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Daniella’s story: an unbreakable spirit

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HASHTAG #DaniellasDream

My name is Karissa Sanbonmatsu and I am writing on behalf of a special LGBT youth I've had the privilege of becoming friends with, Daniella Carter. Daniella is helping to build our foundation, Gender Global, which aims to empower youth, provide assistance, and motivate families, employers, and friends to be more supportive to transgender identified individuals. A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to hear Daniella’s plenary speech in Portland at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) conference. She explained how she was placed in foster care at the age of 18 months old and faced unspeakable sexual, physical, emotional and mental abuse. After getting her life together, she was then grabbed off the street and raped, and is recovering. Her dream is to lead a foundation that will help put a stop to violence and discrimination against transgender people. With your assistance, we can raise the money needed to help Daniella get back on her feet. Any money that exceeds the target will go towards her foundation, Gender Global. As Jama Shelton (deputy director of the True Colors foundation for homeless LGBT youth) said in her introduction to Daniella’s speech, “Daniella Carter is the future of our movement. She is also the right now of our movement”. I can tell you that her pain has molded her into one of the most amazing people I have met: an unbreakable spirit, full of beauty, energy and resilience. I know Daniella is destined to change the world. Let’s help make that happen. We appreciate any and all help and are committed to continue the fight of giving back.

Daniella's Story

At just one and a half years old, Daniella was placed in New York City’s foster care system. She suffered unspeakable abuse from the very individuals instructed to keep her safe. Things became even worse when her guidance counselor reunited her with her maternal mother. To this day, she has permanent emotional and physical scars from the abuse of her maternal mother. While many abuse survivors see no other way out than suicide, Daniella chose to run at the age of 14. This was the moment that shaped the young woman you see giving the powerful speech above. Although she had no family support, she managed to get her high school diploma and start attending college.

Daniella Today

Daniella has been given the opportunity to make change for homeless youth and LGBT issues on a local, national and international level. She has stood alongside House Assembly Members of New York State to present a resolution to Congress on healthcare inclusion, sat on several panels with members of the New York City Council, and spoken about educational inequality at Rutgers University. Daniella has lent her voice to community events and organizations in hopes of bringing visibility to the experiences of trans youth. She continue to share her life experience at local high schools via the national campaign, ‘Live Out Loud’. She also speak at national conferences across this country to address LGBTQ youth homelessness. Daniella spearheaded Gender Global’s kickoff initiative, where we premiered the MTV documentary, “Laverne Cox’s the T word” in Berlin, Germany together with Transgender Europe (TGEU) and had a panel discussion on the American and European trans narratives.

Daniella’s future and Gender Global

Daniella continues to live in her truth and break barriers that once were considered unbreakable, bridging race, class, age and gender. During the last 4 years of her community work, she has managed to contribute all she can while finding housing stability and maintaining it. Now she needs community support so she can continue to do community work. We are trying to raise money to help Daniella get back on her feet with medical, school, public speaking classes and travel for community building and events. If she is lucky enough to exceed $10,000, the excess will be used for her long term goal, directing the Gender Global Foundation, which raises public awareness of transgender issues and seeks to facilitate transition across the globe. The primary goal is to identify resources in mental health, education, financial management, career services and small surgery scholarships. Focused on enabling and empowering those who struggle, Gender Global aims to build bridges and achieve acceptance, realizing a vision where gender diversity is celebrated in all regions .











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  • Shadi Petosky
    • $100
    • 9 yrs
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Daniella Carter
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Parking, NY

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