Upcoming Events
Black Trans Empowerment Week Opening Ceremony
The Mahogany Project and Save Our Sisters United are excited to kick off Black Trans Empowerment Week with a joyful community celebration. This opening ceremony sets the tone for a week full of festive and inspiring activities, bringing together community members, partners, and allies. The 2024 theme, "We Are One," reminds us that despite the challenges or attempts to divide us, the community remains united in strength and resilience.
TGNCI Summit
This event, organized by trans-led organizations, is dedicated to providing a safe space for TGNC people.
The Trans Empowerment & Alliance Awards Brunch
The Trans Alliance and Empowerment Party (TEA Party), hosted by The Mahogany Project and Save Our Sister United, is a celebration of the Black and POC TGNC community in Houston. This event features a brunch, entertainment, and an awards ceremony honoring outstanding community members. Proceeds from the event fund TGNC initiatives and support community action, leadership, and civic engagement.
Day of Rest
Encourage the rest of the black transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender nonbinary community.
Community Hang Out
We're having a "Community Hang-Out" during Black Trans Empowerment! Come join us for a casual get-together to meet new people, make friends, and have some fun. We'll have food, games, and laughter, and you can even contribute to our trans safety quilt. Everyone is welcome, so come on by and hang out!
Reign in Paradise: A Celebration of Life TDOR
Join us on Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20, for Reign in Paradise: A Celebration of Life, in partnership with Save Our Sisters United and part of Black Trans Empowerment Week.
From 12pm until 6pm, we will be making art and holding space with a vigil at The Mahogany Center.
Community mixer will begin at The Mahogany Center at 6:30pm.
SOULGIVING
SoulGiving, a highlight of Black Trans Empowerment Week, brings together the Black TQLGBIA+ community for a festive celebration. This event offers delicious food, engaging conversations, and a sense of solidarity. It's a chance for like-minded individuals to connect and celebrate their shared experiences.
Hot Chocolate & Karaoke
Come join us for The Mahogany Project's "Hot Coco & Karaoke" on December 13th from 6 PM to 10 PM CST! We’re celebrating the holiday season and the incredible efforts of our volunteers, partners, and community members. It’s a laid-back evening filled with karaoke, fun holiday vibes, and a chance to reflect on all the memories from this past year. Plus, you’ll get to create a unique holiday gift to take home!
We’ll have tasty holiday snacks and drinks; everyone is welcome to join.
The Mahogany Project Trans Safety Quilt
The Trans Safety Quilt is a cultural and social initiative launched by The Mahogany Project in 2024.
Autumn Mental Health & Wellness Fair
Learn More About Sliding Scale LGBT & Gender Affirming Therapy, HIV/STI Screenings + More. Raffle Prizes, Food & Fun!
For more information, please reach out: info@themahoganyproject.org
The Mahogany Project Anniversary & Family Reunion
Celebrate our organization's 7th anniversary by highlighting our growth and the fantastic community members who have supported us. We're pleased to host a family reunion-style event with fabulous food, live music, activities like volleyball, cornhole, and giant Connect Four, prizes, and an opportunity to learn about our organization. This event is free, but only registered attendees will receive raffle tickets and prizes.
TMP Office Closed - Memorial Day
The Mahogany Project office will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.
Black Queer Book Fair and Day Party
LGBTQIA+ community members and authors can share space, read books our government wants to ban and learn about how to keep queer storytelling alive while listening to the best Black R&B, Hip Hop, Soul, House, and Dance music at the Black Queer Book Fair & Day Party.
Kindred Stories partners sell LGBT author books and other items. Want something tasty? Third Coast Flavor will provide popular dishes on-site. Get your TMP Pride gear before the season starts. It's a day party celebrating LGBT literature and community, not just a book fair.
Multiplicity & Kehinde Wiley Exhibit Tour with MFAH
During Houston's Splash and Black Pride Week, The Mahogany Project is partnering with The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to provide a one-of-a-kind cultural and artistic event. You will gain complimentary access to a safe guided tour of two of the city's most popular exhibitions, "Multiplicity: Blackness in Contemporary American Collage" and "Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence."
Soul Care - Feeding The Soul
Join us for an exclusive cooking class where the TGNC community can connect through the art of fine cuisine. Whether you're a beginner or simply looking to refine your culinary skills, this class is the perfect place to start.
Folx-tales
Join Us in Celebrating and Preserving the Rich History of Houston's TQLGB Community.
In partnership with the esteemed Charles Law Library, we are proud to present an unprecedented live archiving event dedicated to capturing and conserving the vibrant stories, achievements, and legacy of Houston's Trans, Queer, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual community.
