Trans Mutual Aid Project
Session Title
Additional Abstracts
College
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Department
Design
Faculty Mentor
Jason Tselentis, M.F.A.; Jesse Weser, M.A.; Brandon Ranallo-Benavidez, Ph.D.
Abstract
The Trans Mutual Aid Project is an initiative to create a community and support network for Trans and gender non-conforming people in Rock Hill. I aim to create a network that is sustainable, collaborative, and accessible, and most importantly I aim to focus on Trans joy in this project. I created this project with significant guidance and collaboration with the Trans community in Rock Hill, who shared resources, helped with planning, and helped me better understand the needs of the Trans community here in Rock Hill. Together we provide space for people to connect with resources and education, and we organize a free store where Trans people can get gender affirming things like clothes and makeup for free. While this project is mainly a community organizing endeavor, my method of working is informed by community design principles. Community design is a design philosophy that focuses on the importance of including the community you’re designing for directly in the decision making process. I use methods for generating ideas and decision making that I’ve learned at Winthrop in order to create collaborative documents and facilitate meetings where we share ideas and resources. The final project is an exploration of how I can apply my design education in order to achieve my goals in this project.
Course Assignment
VCOM 486 & VCOM 487 - Tselentis
Trans Mutual Aid Project
The Trans Mutual Aid Project is an initiative to create a community and support network for Trans and gender non-conforming people in Rock Hill. I aim to create a network that is sustainable, collaborative, and accessible, and most importantly I aim to focus on Trans joy in this project. I created this project with significant guidance and collaboration with the Trans community in Rock Hill, who shared resources, helped with planning, and helped me better understand the needs of the Trans community here in Rock Hill. Together we provide space for people to connect with resources and education, and we organize a free store where Trans people can get gender affirming things like clothes and makeup for free. While this project is mainly a community organizing endeavor, my method of working is informed by community design principles. Community design is a design philosophy that focuses on the importance of including the community you’re designing for directly in the decision making process. I use methods for generating ideas and decision making that I’ve learned at Winthrop in order to create collaborative documents and facilitate meetings where we share ideas and resources. The final project is an exploration of how I can apply my design education in order to achieve my goals in this project.
