Share the Love: Valentine’s Day Card Making

For this Valentine’s Day themed event, we’ll be making valentines, cards, and other crafts to share with others, decorate, or just to enjoy! You’re welcome to use the craft supplies you have access to, or request a packet with materials from FORGE. We invite you to make these crafts for yourself or for others who might love to receive a card during this time of limited social interaction! If you'd like to receive a Valentine's Day Care Package with crafting supplies for this event, please request one at this link before Feb 3rd, 2021! Request here: https://forms.gle/KCf1sa91sG47FibU9 Topic: Share the Love: Valentine’s Day Card Making Time: Feb 9, 2021 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada) https://forge-forward.zoom.us/j/96309290326 Meeting ID: 963 0929 0326 Events will have an ASL interpreter and AI-generated closed captioning. Please reach out with any access needs. Support focused groups are trans and queer led.

A look into the world of fashion model Dezjorn Gauthier

Let’s Chat: A look into the world of fashion model Dezjorn Gauthier BlackTransHistory month is almost over – but the work, passion, and brilliance of Black Trans Excellence is ever-present.   Join FORGE and guest speaker Dezjorn Gauthier – model, public speaker, pageant host, entrepreneur, and much more.  He will talk about some of his amazing journey, as well as include share about the often-under-discussed culture of pageants and runways.  Join us! Learn more about Dezjorn here: https://dezjorn.com/home/about/ https://www.instagram.com/dezjorngauthier/ Let us know you're attending on Facebook.  

Coloring & Chatting! Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Join FORGE and friends for a low-key support group to chill, connect with others, chat, and color. Folks will have the opportunity to just BE with each other. This coloring & chatting event will be centered around Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), with awareness-themed coloring pages (keep an eye out for these to be posted soon!) What is SAAM? Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an annual campaign to raise public awareness about sexual assault and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. What to bring? - A cup of hot chocolate or another favorite beverage - Pens, pencils, markers to color with - Coloring pages or book (or print a copy of one of the SAAM-focused coloring pages) - YOURSELF – however you are feeling, whatever state you are in! FORGE support events are focused on people in the trans/non-binary community(ies). Everyone is welcome – friends, family, loved ones. As we color, […]

Don’t Miss Your Shot: Covid-19 Vaccine Q&A

Vaccines for COVID-19 are becoming more widely available as eligibility continues to expand. Many trans/non-binary folks have questions about the vaccines: how do I sign up for an appointment? Where can I get vaccinated? Who can get vaccinated? What are the risks? How long will it last? What are the side effects? When will I be protected? What do I do with my vaccination card? In this transition towards mass vaccinations during the pandemic, the choices we make to protect ourselves and others may change. Bring all of your vaccine-related questions to this Q&A session with Annie Lakatos, NP. Together, we will learn about vaccine eligibility, availability, safety, and much more. FORGE informational events are focused on people in the trans/non-binary community(ies). Everyone is welcome – friends, family, loved ones. Presenter: Annie Lakatos Annie Lakatos has been a nurse practitioner since 2009 and works at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin in the Inclusion […]

Biden’s First Hundred Days: What is means for trans & non-binary communities

Much has changed dramatically for trans and non-binary rights since President Biden took office, including who’s representing our interests and how they’re discussed. Please join FORGE for conversation about what has changed in the first 100 days (and what’s stayed the same). We’ll review the administration’s commitments, explore roadblocks and what remains to be done, and hold space for discussion about how we as community members can contribute to making change. FORGE informational events are focused on people in the trans/non-binary community(ies). Everyone is welcome – friends, family, loved ones. Presenters: Shelley Gregory & Loree Cook-Daniels Shelley Gregory (they/them or any pronouns). Shelley is a trans human, activist, and advocate, and the Strategic Project Coordinator for FORGE. Shelley has worked actively in the LGBTQI+ community for over 25 years and began to focus their work on advocacy for transgender and non-binary folx nearly two decades ago. Their background is as a civil rights lawyer. Shelley […]

Safe Dating in the age of Covid-19

Safe dating should always be a priority. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are trying to meet our needs for connection with others, while also balancing needs for safety. We may already be dating or hooking up and want to make these interactions safer, or we may be thinking about starting to date or hook up as vaccinations roll out. Join us for an informative panel discussion about safe dating, COVID-19, and how changing situations may impact our dating choices. Please bring questions if you have them, or just come to listen and discuss! Event host: michael munson Panelists will be announced soon. Zoom link: https://forge-forward.zoom.us/j/92745710374 Meeting ID: 927 4571 0374

MKE TDOR 2021 – Call for submissions

Your Voice. Our Community. Our TDOR. We welcome your voice as an integral part of creating this year’s Milwaukee Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). We encourage you to add your voice – your words, music, dance, performance art – to a collection of others to create a powerful, multi-dimensional, reflective, and meaningful community event. This year’s MKE TDOR will be virtual on November 19, 2021 @ 7:00pm Central Time. The event will be an array of pre-recorded speeches, music, grounding, and community connection. Your voice is essential in making sure MKE’s TDOR is reflective of and inclusive of ALL of our broad community. We especially welcome those who have felt unheard and underrepresented.  Speakers who submit video submissions will be compensated $50. Submit your video contribution: https://forge.tips/TDOR-2021-submissions Deadline for submission: November 11, 2021 @ 11:59pm CT Here are the details about what and how to share your content: We are accepting your video submission up […]

MKE TDOR 2021

MKE TDOR 2021: Your voice. Our community. Our TDOR. The greater Milwaukee community will be honoring those who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender bias or violence on Friday, November 19, 2021 through a virtual gathering. This is a COMMUNITY event — for the community, of the community, by the community, and with the community. Part of joining together as a community this year and every year, is to hear multiple voices and diverse views. Agenda: Grounding and Centering. Speaking – Your voices. Remembering. Connecting. All content will have ASL interpretation and closed captions. We will gather on Zoom at 7:00pm on Friday November 19, 2021. If you are unable to attend live, the event will be recorded. Thank you for joining us on this path.  

Free

Mindfulness: Being in the Moment

Have you wondered how to incorporate mindfulness and meditation practices into your life?  Do you worry that the only “right” way is to contort your body into uncomfortable (or unachievable) positions – and then stay that way for a long time? There are many ways we ALL can engage in increased mindfulness in our daily lives. Lance Weinhardt will share an overview of what mindfulness is and isn’t, some of the benefits, and introduce a few 100% accessible mindfulness techniques each of us can use. This session will also include a video by Fresh Lev White, a black trans activist for love and compassion, which will guide attendees through mindfulness-based gratitude. Lance Weinhardt is a Professor of Community and Behavioral Health Promotion  at UW Milwaukee, with research interests in transgender health, HIV, and food security. He incorporates wellness into his life in many ways, including hiking, meditating, mindfulness, and connecting deeply with his family. Fresh […]

Movement for Mental Health

We often hear that movement is good for our body and mind.  True, right?  Many of us may find it difficult to find or make time to move our bodies.  Many of us have bodies that don’t move like our peers.  Many of us are not accessing indoor venues for movement due to COVID.  There are tons of easy and fun ways to include movement in our daily life.  Join in for sharing and conversation. ## Join Zoom Meeting Topic: Movement for Mental Health https://forge-forward.zoom.us/j/83112056174 Meeting ID: 831 1205 6174