I met Andre Perez a few years ago and I have seldom encountered a more committed young activist, organizer and human. Andre has been instrumental in creating the Transgender Oral History Project (TOHP)  which is a community-driven effort to collect and share a diverse range of stories by promoting grassroots media projects, documenting trans people’s experiences, and teaching media production skills. This year TOHP created a grassroots multimedia curriculum for youth.

I Live for Trans Education features videos paired with interactive activities to teach about issues that impact the transgender community. Trans educators, youth workers, and youth leaders can use this multimedia toolkit to educate about issues that impact the trans community from an intersectional perspective. I Live addresses four topics–Media Literacy, Health Care, Employment, and Creating Acceptance. There is also a bonus lesson on Civil Rights. This toolkit functions as a trans 202, going beyond the basics to discuss some of the more nuanced issues the trans* community faces. Check out a pdf of the curriculum here. Check out their videos online. 

How do you bring I Live to your school? Use the tools to lead an interactive workshop yourself or invite a TOHP facilitator  to your school today at [email protected].

I often suggest that Chicago has the most dynamic, creative, kickass young organizers in the country. It’s simply true. TOHP is one example of this reality. Make sure to check out their work and spread the information to others who might be interested.