapist, currently completing their master's degree at Antioch University LA in Clinical Psychology. They are excited to have this conversation with Kyle and look forward to what will unfold with all who participate in this Messy conversation.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
This list is meant to be a resource on its own. Save it and use it as needed. There is much here, and I’ve done my best to organize and share a bit about each resource. I hope you find this helpful to you at some point in your work and in your life. - Kyle Sawyer
(11:20:2023) BA-Trans_and_Nobinary_-_Resources__2023.pdf
How You Can Honor Transgender Day of Remembrance
How You Can Honor Transgender Day of Remembrance
Here are a few ways that teachers can commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance:
Learn about Rita Hester’s Story
Learn about Rita Hester’s Story
You may not recognize Rita Hester’s name, but her death sparked the movement that led to Transgender Day of Remembrance. Hester loved figure skating, traveling, and entertaining. She also openly embraced her identity as a Black trans woman. And in 1998, she was murdered. Like far too many murders of trans individuals, the case remains unsolved. You can honor her memory by learning about her life.
Build an Affirming Classroom
Build an Affirming Classroom
Creating classrooms that are inclusive, welcoming, and foster belonging is deeply important for students of all gender identities. Start with yourself by reflecting on your own experiences as both a student and a teacher. Then explore the resources Facing History has curated to help teachers build supportive learning environments for trans and non-binary students.
Reflection questions:
When did you see your identity reflected in your school or curriculum when you were a student? How did your education provide you with opportunities to engage with life experiences different from your own? Where did it fall short in these two respects?
When have you observed students to be most motivated in your classroom?
How might your students’ identities and life experiences be shaping their encounter with the materials you are teaching this year?
What opportunities do you have to include the voices or experiences of trans people in your curriculum?
What can you do to continue to build community in your classroom this year?
Plan Trans Day of Remembrance Activities
Plan Trans Day of Remembrance Activities
Honor Trans Day of Remembrance in your classroom or on your own through an activity, discussion, or another form of commemoration. Check out this guide to marking Transgender Day of Remembrance from the GSA Network for a whole host of tips and ideas. Or read on for a few possibilities that stand out to us.
Engage with Trans Oral History
Engage with Trans Oral History
Expose yourself and your students to multiple trans perspectives through oral history. NPR’s StoryCorps has compiled an excellent collection of oral histories that center transgender voices. Stories are powerful teachers. Drawing on diverse voices will help you avoid the pitfalls of relying on a single story. Check out our oral history teaching strategy for activity and lesson plan ideas to pair with the StoryCorps collection.
“Create” a Memorial
“Create” a Memorial
Invite students to design a memorial to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance. Ask them to consider which events, people, or ideas they would want the memorial to represent. You can adapt Facing History’s Create a Memorial handout for this activity.
We hope these resources and activities help you honor Transgender Day of Remembrance, and ultimately, make your classroom a space where all students can thrive and grow.
Our transgender community members continue to face discrimination and hate fueled by transphobia . Per the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), in the U.S., 25 transgender and gender-diverse people were killed this year. But this number is more likely much higher due to unreported cases. The vast majority of those killed (88%) were transgender people of color. Most were Black. 52% were Black transgender women. Together, we can help change this.
Here in Los Angeles, the TransLatin@ Coalition (TLC) is working to advocate for the specific needs of the Trans Latin@ community and strategies that improve quality of life. In 2022, Bamby Salcedo, President and Chief Executive Officer, was awarded the Distinguished Leader in Feminism Award by the UCLA Center for the Study of Women for advancing equality and gender justice. TLC is a leading partner of the California TGI Policy Alliance (CTPA), organizing for Governor Gavin Newsom to add funding to the state budget for critical life-saving services for the transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex (TGI) communities.
How you can make a difference during Transgender Awareness Week:
Learn about gender identity issues affecting the trans and broader LGBTQ+ communities.
Support your local LGBTQ+ center.
Reach out to transgender individuals in your life and let them know you support them.
ICYMI: Center for Community Organizing Mural Unveiling and Celebration
ICYMI: Center for Community Organizing Mural Unveiling and Celebration
A new mural has made its home on the corner of Vermont and 75th, the future site of Community Coalition’s Center for Community Organizing (CCO). The mural was created in collaboration with local South Los Angeles visual artist, muralist, and storyteller Terrick Gutierrez, who is a South Central Youth Empowered Thru Action Alum. Growing up in South Central LA, Terrick began to draw early as a form of escape. Keenly observant, he recognized the unique circumstances that he was presented with as a young Black male. In many ways, his work is a visual autobiography reflecting his youth’s struggle and resilience. In other ways, his work is imaginative, exploring and celebrating the beautiful richness of Blackness.
CoCo member leaders convened for several weeks to share their creative ideas for the mural design. Then, members voted on the final design. The mural spans the exterior walls of the current CCO building, located at 7518 Vermont Avenue, and conveys a message of community solidarity, Black and Brown unity, and people power while honoring the history of South Los Angeles. The unveiling was celebrated at a community event with over 300 attendees, and community members enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast, music, testimonials from mural committee members, and remarks from CoCo leaders.
Highlights - School Equity Needs Index (SENI) - Budget Training Convening
Highlights - School Equity Needs Index (SENI) - Budget Training Convening
On October 30th, the Equity Alliance for LA’s Kids held a Student Equity Needs Index (SENI) Budget Training with parents and students from across South LA and the Eastside. The Equity Alliance for LA's Kids coalition comprises Catalyst California, Community Coalition, InnerCity Struggle, and the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.
About SENI:
2024 is the 10-year anniversary of the SENI campaign. SENI was first developed in 2014 by the Equity Alliance in response to the new Local Control Funding Formula. Schools are primarily funded by distributing resources by the number of students who attend (norm-based budgeting), not by the level of need of the students who attend.
SENI benefits schools serving the greatest concentration of students living in poverty, the greatest number of ELLs, and the greatest number of Black Students.
In 2018-19, “SENI 2.0” was implemented, and governed the allocation of $25 million dollars.
In the current school year, SENI expanded to govern the allocation of $700 million (from $282M) out of LAUSD’s total budget of $18B.
Every student deserves an education that engages their full potential, invests in their needs, and reminds them of their infinite possibilities. SENI promotes equity in education funding by accounting for factors such as the percentage of English learners, foster youth, and homeless youth, among others.
Curious about SENI funding levels for your local schools? Check out this dashboard created by the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (PALS) - SENI 2023-2024 School Lookup.
Stay tuned for upcoming actions and updates.
Page updated
Report abuse