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Greetings!
We Hired a New Executive Director.
It is with great excitement, honor and pride that we announce the hiring of Katie Burges as the new Executive Director of the Trans Youth Support Network (TYSN)
Katie served as TYSN's Transitional Director from October 2010 until her hire mid April 2011. During this time, the hiring committee screened several candidates. This hiring committee consisted of 6 community members of various ages and genders who are from a variety of racial and socio-economic backgrounds. The committee came to the conclusion that Katie holds many of the qualities that the hiring committee and youth members' value. The committee is confident that Katie's skills, knowledge, and experience will lend to her ability to be a strong leader within TYSN. Katie will lead with TYSN's youth members to ensure that trans and gender non-conforming youth, especially young trans women of color, will continue to move to the center of the vision and mission of TYSN.
Thank you for all your support,
The Hiring Committee
Adrienne, Kelly, Ali, ReRe, Enzi and Rhys
With a special thanks to Ani for their help in this process
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About Katie Burgess
 Katie Burgess has been a community organizer for over 12 years and has been living in the Twin Cities for over half that time. After years of struggling with homelessness and drug addiction, she has found sobriety, sanity, and loving community as a young queer trans woman in South Minneapolis. Now you can find her volunteering at the MN Trans Health Coalition's Shot Clinic, serving on the GLBT Host Home Program Advisory Council, juggling fire on a unicycle in the park, or dancing in the upcoming MayDay Parade. Her strength and healing has come in part through her work with TYSN as an Advisory Board Member. The resources, community, and empowerment available to her within this organization have become a foundation for her life. Having worked with TYSN since it's inception, she has seen her personal growth run parallel with the growth and emergence of TYSN as a leader in community organizing towards racial, social, and economic justice for trans and gender non-conforming youth. Now she is excited to see her own leadership skills emerge in the community as the Executive Director of TYSN. Her commitment to ensuring the lasting sustainability of services and community for trans youth, in particular young trans women of color, is unwavering and fueled from her own experiences utilizing the tools available to her in the Twin Cities to heal. In the past two years she has transitioned into the role of service provider herself, as a Youth Counselor at Avenues Shelter for Homeless Youth. She now carries with her intimate knowledge of both receiving and providing social services, and continues to develop her solidarity with local youth of color to work against the oppressive systems that would see our community demolished. As she continues to grow more fully into her self, she is determined to increase the opportunities for trans and gender non-conforming youth to do the same. Please join her in realizing our collective strength and liberation in her position as Executive Director of TYSN. |
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TYSN Has A New Mommy!
 Come celebrate with us on Mother's Day! When: Sunday, May 8th from 1-5pm Where: TYSN (3405 Chicago Avenue South, MPLS)  Facebook Event LinkBBQ! Please bring a dish or non-alcoholic beverage to share if you like. Come give your mother a hug. Sit down. Did you try the potato salad? Why don't you ever call honey? Are you feeling well? You don't look healthy. Are you still seeing that boy? Why aren't you eating? Here fill out a volunteer sign-up form. Did you take a business card? Can I add you to the newsletter? No, don't get up - I'll get it for you. |
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In Her Own Words
Well, I didn't see this one coming. I'm really honored to be here, in so many ways, and just want to give brief appreciations to those that have come before me and helped bring me up right.
Especially to TYSN's former Executive Director, Ryan Li Dahlstrom - my mentor in so many ways. You're mark is indelible on our community. I miss you and continue to learn from you every day.
So many of you in this community have supported me to come to the place that I am in today. I carry my gratitude and love for you always. The ways that we make family, community, and solidarity with each other are the foundation for which my position as Executive Director is based upon.
With this new role comes power and responsibility. Please never stop holding me accountable. I do not come from a professional or scholarly background in this work. My wisdom is derived from lived experience. With this comes a certain degree of ignorance in areas of financial management and professional boundaries. I continue to seek mentorship in these areas.
I give you my heart - an engine to pump faithful passion into our collective struggle. Care for it well.
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Sinqueerly,
Katie Burgess
Executive Director
Trans Youth Support Network (TYSN)
P.O. Box 7625
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-363-7574 cell
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