The Series:

"Kuumba Conversations" was inspired by last year’s roundtable confronting the Black women’s unemployment crisis, hosted by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. That dialogue brought together elected officials, community leaders, and women with lived experience to surface structural inequities and identify pathways toward collective action. The impact of that gathering made clear the need for an ongoing forum rooted in community-centered engagement.

Each roundtable is structured to center 5–10 leaders with direct lived experience on the topic in a facilitated conversation co-hosted by an elected official. A small group of invited partners and advocates will participate as engaged listeners, followed by moderated Q&A, resource sharing, and relationship-building.

The intent is to connect lived experience with public leadership in ways that are substantive and outcome-oriented. We aim to foster shared learning, accountability, and alignment across policy, practice, and community investment.

This September's Session:

As attacks on trans and gender expansive communities intensify nationally and locally, Greater Boston faces an important question: what would it truly take to build a city where trans and gender expansive people — especially Black, Brown, immigrant, and low-income community members — are not simply surviving, but thriving? 

This installment of Kuumba Conversation, convened in partnership with Representative Samantha Montaño, will bring together community leaders, organizers, advocates, care providers, and elected officials for a roundtable discussion centered on collective vision and action. During this conversation, we’ll explore such questions as: 

• What does a Boston where trans and gender expansive people can thrive look like? 
• How can we all – grassroots organizers, institutional leaders, funders, care providers, and legislators – work together to make progress towards this future? 
• Across sectors, roles, and systems, what does solidarity look like, and how can we practice it with each other? How can we build trust, collaboration, and shared strategy? 

Grounded in the spirit of Kuumba — creativity, collective responsibility, and community-building — the conversation aims to foster deeper connection, alignment, and sustained collective action across movements, sectors, and organizations. The event is envisioned as a participatory experience that centers dialogue and engagement over a traditional panel format, with opportunities for attendees to contribute ideas, identify priorities, and shape future collaborative efforts. 

Audience members will include organizers, LGBTQ+ advocates, healthcare leaders, youth-serving organizations, philanthropic partners, elected officials, and community members committed to advancing equity and liberation for trans and gender expansive communities across Greater Boston. 

Doors will open at 10:00 AM, with final program format and speaker lineup to be announced. 

To help amplify the conversation and document this gathering, media representatives and event photographers may be present. By registering for and attending the event, you consent to the possible use of photographs, video, and/or quotes for communications and promotional purposes unless you indicate notify organizers in advance.