Vigil for Diamond Brigman
In a heartfelt and human touch, we invite the community to come together in a vigil to celebrate and remember Diamond Brigman, a cherished soul within our community and a valued client of The Mahogany Project. Diamond's unwavering commitment to the well-being of our community, her eagerness to lend a helping hand wherever needed, and her relentless pursuit of building a thriving life for herself have left an indelible mark on all of us. Let us gather in unity to honor her memory and the beautiful legacy she leaves behind.
Transgender Day of Safety
This March 23rd from 11 AM - 2 PM at The Mahogany Center, we're crafting the very first quilt for trans safety. Draw inspiration from the legendary AIDS quilt to create a new symbol of hope and awareness for trans lives.Be a Part of History:Bring tokens for the quiltFind comfort in communityAmplify trans voicesLet's stitch together stories of resilience. Your piece matters in this mosaic of solidarity.
Memorial Service for Righteous "Chevy" Hill
Join us in a heartfelt commemoration for the remarkable Righteous Torrence "Chevy" Hill, a beacon of light and love within the Black Trans community, tragically taken from us in Atlanta, GA. Chevy, a cherished son, brother, partner, and father, was the visionary behind Evollusion, an inclusive black/queer-owned LGBTQ+ salon. His mission was to foster a welcoming environment that offered more than just beauty services, but a safe space for young Black queer people to feel affirmed and supported.
Charity BINGO Night
Five rounds of bingo with different prizes every round. You will get 1 FREE card per round. Any additional cards are $2, and all proceeds go to The Mahogany Project.
Hosted by Frost Town Brewing
7600 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024
Come and join us as we make individual maps to guide our 2024. Please bring photos, magazines, new paper, and other craft items you would like to use on your vision board, as The Mahogany Project may have a limited selection.
The Color Purple Screening
We cordially invite you to a significant occasion hosted by Borealis Philanthropy and The Fund for Trans Generations – The Flower Crown Project launch event. This initiative is dedicated to celebrating the brilliance and transformative influence of Black Trans Femmes, who are actively shaping the future of capacity building in philanthropy.
Mistletoe & Karaoke
The Mahogany Project's inaugural holiday celebration honoring the dedication and commitment of our volunteers, partners, and community members to the organization's mission and vision.
Holiday light bites and beverages will be served.
Name Change Clinic
Join us for a Community Name Change Clinic to enhance your access to voting and the legal affirmation of your documents. We understand that these services can often be expensive and strive to make them more accessible, ultimately ensuring greater convenience in your daily life.
Documents to be recovered, replaced, or changed: -ID -SSC -Birth Certificate
Reign in Paradise
We cordially invite the community to join us for the 'Reign in Paradise' event, featuring this year's panel and the past two years' discussions. The event will be held at The Mahogany Project Center. Our aim is to pay tribute to and honor our trans siblings whose lives were tragically taken. We look forward to welcoming you there!
The Trans Empowerment and Alliance Party & Awards Brunch
Join us for the grand finale, "The Trans Empowerment and Alliance Party - This Is Us... A Celebration of Changemakers." Salute the life, legacy, and remarkable trailblazers of Houston. Witness these beacons of change as we recognize and celebrate their role as models of possibility.
TGNC Trans Summit 2023 Vol. 1.3
The Mahogany Project proudly presents its third summit of the year. This strategic gathering aims to outline future steps for our proposals, establish working groups, and devise a schedule for enhanced community engagement. Join us as we engage in candid discussions, brainstorm innovative solutions, and map out strategies to foster a safer and brighter community.
Marsha's Plate Podcast Live
Experience the lively and thought-provoking world of 'Marsha's Plate,' a podcast hosted by the captivating Diamond Stylz, a Houston-based digital strategist, black feminist, civil rights advocate, and a pivotal figure in the Black trans community. With an unapologetic and humor-filled approach, 'Marsha's Plate' immerses its listeners in fresh perspectives, compelling narratives resonating with trans identity, and the inspiring voices of influential Black trans leaders. Serving as an inclusive platform, it amplifies marginalized voices, challenges societal norms, and celebrates the resilience of Black trans individuals. Join us for a live experience of the 'Marsha's Plate,' and be a part of this vibrant and transformative movement.
SoulGiving
SoulGiving, an illustrious occasion amidst the vibrant array of events during Black Trans Empowerment Week, serves as a beacon of unity and celebration in the Black TQLGBIA+ community as the fall season unfolds. This festive gathering is a symphony of joy and connection, weaving together the rich tapestry of our community over sumptuous meals and enlightening dialogues. It's an invigorating space where kindred spirits come together, fostering deep connections in a sense of family and shared jubilation.
