Meet Mel Howard

We recently connected with Mel Howard and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mel, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I grew up in Christian home where being apart of the LGBT+ wasn’t accepted or welcomed. My parents attempted to beat the sin out of me and did everything from taking my men’s clothes and giving it to my uncle, to remove me from room and place me in a room full of Angel figurines. From a very young age I learned to fight for what I felt was right and ignore who wasn’t going to accept my choices in life. I wasn’t my families ideal choice child but I found ways to love who I was becoming. I found joy in living my authentic life despite how difficult and different it was to everyone around me.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am the Executive Director of Thriving Transmen of Color which is a grassroots nonprofit organization that provides community development programs, crisis services, and referrals to those who have been deprived of the most basic living conditions. I created TTMOC to impact community lives so they can continue to flourish past racial and societal equities to rise past the harshest circumstances of their lives. When selecting who would help with leadership roles I selected black and brown trans people who care as much as I do about community but as organization I make sure we support any individuals in need of support based on need. I also encourage volunteers of all backgrounds and communities because I know everyone holds value in the fight. I encourage partnerships with other organizations and corporations who support our mission and equality for our community as a whole. One of our initiatives is to promote community volunteerism for the underprivileged and disadvantaged community members of all ways of life. I personally focus on helping individuals reach higher altitudes.
Our organization believes in the power of a chain reaction of love in the community in general, especially in the people of color aesthetic. We often see a great divide in the People of Color LGBTQ+ community that does not have to exist so we focus on building bridges of love. When one of us wins, we all win and together we can pull each other up. When we remove shame for people living as their authentic selves it opens more opportunities for us all to grow.
We created Thriving Transmen of Color because we saw the need to remove the stigma against a person of color being transgender to show the world we are capable of great things when we work together. We saw the fear, trauma, and barriers used to silence so many of our community members. We saw outsiders who judge us before they could truly see what we are capable of.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Love Love has the power to change the world but people fear it the most. Hard for a lot of community members because they think it comes with strings attached or pain. When we as community love ourselves and each other it’s powerful and unstoppable. We love our flaws, we love our allies, our community families and we change lives as one.

Unity
There is so many people who hate our existence. Who want to remove our culture and end our rights. We as community have to work together to protect our communities. We are stronger as one sound.

Determination
Giving up is easy it takes a strong person to keep going after others have told you that you would never be successful or that your nothing. Never give up and never stop believing that you can’t succeed. It’s possible but it takes more effort than rest and more resilience and endurance.

I was in classes for my speech and my reading levels were below my grade levels in school but I didn’t give up. It took me longer than expected to finish assignments and I would have to read things over and over before I could comprehend it there was no IEP plans back then but I spent my entire evenings when I came home from school still working on school and I spent my days at school hiding from bullies in the hallways and running to classroom. My parents didn’t accept my queerness my school didn’t understand it but I found my own way to thrive. As unique as I am as determined as I am I wanted to give up many of times but I am thankful of all the lessons and ways I pushed forward.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am looking for folks especially in Hampton Roads, Virginia who care about the LGBT+ community especially communities of color. I am looking for transgender individuals who want to reach out and help our community especially are youth. Ready to be role models and mentors because we need more people who can support us. I want to collaborate with other organizations who care more making difference.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Productivity
Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move