Founded in 2008, by Jesse Pack later joined by Chastity Bowick, Transgender Emergency Fund is the only organization dedicated to supporting low income and homeless Transgender individuals in Massachusetts.

The Transgender Emergency Fund assists with homelessness prevention, shelter assistance, nutrition assistance, prescription co-pay assistance, transportation and escort to medical appointments, etc. All services are contingent on the availability of funds. The Transgender Emergency Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and is operated solely on donations.

Meet the TEF Team

Mercédes - Social Media of Transgender Emergency Fund of MA

Mercédes

Social Media Associate
Pronouns: she/her

Mercédes is a Northeast-based Community Curator, Music Artist and Model. In May 2020, Mercédes obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing and Film from Hampshire College. Her senior thesis, an experimental documentary entitled, The World and Then Some highlights the lived experiences of three Black and LGBTQ+ Boston youth. The film premiered at the First Annual PRIDEXTENDED Fest during The Institute of Contemporary Art (Boston)’s First Fridays Series, a collaborative fest for the mutual aid initiative-turned-nonprofit she founded in June 2020. During this virtual festival, Mercédes collaborated with community artists, entrepreneurs and collectives to highlight some of the work being done by her peers in Boston, including and not limited to: visual arts, business ownership, performing arts and community cultivation. Through the efforts of the festival, she was able to tangibly support Black LGBTQ+ individuals.

From 2020-21, the raptress was an Outreach Leader at Boston GLASS, a leading organization for LGBTQ+ youth in her hometown.  She utilized her position to curate and facilitate programming that recruited and met the needs of LGBTQ+ youth including and not limited to: Defense Workshop for Trans Women and Femmes of Color, Prisms, a weekly support group for trans youth and Breaking GLASS Ceilings, a bi-weekly interview series highlighting local artists and entrepreneurs.

In July 2021, Merci made her debut as Mother of the Boston Chapter of The Imperial Dynasty Kiki House of Hua Mulan. She takes her role as House Mother seriously, making sure to foster relationships with her children and help them master their artistic crafts.

Jocelyn Flores / Community Engagement Associate of Transgender Emergency Fund of MA

Jocelyn Flores

Community Engagement Associate
Pronouns: she/her

Jocelyn is a dedicated member of the community.  She is a former Boston Youth Action Board Facilitator, where she helped create training for human services staff within the realm of youth homelessness and housing instability. Jocelyn also helped lead the YAB’s bi-weekly group of young adults who are or have been homeless in order to create and implement a plan to  prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness in Boston.

Jocelyn has gained experience in program development, which has allowed her to develop her collaboration, problem solving, and operational skills. Furthermore, as an advocate for social justice, she is proactive and ready to take initiative to further diversity, equity and inclusion especially when it comes to trans rights and issues.