Change for the Community: Marsha P. Johnson Institute

Last month we pledged to refocus our Change for the Community donation efforts by committing to aiding more organizations who support racial justice and equality. That’s the reason we went off in search of non-profits like the Marsha P. Jonhson Institute (MPJI), and we’re better off for being introduced this inspiring organization.

The MPJI community is made up of black trans people and those committed to undoing white supremacy in all of its forms. MPJI seeks to eradicate systemic, community, and physical violence that silences the black trans community from actualizing freedom, joy, and safety. They were created to elevate, support, and nourish the voices of black trans people. 

MPJI was founded both as a response to the murders of black trans women and women of color like Marsha, and how that is connected to their exclusion from social justice issues, namely racial, gender, and reproductive justice, as well as gun violence. They work to protect and defend the human rights of black transgender people by organizing, advocating, creating an intentional community to heal, developing transformative leadership, and promoting their collective power.

Marsha P. Johnson made a name for herself in a variety of ways, one of them reportedly being a prominent figure in the Stonewall Uprising, protesting the violent police raid. She met her untimely end on July 6, 1992, shortly after attending the New York PRIDE parade. So much of our understanding of Marsha came from the accounts of people who did not look like or come from the same place as her. As transness is now more accessible to the world, introducing MPJI to black trans people who are resisting, grappling with survival, and looking for community has become a clear need. Donations help to spread the word, and fund programs like Artist Fellowships, Community Organizing Fellowships and more. We honor her life this month and hope our donations can help to safeguard other black trans people in her name. Donate at the co-op all through the month of July by rounding up your transactions at check-out. 

Thank you to artist extraordinaire Kendrick Daye for creating and offering the collage above of an image taken by Hank O’ Neal of Mother Marsha at NYC’s Pride march in 1977. You can find more of Kendrick’s work on Instagram at @kendrickdaye

Know a great non-profit that focuses racial justice and equality or food insecurity issues and needs our help? Let us know which 501c3 organizations we should consider for future drives, and our staff will vote to select a new recipient each month.