ORGANIZE • Advocacy, Community Defense & Leadership

A comprehensive, movement-centered hub building the political power, safety infrastructure, community leadership, and accountability systems necessary for Black LGBTQ+ liberation.

This pillar acknowledges the ongoing realities of anti-Blackness, transmisogynoir, state violence, legislative attacks, and community crises. It equips Black LGBTQ+ people with both the tools and the structures to defend ourselves, build power, and lead transformative social change.

1. C • T • T Community Accountability Board

Community-Led Oversight for the Entire C.O.T.T.O.N. System

The C • T • T Community Accountability Board ensures that every part of C.O.T.T.O.N. remains rooted in Black queer and trans liberation. Grounded in your three value principles — Caring • Trust • Transparency — the board is a mechanism for community power, governance, and structural accountability.

This board operates as the internal compass guiding safety, policy, programming decisions, and organizational culture.

The Accountability Board functions as the heartbeat of integrity and community power within the C.O.T.T.O.N. ecosystem.

2. Black Trans Civic Leadership Academy

A structured, intentional leadership training initiative preparing Black trans, queer, and nonbinary people for roles in organizing, advocacy, public leadership, and movement strategy.

This academy is designed to build long-term leadership pipelines rooted in political education, cultural knowledge, community accountability, and the lived experience of Black trans people.

The Academy builds the next generation of Black trans leaders — grounded, skilled, and ready to shape policy, movements, and liberation strategy.

3. Movement Responders Unit

A rapid-response team built to protect, support, and mobilize for Black LGBTQ+ people in moments of crisis, violence, or community need.

The Movement Responders Unit combines mutual aid principles, protest safety strategies, and culturally grounded crisis support to ensure that no Black LGBTQ+ person faces harm alone.

The Movement Responders Unit strengthens community defense by offering culturally specific, non-police support rooted in solidarity, safety, and collective power.