Black Trans Empowerment Week Opening Ceremony
The Mahogany Project invites you to the fifth annual Black Trans Empowerment Week Opening Ceremony honoring Monica Roberts.
The Stroll Screen with Kristen Lovell "Director"
The Mahogany Project presents a Fireside Chat and live Screening of The Stroll Documentary with the director Kristen Lovell. Christen Valentine will host the fireside chat. About "The Stroll" When Director Kristen Lovell moved to New York City in the 1990s and began to transition, she was fired from her job. With so few options to earn money to survive, Kristen, like many transgender women of color during this era, began sex work in an area known as “The Stroll” in the Meatpacking District of lower Manhattan, where trans women congregated and forged a deep camaraderie to protect each other from harassment and violence. Reuniting her sisters to tell this essential New York story from their first-hand experiences, Kristen’s intimate narration and interviews bring an astonishing array of archival material of bygone New York from the 1970s through the early 2000s to life.
By attending this event, you consent to be photographed and acknowledge that The Mahogany Project may use any media, images, and content for marketing and promotional purposes. The Mahogany Project will retain all rights to such materials.
Annual Events
Black Trans Empowerment Week
Black Trans Empowerment Week serves as a heartfelt tribute to the entire Black trans and gender-diverse community, along with its dedicated supporters, who are committed to forging a brighter future for Black transgender individuals. BTEW is a jubilant commemoration of life, legacy, and the tireless community leaders who shape the landscape of Houston.
Taking place over a span of seven days, from November 15th to 21st, The Mahogany Project and Save Our Sister United join forces to orchestrate a series of community engagement events. These events aim to foster thriving communities that fully embrace transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex individuals.
In a world where the lives of Black Trans individuals are tragically still being taken against their will, the urgent call for support at both city and national levels to safeguard our Black Trans community cannot go unnoticed. Failure to address this issue perpetuates the erasure of the Black Trans experience and leaves Black Trans individuals exposed to the forefront of transphobic hate and violence.
Hosted every year, Black Trans Empowerment Week stands as an inspiration, inviting individuals to rally behind the inclusion of Black Trans communities in a manner that resonates deeply with them. This celebration offers Houston residents a unique opportunity to educate themselves about the pivotal role played by Black Trans Women in American and Houstonian history. It encourages introspection, challenging preconceived biases about the Trans community, and advocates for the rights, safety, and overall well-being of Black Trans individuals wherever possible.
SoulGiving
Every year, on the third Thursday of November, SoulGiving takes center stage as an integral part of Black Trans Empowerment Week. This cherished event serves as a radiant beacon of unity and celebration within the Black TQLGBIA+ community, marking the arrival of the fall season. SoulGiving is an annual festive gathering, a harmonious symphony of joy and connection that weaves together the vibrant threads of our community through delectable meals and enlightening conversations. It's a rejuvenating space where kindred spirits converge, nurturing profound bonds that evoke a sense of family and shared jubilation.
The primary purpose of this annual event is to create a courageous haven for community members to come together, forge connections, thrive, and grow.
Dear Marsha
Dear Marsha is an annual event that takes place during the third week of November, offering a poignant and artistic exploration of transgender individuals' experiences. This unique gathering provides a platform for individuals to connect, not only through spoken and visual art but also through meaningful dialogues and the process of healing. "Dear Marsha" serves as a heartfelt tribute to the life and enduring legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, while also amplifying the voices and showcasing the faces that represent the joys and challenges of today's TGNC community. Through its powerful narratives and creative expressions, "Dear Marsha" illuminates the resilience and strength of the community, fostering understanding and empathy among all who participate.
Trans Alliance & Empowerment Party
The annual Trans Alliance and Empowerment Party, affectionately known as the TEA Party, takes place on the third Sunday of November each year. Hosted by The Mahogany Project in collaboration with Save Our Sister United, this event is a multifaceted celebration of unity, empowerment, and community support. It begins with a delightful brunch, providing attendees with a warm and inviting space for connection and relaxation. Beyond its festive nature, the TEA Party serves as a vital fundraiser, channeling resources into initiatives that address the pressing needs of TGNC individuals. The highlight of the event is the awards ceremony, where outstanding Black and POC TGNC Houstonians, as well as allies, are honored for their remarkable contributions to the community. These accolades not only recognize past achievements but also inspire others to become advocates for positive change. The TEA Party fosters upward mobility, allocates resources to essential services, and underscores the importance of community activism, leadership development, and civic engagement within the TGNC community, fostering a brighter future for all.