FTM North Conference 2006 - Kalamazoo, MI

Conference website: FTM North Conference

In 2003, the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center had very few available resources for transgender people. Their mission statement, their website, even their name, had Transgender people in mind, but nothing (or no one) had yet to take on the major project of fulfilling the resource needs of the community. Sometime in March 2003, I approached the center's staff, seeking personal assistance, and what I found was an eager crew--with nothing to start from.

From that important step was born the Kalamazoo Transgender Peer Support Group, an important network of friends and collaborations with people all over SW Michigan and beyond, and they had a desire to make change happen.

Alright, so where does this amazing conference come in? Well, this past summer I received an e-mail advertising the FTM International Conference. But as wonderful as this event is I knew I could not go. I also knew that my chances of EVER going were slim, to say the very least.

But I know that life is too short to let opportunity pass me by. And after a few phone calls, a few meetings and some hefty e-mail work plans were taking shape for a Midwest conference. I can only hope that this conference will bring to the table a good deal of conversation, a lot of learning, and will help a terribly isolated group of human beings become empowered through action and visiblity.

I am proud to help present this conference to you, with the help of our generous sponsors, and I hope that you will reserve your space at this conference today.

Yours,
Eric Fleming


**Features special guests Jamison "James" Green & Matt Kailey. Keynote speeches, workshops, networking. Meals included in sliding scale fee. Western Michigan University. Sat, Apr 29, 9 am to 4:30 pm.