HE SHE ZE AND WE

He She Ze and We Family Connections Program:Positive social interactions with peers is essential for healthy social, intellectual, and emotional development of all children. There is a nationwide attack on Transgender and Nonbinary Youth which is negatively impacting our families. The Virginia General Assembly has dozens of anti-trans bills in the 2023 session. During these extremely volatile times in our society, He She Ze and We brings families together to foster the growth of community close to home. Trans youth and their families need to know that they are seen, understood, accepted, and celebrated! Family Connections programming takes families out into their local communities to feed their souls by engaging in group activities...just for fun! We launched this pilot program in Hampton Roads and Central Virginia in early 2022 and expanded to other regions in the summer. This program compliments our educational support for adult family members by inviting siblings into the mix so that they too feel supported and valued, as well as experience first hand the natural variances of gender identity and expression amongst peers. For each locality, various relationships are forming with other organizations and businesses that are willing to provide a welcoming environment. We have organizers training to build our Family Connections Program in Lynchburg and New River Valley. The goal is to lift up this vibrant community and help our children not only survive, but THRIVE! We expect to have 6 Family Connections groups in 2023.

Educational Support Program: Parents/guardians and adult family members need accurate information about gender identity to feel more comfortable accepting their transgender child, of any age. The magic of a peer-led support meeting occurs when a new person shows up with a variety of raw emotions; listens to someone that has a little or a lot more lived experience; and leaves feeling relieved and less alone. Sharing lived experiences and trusted resources with the help of skilled and knowledgeable co-facilitators is what makes He She Ze and We meetings a brave and non-judgmental space for all attendees. Morning and evening options are available to reach caregivers with varied work schedules. In-person and virtual options allow for access statewide. Multiple facilitators make room for a variety of perspectives, including a monthly BIPOC meeting and Interfaith meeting. HSZ&W currently holds 12 educational support meetings each month with the goal to expand to 2-3 more.