Angelica Ross’ organization TransTech Social Enterprises recently celebrated its ten-year anniversary. “[It’s] not just an incubator—it’s a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ talent, with a special focus on economically empowering our transgender siblings,” she said. “We’ve built a co-working, co-learning community that uplifts and empowers through practical career-ready skills.”
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00:00 Wow, oh my god.
00:02 (audience laughing)
00:03 Thank you so much.
00:04 Oh my god.
00:06 Thank you so much.
00:06 It's just so humbling to stand here in this room
00:10 with so many amazing change makers
00:13 and to be recognized by Time Magazine
00:16 as one of 18 black leaders working tirelessly
00:20 to bridge the racial wealth gap.
00:21 Just, thank you so much.
00:23 Looking around this room, I see so many faces
00:26 that I have known for so many years
00:29 doing this work that have carried the torch
00:32 of progress, innovation, and relentless dedication
00:36 to our communities.
00:37 And Issa, sis, I see you.
00:40 I see you.
00:43 And trust me, I understand firsthand
00:46 about Hollywood's reluctance
00:47 to fully embrace our narratives.
00:49 I too was eagerly anticipating
00:51 a all-black-led American horror story cast,
00:54 but you know, it didn't happen.
00:57 No, it didn't happen.
01:00 But you know, we are here still making waves
01:03 and breaking barriers, and just, Issa,
01:06 I just wanna say specifically,
01:07 your resilience has inspired me so much.
01:11 (audience applauding)
01:14 The journey that I have embarked on for over a decade,
01:17 first as a grassroots organizer
01:20 and later as the founder of TransTech Social Enterprises
01:24 has been nothing short of transformative.
01:28 TransTech is not just an incubator,
01:30 it's a sanctuary for LGBTQ talent
01:33 with a special focus on economically empowering
01:36 our transgender siblings.
01:39 We built a co-working, co-learning community
01:42 that uplifts and empowers
01:44 through practical, career-ready skills.
01:47 And this year, we hit our monumental milestone
01:51 of being in business for 10 years, y'all.
01:54 (audience cheering)
01:55 10 years!
01:57 That means I'm a genius.
01:59 (audience laughing)
02:03 Yes.
02:03 The energy at the TransTech Summit this March
02:07 will be unparalleled because we understand fundamentally
02:11 that when we devise solutions
02:13 for the most marginalized among us,
02:15 society as a whole will reap the benefits.
02:19 The road I have traveled has demanded everything from me.
02:24 My time, a few tears, my resilience,
02:30 and I would willingly sacrifice it all over again,
02:35 knowing full well that the magnitude of breaking free
02:38 from the oppressive chains of a system
02:40 that seeks to devalue us,
02:42 to remind us that our black bodies are expendable.
02:48 But here's the thing.
02:50 My life mission is to empower every individual,
02:54 especially those within the black and brown,
02:56 queer and trans communities,
02:58 to resist any narrative that paints them as disposable
03:03 and to instill in them a deep-seated belief
03:07 in their inherent worth,
03:08 even if they are facing relentless devaluation.
03:13 Malcolm Gladwell in his seminal works in "Outliers"
03:17 talk about 10,000-hour ruling.
03:20 It takes approximately 10,000 hours of practice
03:23 to achieve mastery in a field.
03:25 And reflecting on a decade of tireless work,
03:28 of triumphs and challenges, I see the truth in that theory.
03:33 The journey to where trans tech stands today
03:36 was fraught with hurdles, but the rewards,
03:40 the lives that we've touched,
03:41 the barriers we've broken have been immeasurable.
03:45 And this work, this dedication to my community
03:49 demands accountability.
03:51 It's about showing up day in and day out,
03:55 even when the odds are insurmountable.
03:58 It's about building trust and authority,
04:02 not just within our communities,
04:03 but also among the corporations and institutions
04:08 that have that power to enact real change.
04:11 So as I accept this honor,
04:14 I wanna just take a moment to bring light
04:17 onto another trans trailblazer,
04:21 a friend of mine, B. Hawk Snipes,
04:23 who runs the Black Trans Film in the Arts Collective
04:28 is works in there.
04:30 And again, I'm working to focus on employment
04:34 and these things,
04:35 but sometimes when it comes to queer and trans folks,
04:39 it's revolutionary just to have a dream
04:43 and to participate in the arts.
04:45 So the work that I'm doing is important,
04:47 but the work that the Black Trans Film in the Arts
04:50 is doing as well is very important.
04:52 So I just wanted to share this moment with you.
04:54 (audience applauding)
04:57 And also I have a new podcast
05:02 called No Opportunity Wasted,
05:06 and I would not be able to take advantage
05:09 of this opportunity.
05:11 (audience laughing)
05:13 If I did not tell you all to follow and download my podcast,
05:18 no opportunity wasted.
05:21 Thank you.
05:24 (audience applauding)