Who we are
OUR Story Institute is a community-rooted organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQIA+ people, especially Black transgender women and transgender women of color, through leadership development, self-advocacy, financial literacy, and community connection.
We believe the people most impacted by injustice should have the opportunity to lead, create solutions, and shape their own futures. That's why we're committed to creating opportunities that help individuals build confidence, strengthen their voice, and grow into leaders within their communities.
At OUR Story, we know leadership doesn't begin with a title. It begins with believing in your own potential, building meaningful connections, and having the tools to create the future you deserve.
our mission
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our mission *
OUR Story Institute exists to help LGBTQIA+ people, especially Black transgender women and transgender women of color, build the skills, confidence, connections, and opportunities they need to thrive.
We believe the people most impacted by injustice should have the opportunity to lead, create solutions, and shape their own futures.
Through leadership development, self-advocacy, financial literacy, community engagement, and economic opportunity, we're helping create a future where Black transgender women and transgender women of color aren't just surviving systems — they're influencing them, leading within them, and changing them for those who come next.
Our vision
OUR Story Institute envisions a future where Black transgender women and transgender women of color are empowered to shape their own futures, lead within their communities, and influence the systems that impact their lives.
We believe a stronger future is possible when every person has the opportunity to be heard, valued, and equipped to turn their lived experience into leadership.
We believe leadership exists in every community. Sometimes it simply needs the opportunity to grow. Our vision is a world where trans women have the support, connections, and opportunities to fully step into their potential and help build stronger, more equitable communities for generations to come.
Civic Leadership & Community Voice
OUR Story Institute believes strong communities are built when people have the knowledge, confidence, and opportunity to engage with the systems that shape their lives.
For many LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially Black transgender women and transgender women of color, challenges related to housing, healthcare, employment, safety, and opportunity are often connected to larger policies and public systems.
That's why we believe civic engagement matters. By helping community members better understand how decisions are made and how their voices can influence change, we aim to support the next generation of advocates, leaders, and changemakers.
This work may include opportunities to explore:
• How local government and community decision-making works
• Public meetings, commissions, and advisory boards
• Civic leadership and public service pathways
• Community advocacy and understanding how public decisions affect everyday life
Our goal is simple: to help people feel informed, engaged, and confident in using their voice. By strengthening civic knowledge and leadership, we hope to support a future where LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially Black transgender women and transgender women of color, are not only represented in conversations about change, but helping lead them.
our founder
OUR Story Institute was founded by Epiphany Kali, a Black transgender woman, community leader, entertainer, and advocate committed to creating opportunities for LGBTQIA+ communities, particularly Black transgender women and transgender women of color.
Through years of community building, advocacy, public leadership, and lived experience, Epiphany witnessed firsthand both the challenges and the extraordinary resilience within the trans community. She recognized that while many people are fighting to survive, far fewer are given the opportunity to develop their leadership, strengthen their voice, and shape the systems that impact their lives.
OUR Story Institute was created from a simple belief: the people closest to the challenges are often closest to the solutions. By investing in leadership development, self-advocacy, financial literacy, community connection, and economic opportunity, the organization is helping build pathways for trans women to lead their own lives, strengthen their communities, and create lasting change.