From Mason: Thank you MTPC
Five and a half years. I can’t believe it’s been over five and a half years since I started at the Mass Trans Political Coalition. This organization has been a huge part of my life and my world for the duration of my time here, and now, in my last week, there are so many things I want to say.
The time I’ve spent with MTPC has been a gift that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It has been an honor to do this work – even when the work was difficult, it was a gift. I’ve learned so much about this community, the work, and myself, that I never could have imagined going into this experience. I’ve been a student more than a teacher in my time here, learning from so many amazing leaders and community members. The lessons I’ve learned, and will continue to learn, are lessons I hope to share long after I’ve left MTPC.
My primary emotion at this moment is gratitude. From volunteers and interns, to Steering Committee members and chairs, every person I’ve come into contact with over my time at MTPC has had a profound impact on me. Many of you are like family to me now, and I can’t imagine my life without your influence and presence.
This departure, and subsequently this new chapter for MTPC, is so amazingly organic and natural. It’s the right time for me and more importantly for the trans rights movement in Massachusetts. We’ve had some fantastic wins, but our work for trans rights and equity remains unfinished. The next chapter for MTPC needs a new voice, and therefore, a new leader. I leave knowing I did exactly what I was hired to do, and knowing that the next Executive Director will have a wholly different job from the one I’m leaving.
I’m eternally grateful to Ev Evnen, MTPC’s incoming interim director, who is a brilliant and capable leader. Together with Kelsey, they will keep the ship on course while the Steering Committee, led by Michelle and Kaden, begins the exciting work of searching for the next Executive Director. And who will be the next leader here at MTPC? Well it might be you. It might be someone new to this work or Massachusetts. It might be a well known local advocate or activist in our community. Whoever it is, I hope we will all welcome them with open hearts and open arms. This work isn’t easy, but it’s possible because of the support we have from our communities.
I’m excited to embark on my own new adventure, as Director of Advocacy at Keshet. This will be an opportunity for me to bring together several critical aspects of my identity, as a Trans Queer Jew, into my work as an advocate. Together with the amazing folks at Keshet, I’ll be working to organize Jewish communities around the important work for LGBTQ+ rights. This also means I’ll be staying in the Boston area, though my work will be at the national level. I hope you’ll stay in touch! I’ll certainly be around, geographically speaking, to attend local community events.
At the end of the day, no organization, however small, is defined by one person. MTPC is, and continues to be, a community focused organization. That means that this groundbreaking institution continues to survive and thrive because of people like you, who volunteer, donate, show up, and speak out for trans rights.
Thank you for an amazing experience, and more importantly, thank you for all you do for the Mass Trans Political Coalition. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play a role in the history of this amazing organization.
In solidarity, now and forever,
Mason
Posted on March 28, 2019
