Trans Youth Crafts & Connections Group

Beginning in February 2026, Ìyá Pittsburgh Project will begin hosting a trans youth peer support and crafting group every other week specifically for transgender and nonbinary young adults aged 16–25 years old.

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The purpose of the group is to serve as a time for creative trans youth to gather, work on and share their craft or art, and build community in a nonjudgemental and affirming space.

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This group will meet every other week at Ìyá Pittsburgh's office on the Northside of Pittsburgh in the Allegheny East neighborhood.

• Once every other week, on Thursdays.

• Three hours long, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

• Registration is required before attending the first time. REGISTER HERE!

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Additional group details:

• For transgender and nonbinary young adults aged 16-25.

• Group meets every other week for 3 hours on THURSDAYS from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

• Participants are encouraged to:

  • bring their current or new crafting or art projects to work on in the company of others,

  • bring food & beverages for themselves (and to share, if so moved; microwave & fridge available),

  • bring any sensory or stimming resources they need (earplugs, headphones, fidgets, etc.),

  • and to attend for at least 2 of the 3 hours and to not leave until they have cleaned up their personal craft/art space.

• Group is open to everyone with a gender outside the cisgender normative & mainstream experience, but will unapologetically center the lived experiences and safety of transgender and nonbinary BIPOC group members.

• Suggested donation $1-$5 weekly (no one turned away for lack of funds).

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Group Format:

• People can begin filtering in as early as 4:45 PM, visit the restroom, set up work spaces, get comfortable, etc.

• At 5:05-5:10 PM, a general group check-in will begin, where we will introduce ourselves with our first names, pronouns, and answer the question of the week.

• Next, we will engage in our respective craft/art projects while interacting and chatting with each other, as desired.

• Then, at 7:30-7:45 we begin winding down, cleaning up, making any announcements, & passing the basket for donations.​

  • there is a suggested weekly donation between $1-$5 as an offering to the hosting nonprofit and the group facilitator

  • no one is turned away or judged for a lack of funds

  • other ways to practice generosity on behalf of the group:​

    • stick around to talk to & connect with newcomers

    • stick around to help clean up & reset the room

• Finally, we close out the meeting at 7:55 PM by wishing everyone well until the next meeting.

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Bonus Resources:

• Ìyá Pittsburgh's resident social worker and therapist will be present in their office and available for anyone who needs to talk, ask about resources, or grab safer sex kits and harm reduction supplies from. Participants are also welcome to come to their office if they are feeling overstimulated and need a break.

• The group has a WhatsApp group for participants to join to share resources, keep in touch, and get updates & changes about the meeting.