Fund Research that Supports Trans College Students of Color

Hello! My name is Alvin N. Mangosing, and I am a 3rd year doctoral student in San Francisco State University’s Educational Leadership graduate program. I am raising money to fund a research project during the Spring 2025 semester, that will explore the lived experiences of transgender (trans*) students of color who attend Jesuit Catholic universities.

Little research has been conducted to understand, specifically, the lives of trans* students of color at Catholic universities, and it is important to do so, given the current social and political climate in this country around race, gender identity, and religion (LINK ). This project hopes to learn how a more inclusive and welcoming university experience for trans* students of color is possible.

As a research team, I will partner with a team of 6-8 trans* students of color at a Catholic university to explore their experiences on campus, using a research method called Photovoice (LINK ). These students will represent aspects of their university life through photographs that they take over 2 weeks. Afterward, they will attend multiple workshops to discuss the context and significance of their photos. These images and stories will then be showcased in a Gallery Exhibit or some other form of visual representation (printed book, website, video, or social media campaign) that the students will curate. Campus community members (and donors) will be invited to this culminating event that will take place towards the end of the Spring 2025 semester.

This research project will require each student to commit to 23 hours of research work over the course of 2-3 months.

Why Community-Centered Research Funding Is Important:

Students selected for this project will be dedicating their labor, knowledge, and time to scholarly research, thus taking time away from jobs that could otherwise be paying their rent, groceries, and tuition. Because trans* individuals, compared to their straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer peers, experience more discrimination, harassment, or unjustified terminations in the workplace (LINK ), I am choosing to compensate them for their contributions to the project. The compensation will be $20/hr, a little more than The City of San Francisco’s minimum wage. I want students to be able to participate in scholarly research and still have their basic needs and financial obligations met. Grants are often restrictive in how they expect research projects to be facilitated and funded. Community-centered research funding directly supports the research participants and allows the research team to stay true to the scope of the project. This is the type of care that I want to ensure our students receive as we do this work.

Total Hourly Commitment from Students: 23hrs (Workshops, Trainings, Exhibit Planning, and Research Interviews)

Total Compensation per Student: $460

Number of students for the study: 6-8 students

I also need $1500 to fund printing materials, refreshments, and space/equipment rental costs for the Gallery Exhibit/Event. The anticipated completion of this project will be in April/May 2025.

Therefore, my goal is to raise a total of $5000 for this research project.

It would mean so much to me and the students if you contributed to this research project. I would also ask that you share this GoFundMe with any friends, family, or parishioners who support uplifting the voices of trans* students of color, whose stories and experiences need to shine and be amplified in religious spaces and conversations.

Thank you in advance. I am super grateful to be able to do this work, and I look forward to sharing the impacts of this work made possible by your support.

Alvin N. Mangosing