Community Rich
Growing up in New York City with my Burmese and Taiwanese heritage shaped how I move through spaces of racial justice work. I grew up Capitalist Poor, Community Rich. My parents immigrated from Burma and like many of us, sacrificed comforts and worked hard. I never went hungry, and was raised by my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older cousins. With some road bumps, they accepted who I was as I started physically transitioning through hormone therapy and surgeries. I didn’t come out; I just was and am. My family showed love through bringing me cut fruit, saying I’m handsome, and the most coveted: saying they are proud of me. I believe that everybody deserves this kind of love from our beloved communities.
My gender journey intertwines with my cultural identity in a blessed collective-oriented life- representing paths of self-discovery that mainstream American activism doesn’t always understand. When I facilitate discussions about race and oppression, I bring these intersecting experiences with me into every room. As a young trans director, I’ve learned to turn what some might see as limitations into strengths. My voice may be soft, but it carries the weight of generations. I owe a great deal to Kalamazoo, where a village of Black matriarchs have lovingly taught me community engagement and called me in when I committed harm. We all have harmed, but I was lucky enough to have folks who cared to hold me accountable.
Our community spaces flourish when we embrace complexity and honor all ways of being. In my childhood, I’ve witnessed how sharing our authentic stories can transform hearts and challenge preconceptions. In my work, I’ve seen transformation happen in real time through collective impact. When we move from defensive postures and pride to genuine curiosity, when tears flow during honest conversations about grief and power, when people begin to imagine and work toward new possibilities for justice – these moments remind me why I do this work.
Bio
J. Kyon (they/them) is a queer Burmese-Chinese organizer, Director of Community Engagement at the Michigan Transformation Collective and Principal Consultant at Courage & Compassion Consulting LLC, focusing on racial and gender equity. J. has been coaching and facilitating for 10 years, serving over 200 organizations. Previously, as the Director of Community Impact at YWCA Kalamazoo, they managed community education programs and workshops centered on Racial Equity, Health Equity, Human Trafficking, and Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault. They are currently serving as a co-chair on Stara’s Board, an organization that provides infrastructural support to grassroots projects through operations, fiscal sponsorship, and professional development.
They have a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Public Policy and Urban Affairs from Kalamazoo College and a Masters degree in Urban Planning from USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. J. studied at the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute, researching indigenous farmers’ rights, tourism-centered urbanization, and seed sovereignty in Northern Thailand. While J. has had the privilege of learning in academic institutions, J. finds that the best teachers are community youth and elders in their life.
J.’s passion is working toward a world where our built environments serve everybody. They love cooking and beading presents for their loved ones. They are a proud New Yorker; however, you can find J. being harassed by their dogs in Kalamazoo, MI.