AFFIRMING TRANS WELLNESS
A project highlighting queer, trans, and non-binary histories in the neighborhood, impacting public health, planning, design, and memory.
UNDERSTAND TWC
TWC recently acquired approximately 2600sqf of additional space to the center’s current 3000sqf on the third floor of their building in Westlake-MacArthur Park. They needed support in redesigning and improving their medical care facilities and clothes closet. The extension would account for incoming staff members that will be recruited to support current medical and social services at the wellness center as well as potential new services coming soon, such as the career center.
This capital development project sparked conversations about how TWC can become more self-sustaining and emerge from a position of surviving to thriving. We discussed the need for fundraising, and coming up with a plan to show funders what they could fund. Professor Mariana was also very clear that she wanted relationships to build the community, not transactional, one-time gifts.
We saw that there is a strong connection between telling the story and histories of TWC, especially individual experiences of the staff, and envisioning a future for TWC that is inviting and engaging with the community. We had to make room for both, developing the Capital Development Project and collecting oral histories, because these are the critical elements for building relationships and the capacity of the Center.
ORGANIZE OUR WORK
- Narrative Team: Collecting oral histories, conduct interviews with Xnumber of people, develop some content to inform and guide our work
- Design Team: Develop architectural plans and renderings for the renovation of the space. Provide templates, visual identity guides for materials
- Organization and Infrastructure Team: Understand the current needs, services, and capacity of TWC and strategize a path forward, including some of the politics and policy surrounding the topic of making TWC more sustainable. Coordinate the Case for Support document for fundraising.
ORAL HISTORY & STORY MAP
In the course of interviewing employees and former clients of TWC, we found that there was something incredibly nuanced, special, and dignified about each interviewee’s story. Trans stories are represented negatively, deterministically, and inhumanely in dominant media. These representations have adverse consequences for the trans community. Because representing the realities of the trans community is so important, we wanted to present an idea and frame for what could become a standalone trans-serving project.
The Story Map was initiated to document and share the powerful narratives within the trans community connected to the TWC. The story map collects and highlights the stories of the trans community, particularly focusing on clients, employees, and community members associated with TWC. The story map includes highlights of the quotes and video clips of each participant’s interview. Each selected quote and accompanying image encapsulate the personal experiences and insights of our participants, reflecting the struggles, hopes, and victories of their lives. In addition, the interactive map forms a core component of the story map, tracing the geographical and personal journeys of our interviewees. This map not only shows where each story originated but also illustrates the diverse paths taken by individuals in the trans community, encompassing various cities and neighborhoods. The story map serves as a visual testament to the widespread yet interconnected experiences of those who have found support through the Trans Wellness Center. The story map is a growing library to provide a digital archive where the history and experiences of the trans community are preserved and accessible for educational, research, and advocacy purposes. This project is committed to honoring the rich history, addressing the current challenges, and advocating for a promising future of the trans community.
Isabella
I think community is ephemeral. I think - I think community exists on a level that we cannot see. We are all a part of something that creates the change. That when the Trans Wellness Center, when the idea came up, I didn’t talk about this, but I knew other people were thinking the same thing. That is community right, that is the power of community.
We need more chapters of Trans Wellness Centers all across LA County. You know, the government has this idea that if we put something here, they’re going to come. But, they don’t have money to come to Hollywood, they don’t have money to go to Downtown LA. I mean, it’s far, it’s arduous, it’s hard to get there, you know. We need chapters everywhere. We need aid for people in Long Beach, we need aid for people in Antelope Valley.
Mariana
"I think trans Wellness Center is just the beginning of something important that can be replicated and I think we need to make sure we protect what we are creating. I think we also keep an open mind about like improving and applying new ways. We have a new generation of people getting their academics and they have their life experience that they could come back and take over to the next level."
I think it's, I think at this point, we're learning about the power of trans-led organizations and trans-led can mean like different things, as long as we have a community advisory board, as long as we have a strong component of decision making people in positions of power, that are TGI, I think we can go different places. The way I feel we need to grow, we do not need to be the only ones. I do not want to be the center of the universe for everyone. I just want people to understand that this is a collaboration. We are experts in this part but we need to open the door for other people to come and teach us and take our knowledge to other places.
Mykael's Story
"Because I wasn't raised in the LGBTQ community in any way, shape, or form. And that wasn't even because of where I was raised. I wasn't even raised around gays, lesbians. No, that wasn't in my - I didn't know that was possible in any way, shape or form. So for me, it was how do you come out? When you don't even know what you're coming out to? Because you don't know the community? You don't know. That's why these the youth - I fight for the youth so hard. And I fight for families because it sucks to be nearly 30 years old, coming out for the first time"
PRESENT - POSITIONING TWC TO THRIVE
The need in affirming trans wellness is stronger than ever. To scratch the surface, today, transgender people in Los Angeles County face occurrences of hate crimes at yearly rates higher than the last 20 years, including a recent bomb threat to the center itself. Beyond the county, across the country and worldwide, anti-LGBTQIA ideologies are becoming law in legislative bodies, putting transgender people at increased risk and prompting those who can to seek refuge in places like Los Angeles.
CREATING TRANSFORMATIVE GOALS: CASE FOR SUPPORT
The development of the Case for Support allows us to articulate some of our pressing needs for capacity building and help prospective donors understand why they should give to TWC. The function of this document is basically a fundraising communication tool, a take-home booklet, that supplants the donor engagement process that Director Mariana has been doing.
Identifying the exact needs of the Center requires us to navigate the landscape of the complex relationships between TWC and the LGBTQ+ Center. As outsiders of this whole process, we developed this document to be a template and a conversation starter for a more streamlined fundraising process that has a clear budget and objectives. Presently, we heard that the TWC is interested in renovating their current space and their expansion to be cohesive and functional, and of course, to make it a welcoming space where clients feel comfortable and safe. We also heard some of the following programming goals:
- Setting up a new Career Center
- Expanding emergency housing support
- Programs and services that are tailored to address the needs of the elderl
ENVISIONING FUTURE - SPACE & DESIGN
Supporting the expansion and merging services in TWC, the proposal includes approximately 2600sqft of additional space to the center’s current 3000sqft. The extension would account for incoming staff members that will be recruited to support current medical and social services at the wellness center as well as new services, such as the career center. The plan also aims to increase the physical and visual comfort of existing spaces, enhancing visitors’ sense of belonging within the center by supplying additional lounge spaces. The increase of larger open spaces and rooms will accommodate more flexible activities by configuring the furniture layout. These larger spaces also allow for easier subdivisions for more temporary events or permanent services.
Existing Floor Plan Existing Program Layout
New Floor Plan
Office Space Diagram
Waiting Area Diagram
Clothing Closet Diagram
RESOURCES
Trans Wellness Services in Los Angeles
