A committee of 15 Leaders, Allies and Activists are making it their goal to raise $15,000 in 15 days to jump start TransTech Graphic Design and Web Coding Academy.
"We believe that trans people deserve a safe and affirming place to grow their skills and not feel alone in the workplace. Trans people are twice as likely to be unemployed than non-transgender people and we are passionate about changing that." -CEO/Executive Director Angelica Ross.
( Chicago September 1, 2014 ) Today TransTech Social Enterprises ( TTSE ), launched a fundraising campaign to help fund their Fall Session Apprenticeship, which will give apprentices the basic skills needed to seek empowerment, education and employment.
TransTech Social Enterprises ( TTSE ), a non-profit organization that offers an Apprenticeship and Training Academy that teaches job skills, as well as graphic design, and web coding skills. In the Apprenticeship program, similar to a beauty school model, TransTech offers creative technological services including but not limited to: web development and graphic design, and media production, that are worked on by students and educators at affordable prices for consumers. 100% of these profits go back into the program. TransTech is based on a social enterprise structure that is meant to maximize economic improvement and well-being within the LGBTQ community, rather than focusing on maximizing profits for external shareholders.
The Fall Session Apprenticeship will cover basic skills like document creation to navigating employment culture, working on actual TransTech client projects. During the Fall Session, the TransTech apprentices will begin to learn the basics of working in a creative design firm. This base will propel the apprentices into the Spring Session, where they will explore a more in-depth and hands-on approach to learning Graphic Design and Web Coding. Finally in the Summer Session, apprentices will perfect their own portfolio, have more direct client projects and learn personal accounting skills.
Leaders, allies and activists from all over the country are helping to raise $15,000 in 15 days. The committee includes:
Fallon Fox / Professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter, Writer, and LGBT Activist.
Myles Brady / Human Rights Activist, Educator, and a Gentleman.
Bailey Jay / Co-Host of the Jim Norton Show, Adult Film Star, Trans Advocate
Erik Roldan / Chicago Native, Activist
Crispin Torres / Activist, Educator, Rock Musician and Feminist.
Dr. Kortney Ziegler / Oakland Based Entrepreneur, Award Winning Artist, Writer and the First Person to Hold the Ph.D. of African American Studies from Northwestern University.
Naomi Cedar / Lead Software Architect at RazorOccam
Tiq Milan / Senior Strategist at GLAAD, writer and advocate.
Jen Richards / Writer, Advocate, Founder of WeHappytTrans.com and Co-Founder of the Trans 100
Channyn Parker / Chicagoan, Intake Coordinator at the Trans Life Project
Kempe Scanlan / Accomplished Designer, Sculptor, and Business Owner at KEMPE
Precious Davis / Educator, Performance Artist, Public Speaker, and Woman of Faith
Rebecca Kling / Activist who tours transgender-focused performances and educational workshops
Joey Grant / Communications and Operations Director of Trans Tech Social Enterprises
Angelica Ross / CEO/Executive Director of Trans Tech Social Enterprises
( Images: transtechsocial.org/15k-press-image-page/ )
Each person has a personal and unique involvement in empowering the transgender community, and come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some identify as transgender and some do not, but what they all have in common is a passion for creating a safe and affirming environment that absolutely anyone could thrive in! By participating with this campaign they are telling the world that they are actively working to eliminate the employment and education discrimination trans people face.
Indiegogo Campaign Link:igg.me/at/transtechsocial/x/8494011 .
Direct Video Link: www.youtube.com/watch .
www.transtechsocial.org .
www.facebook.com/transtechsocial.org .
www.twitter.com/transtechsocial .
www.transtechsocial.tumblr.com .
