Help BOSS Thrive:

Across the country, trans people, especially trans people of color are facing increasing discrimination, job insecurity, and exclusion from spaces where skills and stability can be built. At a time when our very existence is being politicized, creating spaces where trans, queer, and femme folks can thrive isn’t just important, it’s necessary.

That’s why BOSS (Building Out Safer Spaces and Skill Sets) is needed.

We’ve built a skill-building community for Women, Queer, Trans, and Femme of Center (WQTF) folks, founded by trans-masc, queer builders Victor Valencia and TC Tolbert. We train, mentor, and support WQTF people in building tool and woodworking skills, and provide workshops where the trades can be accessible and demystified. We provide access to tools, education, and job opportunities in an environment that is queer and gender positive, feminist and anti-racist.

We’re not just teaching people how to build, we’re building a future where WQTF folks belong in the trades, in leadership, in creativity, and in a striving community.

But we can’t do it alone.

For the past three years, BOSS has been creating a safer job site and learning space for Women Queer and Femme of Center folks in an industry and world that has historically excluded us from the trades. We worked with hundreds of WQTF volunteers to remodel housing for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, build homes for trans women of color, built a thrift store out for Splinter Collective, sponsored a BIPOC queer community member to get their General Contractors license, and finally built out a woodshop where we provide hands-on workshops where trans and queer folks learn, teach, connect and access valuable trade skills.

Now, entering another year, we are asking for you to join us in this effort to build our community skills and resilience.

With increased negative decisions made against trans lives, opportunities for us to learn, create, and support one another are more vital than ever. Supporting BOSS means supporting trans joy, survival, and flourishing not just in words, but in tangible action.

Supporting BOSS helps keep our tools maintained, our doors open, and our capacity growing. Your support makes it possible for community members to access tools and machines for learning, practicing, and building skills. It allows us to fairly pay instructors and cover materials so WQTF folks can access training at a low cost, while also offering sponsorships for BIPOC and low-income participants. It also helps us continue supporting community build projects alongside local queer and trans-led organizations.

Every contribution, keeps BOSS building.

Support Options:
Make a One-Time or Sustaining $5 - $100 monthly Donation, every bit helps us keep going. $5 - $100 a month

Spread the Word, tell your friend, ask for this to be your Christmas gift!!!
Share our campaign with your friends and those who say they want to help but don't know how.
Give In-Kind Support, We are always looking for facilitators to teach and share their skills. Are you a trades person? Want to volunteer?

Partner With Us! We’re looking for organizations to collaborate with on projects

With your help we can make sure BOSS continues to grow and that WQTF folks know they have a space to learn, grow, and explore skills they didn't have access to in this way before.

TC and Victor

Building Out co-founders, TC Tolbert and Victor Valencia, trans-masc queer fellas smiling with their award from the Tucson LGBT Chamber.

BOSS: Building Out Safer Spaces and Skill Sets

By Splinter Art and Community Fund

BOSS: Building Out Safer Spaces and Skill Sets

A workshop for WQTF folx to learn, building skills, connect and build a stronger community.

Team Members