Staff
Ciora Thomas, Founder/Executive Director
Ciora Thomas is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native and Executive Director of SisTers PGH.
Ciora founded the nonprofit in 2013 because of her own struggles as a teenage homeless sex worker surviving within a cis-tem that feeds off of trans youth homelessness, drug addiction, and transphobia. She saw no real opportunities for herself or others to thrive independently as a Black trans adolescent.
SisTers PGH advocates for social and economic justice for TGNC (transgender and gender-nonconforming) BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) within Allegheny County and operates Pittsburgh’s only trans-owned community center. Here TGNC people can obtain tangible resources like rent and utility support, medical and mental health referrals, self-affirming groups, and a chance to enroll in the many other programs SisTers PGH offers. These include, but are not limited to, the TGNC Youth Collective, which provides a platform and resource for trans youth to organize and find fellowship, and Project T, a groundbreaking temporary housing initiative that helps TGNC people transition from unstable environments and unsupportive communities to finding avenues to support themselves while connecting with the trans community via SisTers PGH and its programming.
For over a decade, Ciora has been committed to bridging the gaps between transgender and cisgender communities while building equity and direct mutual aid platforms for trans people. She has developed a model of leadership that exemplifies the need for self-sustaining Black trans-led organizations in the region. She has traveled the country building partnerships, funding streams, and relationships that continue to broaden her leadership and the organization’s mission.
Ciora is also the founder and lead organizer of People’s Pride PGH, an alternative Pride event in Pittsburgh in protest of the former Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, which racially segregated Pittsburgh Pride for over a decade. People’s Pride PGH was created in the spirit of Stonewall to center those most marginalized within the TLGBQ+ communities of Pittsburgh by highlighting the need for policy and legislation that defends and protects TLGBQ+ Pittsburghers and Pennsylvanians. Through this work, Ciora has garnished relationships with hundreds of organizations across the city, state, and country that are beneficial to the TLGBQ+ community of Pittsburgh. People’s Pride PGH has been featured on The Daily Show and is now an annual event.
Ciora sits in several seats locally and statewide, becoming the first Black trans woman to serve as Chair of the LGBTQIA Advisory Council of Pittsburgh and on the Pennsylvania Commission of LGBT Affairs. She was later reappointed as the Co-Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBT Affairs under Governor Tom Wolf’s Leadership.
Further, Ciora is the first Black Trans woman to sit on the board of PAAR (Pittsburgh Action Against Rape), where she is currently working to protect and uplift TLGBQ+ sexual and domestic assault survivors.
She has been honored with multiple awards and recognitions, including: Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40; LEAD Now Pittsburgh; Outstanding Service recognition from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; NEXT: Housing; First Swissvale Borough Pride; Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania: Frontline Award; Pennsylvania Youth Congress: Generations Award; Strong Women Strong Girls: Strong Award; Vision Towards Peace: Forerunner Award; LGBT Center FAB: Movement Leadership Award, and many more.
Kennedy B., Monica Roberts Place Coordinator
Kennedy is a Pittsburgh native and proud alum of Carnegie Mellon University, where she earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Public Policy and Management. Her academic background in ethics, history, and public policy — paired with her deep commitment to community advocacy and justice — makes her an incredible fit to steward one of the most important housing programs in our organization.
Monica Roberts Place is SistersPGH’s permanent supportive housing program created specifically for Black and Brown transgender and gender-diverse people. It is more than housing — it is a home-ownership preparation, wealth-building, and long-term stability model designed to move our community beyond survival and into generational sustainability.
As Coordinator, Kennedy serves as the lead steward of the building and program, ensuring that tenants are supported holistically while the property itself is managed with care, accountability, and long-term vision. Her role includes:
• Day-to-day building operations and tenant coordination
• Individual tenant support and stability planning
• Leading our homeownership preparation pathway
• Developing and facilitating financial literacy and savings programs
• Coordinating the Nest Egg savings model that helps tenants build real financial security
• Building partnerships with local banks, credit unions, housing agencies, and community organizations
• Expanding community-based programming that prepares tenants for homeownership, credit repair, budgeting, and asset-building
Kennedy is already working toward building out robust financial literacy courses, savings initiatives, and home-buying preparation programs in partnership with local organizations — ensuring that our residents are not just housed, but positioned for long-term success, ownership, and independence.
Her leadership helps carry forward the legacy of Monica Roberts, a pioneering Black trans woman journalist and advocate who dedicated her life to truth, dignity, and justice for our community.
Toni K. (she/her) Project T Coordinator
Toni brings a rich background in social work, having served diverse age groups- from youth to elders- in both school and community settings. She holds a Bachelors & Masters degree in Social Work & is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education & Counseling, with a focus on Traumatology.
Toni is passionate about community care, healing, and building partnerships that uplift and empower. In her new role, she looks forward to continuing her mission of supporting & strengthening the community through trauma-informed, inclusive work.
As SisTers PGH’s Project T Coordinator, Toni is working directly with our TRANSitional housing participants access internal and external resources and ultimately perm housing placement with our support.
Tamar T. (she/they) Executive Liaison
Tamar (they/them) is a black non-binary professional committed to using their
years of administrative experience to serve the trans community.
Tamar holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with 6 years of administrative experience
from academic, corporate and non-profit environments.
From their own experiences in conjunction with their time studying Mandarin and Spanish abroad, Tamar has developed a deep passion for equity, inclusion and access and is excited to utilize trauma informed care in their role as the Executive Liaison to grow into their leadership with effectiveness and compassion.
