Fund Black Queer and Trans Youth Empowerment!

Umoja Kijana Shujaa is a paid year-long leadership development cohort and program of Black & Beyond the Binary Collective. Umoja was created to further radicalize Black trans, queer, nonbinary, and intersex+ (TQNI+) youth 14-26 to combat white supremacy, criminalization, anti-blackness, and to advance Black liberation. Umoja youth will participate in responsive and collaborative community building throughout the summer and will walk away with a deep understanding of white supremacy, hands-on experience in community and civic engagement as well as community care practices to help to deal with the realities of moving throughout the world in a Black TQNI+ body.

Umoja is developed for Black TQNI+ youth to learn Black history, develop a sense of identity, and create community.

Since 2017, we have worked to provide a space for political education grounded in Black, queer, feminist theory, started a community dialogue with our annual Night Out for Safety and Liberation event, and helping to build out a community safety coalition with the city of Portland.

Join us in funding Black futures right now! Funds will immediately be used to continue and deepen the work we have been doing for years.
With your support Umoja will be able to:

1. Resource permanent positions to sustain our work--we plan to hire three part-time staff positions, 1 full-time program lead position, and continue to offer stipends for participation in our programs.
2. Provide a permanent mutual aid fund specifically for Black queer and trans folks
3. Build abolitionist campaigns
4. Build Black communal healing spaces in Portland, OR.

Towards Liberation!