Invest in Catiriana's relocation and growth

My name is Catiriana some may know me as Sparklez and I am fundraising for my upcoming move to Oakland. I have found a lovely home to land in and need support to provide for myself while transitioning into a new job. I am leaving New York after having spent almost 10 years engaged with my queer and trans communities in cultivating creative spaces like the MIX Film Festival and performing and DJing at events. I am eager to return to these passions in the Bay Area once I am settled in the months ahead.

I am relocating to Oakland to be closer to nature, more connected to my communities in the Bay Area, and to be closer to my school in Pasadena. As I prepare to move to Oakland on May 1, 2023, I am seeking community investment in my sustainability.

I am excited about how this move to Oakland will enable me to continue my Ph.D. program in Humanistic Clinical Psychology at Saybrook University in Pasadena. So far in my Ph.D. program, I have been focused on the humanistic elements of psychology to approach mental health services by caring for the whole person and providing radical healing spaces. Another focus is leading research by and for trans and nonbinary communities to illuminate our experiences and our visions for justice and liberation. Through my ongoing research, I hope that it will inform what trans and nonbinary communities want and need when it comes to work, community, safety, and what it will take for us to flourish. To show up for this doctoral program, I aim to sustain a home environment where I can thrive and engage deeper in my education, work, and community.

Specifically, all funds raised will be used to pay for rent, utilities, and other basic needs as I adjust to a new community. Your support will allow me to provide for my immediate needs as I prepare to return to school in January 2024.

Thank you so much for your support and love!