CREATING EQUITY WHILE EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING BLACK TRANSGENDER AND NONBINARY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY

The McKenzie Project, Inc stands as a pioneering Black trans-led organization in South Florida, uniquely positioned as the sole Black Trans-led entity in Miami-Dade County. Our mission is to uplift individuals aged 14 and above within the Black Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Non-Binary (TGNCNB+) community across Miami-Dade and Broward County, with a special emphasis on addressing factors that can lead to separation from families and lack of access to education for young people and eliminating homelessness and harmful survival strategies experienced by our community members without support. We use creative arts-based advocacy to promote HIV awareness, and we offer entrepreneurship studies to address economic disparities that disproportionately impact our community in relation to HIV.

MISSION: Is to thrive through living, learning, and actively contributing to the creation of inclusive communities. We focus on centering spaces for Black TGNCNB+ individuals, fostering entrepreneurship, and driving innovation to achieve self-sufficiency and prosperity.

VISION: Is to eliminate obstacles to joy and liberation for Black TGNCNB+ individuals in South Florida. We aim to enhance economic conditions while actively working to eradicate homelessness, diminish reliance on survival sex work, and combat the HIV epidemic in the region.

Value Statements

R.O.P.E.S

Responsibility: Embrace opportunities to contribute to our community with respect, equity & equality.

Ownership & Clarity: Accepting responsibility for the best outcomes for our community.

Participation: We value and recognize the contribution of volunteers within organizations and communities.

Expression: We value for everyone to be unapologetically, expressive and fun

Strive: We Withhold great quality and excellence through continuous improvement.

Home: Welcome

Kelly Price MetamorphosisKelly Price

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MEET JASMINE MCKENZIE

Jasmine McKenzie was born and raised in Miami, Florida. A black transgender woman, she has been living with HIV for the past 19 years and three years ago she openly came out to her community, family and close friends about her HIV status. She is not only a long term survivor, but a mother, aunt, grandma, business owner, advocate, pillar and voice of her community. She is the CHANGE- a Black woman of trans experience who is committed to changing and molding her community with an extreme focus on making sure that other Black transgender and nonbinary bodies have a safe and amazing future. Fighting for equity for TLGBQ+ community is her top priority. As an add-on to making sure the general population of cis folks become educated and empowered with the proper education and knowledge around HIV/AIDS, she became a certified HIV tester in 2019 in the state of Florida where she has help conduct HIV wraparound services and linkage to care for those living with HIV and or out of care. Before Jasmine got into the line of work with community advocacy in 2016, she became the executive director of Color N Raw which was a community-based modeling agency which has now become a youth enrichment program for young black TLGBQ+ folks in both Miami and Broward County. August 2019 Jasmine opened her first drop-in center which catered to the South, Florida ballroom community and allies. On Feb 8th, 2020, she started a Black trans-led and Black trans-focused organization. Named The McKenzie Project, Inc. were She serves as the founder and executive director. In 2021 Jasmine was awarded the “Changemaker Award “by the National LGBTQ Task force gala. On June 4, 2022, she was recognized as a local leader doing extraordinary HIV advocacy work for HIV Long Term Survivors Awareness Day. On June 4, 2022, she will be recognized as a local leader doing extraordinary HIV advocacy work for HIV Long Term Survivors Awareness Day. It was the 15th day of August 2022 when both The McKenzie Project and TRANSsocial opened two drop-in resources centers in both Miami-Dade and Broward County. Ms. McKenzie is also a passionate and active member of the South Florida Ballroom community and serves as the mother of The Iconic and Legendary House of Ebony and is the Co-Chair for Trans Pride Fort Lauderdale. Jasmine is the band aid, that is covering all the healing wounds of those who have been broken and abused in the south Florida trans community.