Meet Our Team

Board Member and Executive Director

Nathan is a Transgender man who has been transitioning since 2011. He achieved his BA from Montclair State University with a major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in 2013, and has been working professionally in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion space for over a decade. He has spoken publicly at numerous educational institutions including being a guest lecturer at Princeton University on a panel for Trans rights, and the keynote speaker for the inaugural flag raising ceremony for LGBT+ Pride Month in Belleville, NJ. He also served for 2 years on Essex County’s LGBT+ advisory board. Currently, Nathan is a board member for the LGBT+ Resource Group of a Fortune 100 company where he continues to advocate and make an impact on the cultural competency in the corporate sphere.

Board Member and Director of Operations

Dan is a transman who started transitioning in 2013 shortly after earning his BS in Molecular Biology at Montclair State University. He has previously taken on leadership roles in LGBTQ+ employee resource groups, championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As someone living with multiple marginalizations, Dan also understands the complex intersections of being Trans, a person of color, and living with a disability as an above the knee amputee. As such, the ongoing efforts and advocacy work he does through TEC and its community partners is specifically viewed through these lenses to ensure the impact is widespread, equitable and inclusive. Currently, he is pursuing his Masters in Information Technology and is excited to apply these skills and knowledge in furthering community connectedness and outreach. 

Consultant

Simmi is a young non-binary public health worker. They are passionate about equity, intersectionality, and gender affirming care. She is currently a part of Project TEA (Trans Empowerment in Action) at NJCRI.

Director of Outreach

Logan is a dedicated transgender man who began his transition journey in 2016. He earned an Associate’s degree in Psychology from Passaic County Community College in 2018, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising and a minor in Marketing from Rowan University in 2022. Logan has a deep passion for sports, particularly basketball, and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking. He is a fervent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and is committed to making resources accessible to everyone. Logan can be reached via email at logan@transequitycoalition.org.

Community Advocate

C is a trans non-binary undergraduate student at Northeastern University where they major in American Sign Language — English Interpreting and minor in Sociology and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. They are the co-president of a Reproductive Justice and sexual health club at Northeastern, as well as the Secretary for their campus’s ASL and Deaf culture club. Additionally, they are passionate about Disability Justice and have been working in disability-centered spaces since 2019. They look forward to pushing towards queer and trans liberation with Trans Equity Coalition!

Board Member - Bio Coming Soon!

Volunteer

Laurel (Lo) Henk graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2021 with a BA in Film and Animation: Editing and minors in Theater and Public Relations. They are a proud nonbinary individual who works to use their knowledge and passion regarding media, entertainment, and social justice to spread awareness of important issues and current events.

Communications Team Lead

Hunter is trans non-binary. At 23, they suddenly felt that they needed to explore their gender expression and identity, even though that hadn't previously called to them. Over the last few years, they experimented and gradually changed their gender expression and identity, finding excitement and warmth in their feminine and fluid gender. The confidence they have found in gender transition has rippled out into all aspects of their life. They are passionate about building community and hope to help trans people connect in New Jersey.

Group Facilitator/Volunteer

Ali is a queer creative neurodivergent nonbinary disabled therapist that holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Women’s and Gender Studies and LGBTQ Studies from Montclair State University. Both prior to becoming a licensed counselor in NJ, and in the five years since their licensure, Ali has worked in a variety of mental health settings across the state of New Jersey such as group homes, respite homes, domestic violence and sexual assault crisis centers, outpatient agencies, partial hospitalization/ intensive outpatient, and in clients’ homes, serving a wide range of clients from early childhood through elder adulthood. Ali has experience working with neurodivergent disabled LGBTQIA+ community members and survivors, mainly with folks navigating intersectional identities throughout their coming out, transition, individuation, and healing journeys. Ali has also enjoyed speaking engagements, tabling festivals and events, and presenting a variety of tailored psychoeducational and interactive workshops and seminars at their past workplaces and alma mater over the last decade that center the unique perspectives, challenges, and clinical considerations of queer and otherwise marginalized people as they affect the accessibility of services. Ali currently works as a full-time outpatient therapist at the Integrative Therapy Institute of New Jersey (ITI-NJ). Ali is most fulfilled when they help others gain a sense of liberatory authenticity, honesty, and transparency in their existence that creates an unbreakable sense of empowerment that leads to a person’s dream life despite their imposter syndrome. They also love drag, a lot! They look forward to connecting with you in groups and events all over NJ!