FINDING OUR STRENGTH: Community Chats!
If you have come to this page, you’ve likely been referred by a community partner. Thank you for showing up!
To introduce ourselves, Transcend the Binary is a collective led by/for trans/gender diverse folks in the Midwest. We have over a decade of experience developing community-led programs, peer support services, and action-based research.
We are excited to invite you to join us for a Community Chat discussion about our strengths, resilience, and coping.
As a token of our gratitude, you will receive a $50 Amazon gift card for participating. Learn more about what to expect below and feel free to reach out to Brayden A. Misiolek (they/he) the elected lead of the Research Collective at brayden@transcendthebinary.org or 248.934.0697.
Space is limited, so sign up today via the links below!
Two Spaces for Discussion
Black, Latine, Two-Spirit, Indigenous, People of Color within our trans/gender diverse community.
Wednesday, March 25th at 6:30 pm EST
Please note that this session is exclusively for members of our trans/gender diverse community who are 18/+, reside in the US, and identify as Black, Latine, Two-Spirit, Indigenous, People of Color.
OPEN to all identities within our trans/gender diverse community.
Wednesday, April 1st at 6:30 pm EST
This session is open to all members of our trans/gender diverse community who are 18/+ and reside in the US.
What to expect
If you can, join on time! Our session will last approximately 90 minutes. In this time together, we’re seeking to co-create a brave space with you:
- A space that allows you to show up and contribute authentically.
- A space where diverse opinions are respected.
- Everyone’s asked to respect the confidentiality of each other. What’s shared here, stays here!
- We encourage you to stretch, move around, and be comfortable.
- Use the chat to contribute, raise your hand, or come off of mute. Engage in the ways that work for you!
Community Chat Topics
- Co-create community agreements for our discussion
- Discuss trust and concerns in online trans health research
- Review the topics in Finding Our Strength survey (e.g., coping)
- Discuss what is important to learn about coping and resilience
To translate your insights into action through the Finding Our Strength 2026 survey, the session will be recorded. Every insight shared in the space will be de-identified for your privacy.
If you have questions about the Community Chats, the broader Finding Our Strength 2026 survey, or would like to learn about more ways to get involved, reach out to Brayden A. Misiolek (they/he) at brayden@transcendthebinary.org or 248.934.0697.
Backstory
In 2016, our trans-led research team developed Finding Our Strength which has been used in a variety of ways to support our transgender and gender diverse community. We are looking to relaunch this survey in 2026, this time, equipping our coalition partners with the resulting resources and insights. We’re partnering with organizations across the United States with the goal of enhancing TGD-led capacity!
Finding Our Strength 2026 aims to explore:
- Worry about discrimination across realms of life
- Actions taken to cope with this worry
- Connections with overall health and well-being
We’re seeking coalition partners for FOS 26!
As thanks for supporting the Finding Our Strength 2026 survey, we’ll share the resulting findings and materials created (e.g., community resources, reports, and exhibition materials), as well as consulting on how to transform findings to enhance your programmatic goals (e.g., enhance or develop services, grant proposals, trainings).
If you’re interested in volunteering and supporting Finding Our Strength 2026 or other initiatives, we want to hear from you!