The I Was Here Memorial Gala was founded on the belief that representation and visibility are essential to building a community that is inclusive of trans people and responsive to their needs. In an effort to share the voices and visions of trans artists with the greater community, TWOC Healing Project sponsors two annual events: the Georgia TDOV Cookout on Trans Day of Visibility and the I Was Here Memorial Gala on Trans Day of Remembrance. In addition to bringing together and strengthening our relationships with community members, these events provide a platform for queer and trans pioneers, icons, and artists, thereby integrating them into the community.
Transgender awareness week is a crucial week for trans and gender nonconforming people who we lost to senseless violence on a national scale. At the TWOC Healing Project, we organize a variety of events designed to highlight, elevate, and educate trans and gender nonconforming people, our communities, and allies. We intend to use the events to establish a culture, community, and environment in Georgia that is characterized by unity, compassion, and celebration of life. We at the TWOC Healing Project believe it is our job and duty to honor those trans and gender nonconforming martyrs, leaders, pioneers, and trailblazer who lives were taken from us, those trans-cestors whose shoulders we stand, and those who made incredible sacrifices for us to live. It is also our mission to provide a platform for queer and trans pioneers, icons, and artists and to integrate them into the community in order to create a culture, community, and environment in Georgia that is filled with love, unity, and celebration of life.