Who we are
OUR Story Institute is a community-rooted initiative dedicated to expanding leadership opportunities, resource access, and long-term stability for LGBTQIA+ communities — with a particular commitment to uplifting Black and trans women of color, whose leadership, resilience, and vision have long strengthened movements for justice and equity.
We believe that communities thrive when the people most impacted by inequity are supported not only with resources, but with the opportunity to lead, shape solutions, and build pathways for others.
Through leadership development, community partnerships, and resource navigation, OUR Story Institute is working to create opportunities that move individuals from survival toward stability, visibility, and leadership.
our mission
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our mission *
OUR Story Institute exists to empower LGBTQIA+ individuals — particularly Black and trans women of color — by expanding access to leadership development, trusted resources, and community-centered opportunities that strengthen long-term stability and civic participation.
Our mission is rooted in the belief that sustainable change happens when communities are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and support necessary to shape their own futures.
By connecting individuals with opportunities for growth, collaboration, and civic engagement, we aim to strengthen both individual lives and the broader communities they help lead.
Our vision
OUR Story Institute envisions a future where LGBTQIA+ individuals — especially Black and trans women of color— have equitable access to leadership opportunities, stable resources, and spaces where their voices shape the systems that impact their lives.
In this future, communities are supported by strong networks of collaboration between advocates, service providers, and civic institutions, creating pathways that allow individuals not only to survive, but to thrive as leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
Civic Leadership & Community Voice
OUR Story Institute believes strong communities are built when people have the knowledge, confidence, and support to engage with the systems that shape their lives.
For many LGBTQIA+ individuals—particularly Black and trans women of color—barriers to housing, healthcare, employment, and safety are often connected to larger policy decisions and public systems.
Our work aims to ensure that community members are not only supported through services, but also empowered to understand, navigate, and participate in civic processes that impact their communities.
This includes building awareness around:
• Local government and community decision-making
• Public meetings and advisory boards
• Civic leadership pathways
• Community advocacy and policy awareness
By strengthening civic knowledge and leadership, OUR Story Institute seeks to support a future where LGBTQIA+ individuals—especially Black and trans women of color—are not only represented in conversations about change, but are leading them.
our founder
OUR Story Institute was founded by Epiphany Kali, a community leader, entertainer, and advocate dedicated to expanding opportunity and visibility for LGBTQIA+ communities — particularly Black and trans women of color.
Through years of community engagement, public leadership, and cultural visibility, Epiphany witnessed firsthand the barriers many LGBTQIA+ individuals face when seeking stable resources, leadership opportunities, and pathways for long-term growth.
These experiences inspired the creation of OUR Story Institute: a structured model designed to connect individuals with trusted resources, leadership development opportunities, and collaborative partnerships that strengthen communities.
By bringing together community members, organizations, and civic leaders, Epiphany founded OUR Story Institute with the goal of building a future where LGBTQIA+ individuals have the support, visibility, and opportunities needed to lead.