El/La Para TransLatinas (fiscally sponsored by Community Initiatives)

El/La Para TransLatinas is a safe space and holistic support organization for transgender Latinas (translatinas). We started in 2006, building on 20 years of experience working in HIV prevention efforts with translatinas in the Mission District of San Francisco. We are the only organization in the Bay Area (and in California) solely providing direct services to translatinas. We are dedicated to seeing them thrive, be who they want to be and live a dignified, healthy life, free of violence and HIV. In the safe space that El/La creates, translatinas come together to eat, celebrate, express themselves, play, practice their spirituality, learn, access resources, collaborate with other organizations and participate in public community events. At El/La, translatinas receive culturally competent services (across their intersecting identities, i.e. ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation) in Spanish which include violence and HIV prevention education groups, one-on-one peer counseling, accompaniment to service agencies, HIV testing, leadership development and case management, as well as spiritual ceremonies, social activities and field trips. As an organization we also participate in coalition-building and advocacy on transgender and immigration issues.