In their own time, Tamar is a speculative fiction writer and a mosaic artist.
LAtrina w.e - Behavioral Health Therapist
Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist | Behavioral Health Programs Therapist
Latrina W.-Evans serves as Sisters PGH’s Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist and Behavioral Health Programs Therapist. She provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive therapy specifically for trans and LGBTQ+ community members, with a strong focus on supporting Black and Brown trans individuals.
At Sisters PGH, Latrina offers affirming mental health support for those navigating trauma, identity development, relationship challenges, and life transitions. She also supports participants seeking gender-affirming care, therapeutic documentation when required, and ongoing emotional wellness support.
Her approach integrates trauma-informed and relational modalities to help clients build insight, strengthen communication, and develop sustainable coping tools — always meeting clients where they are and honoring healing at their own pace.
A.J. S. - Sisters phl program coordinator
A.J. Scruggs serves as the Programs Coordinator for Sisters PHL, where he provides direct services and hands-on support to trans and gender-expansive individuals in Philadelphia. In this role, A.J. works closely with participants to assess immediate needs, connect them to essential resources, and ensure they receive affirming, community-based support.
At Sisters PHL, A.J. coordinates internal referrals across programs and facilitates external referrals to trusted partners for housing, healthcare, behavioral health services, workforce development, and additional wraparound supports. He is deeply committed to creating safe, affirming spaces where trans people can access services without stigma or barriers.
A.J.’s work is rooted in advocacy, lived experience, and community leadership. He brings a strong background in civic engagement and trans-led organizing to Sisters PHL, ensuring that programming remains responsive, culturally grounded, and centered on the needs of Black and Brown trans communities.
Board of Directors
Louis Mitchell
Rev. Louis Mitchell is a pioneering "intentional man.” He is currently serving as the Senior Pastor of Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ in Tucson, Arizona. He is a co-founder, with Mx. Chris Paige, of Transfaith.
Rev. Mitchell is a proud father to his daughter, Kahlo (like the artist), and co-parent with her mother, Krysia L. Villon. He is supported by a team of trusted friends and family (by birth and connection).
Louis has been in recovery for nearly four decades and has been involved in the fight for health, respect, and self-determination since the early 1980s, with deep engagement in political, mental health, recovery, and spiritual contexts.
He brings his own learned experiences, a broad range of resources, theories and studies, to offer a fresh, “on the ground”, open-hearted, holistic strategy to the work of individual and community healing, intersectional diversity planning and commitment to personal and community agency and solvency. He is a confirmed believer in the restorative power of truth telling in the voices of those whose stories are often told about them rather than with them.
His teaching and trainings have been sought by government agencies, universities, churches, denominational bodies and businesses around the country.
Engaging and witty, he brings his whole self to each endeavor and appreciates the opportunity to guide and witness growth and wholeness!
Some key accomplishments include:
Contributor, “Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families”, Peggy Gillespie (released May 2023) – May 2, 2023
Profiled in the documentaries: Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen (2008, Zeigler & Lora), Gender Journeys: More than a Pronoun (2016, Luke Allen) and More than T (2017, Silas Howard)
2022 The I Am Human Foundation Lifetime Service Award
2017 International Jose Julio Sarria Civil Rights Award from the Imperial Court of Western Massachusetts
2015 Claire Skiffington Vanguard Award from the Transgender Law Center for his long-time advocacy for the disenfranchised
2011 Haystack Award from the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC for his work in Social Justice and Social Ministry.
President’s Award from the Wells College students for his 2015 Residency on Intentional Inclusion and Building Diversity
Recognized as a part of the 2014 edition of the Trans 100
Named as one of the ten leading Black Religious leaders Advancing LGBTQ Justice by BelieveOutLoud
Honored by Black Trans Advocacy with a Foundation Award in 2013. Established in his name, the "Louis Mitchell Foundation Award for Empowerment" acknowledges those who increase spiritual, political, or social strength through service, personal encouragement, and availability to the Black Trans Community.
Profiled in the LGBT Religious Archives Network gallery
Provided keynote addresses for the 2011 Transgender Religious Leaders Summit, the 2012 Inaugural Black Transmen, Inc. Conference, the 2012 Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference, and the 2017 First Event Conference.
Served as a founding member and East Coast Regional Minister of TransSaints, a ministry of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM)
Served as the founding Officer for Religious Affairs for the Transgender People of Color Coalition (TPOCC)
Served as a member of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention at both the regional (Pioneer Valley) and the statewide (Massachusetts) level.
Co-founded Recovering the Promise Ministries in Springfield, MA
Worked with clients and staff at Morris Home, a transgender-specific residential recovery house in Philadelphia, PA
Served as founding executive director of the Oshun women’s drop-in center (San Francisco, CA)
First “out” trans-identified board member of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (now The Task Force) and a founding member of Lesbians and Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action (LGADDA)
Mo’Nique Campbell
Mo’Nique Campbell is a dedicated advocate, leader, and public health professional with extensive experience in nonprofit management, health education, HIV prevention programming, and social services. She currently serves as the Clinical Programs Manager at Roots, where she plays a pivotal role in ensuring equitable access to healthcare and social services for marginalized communities. Her work at Roots is deeply impactful, focusing on addressing the unique needs of Black and Brown communities, particularly those navigating housing instability, behavioral health challenges, and systemic barriers to care.
In addition to her work at Roots, Mo’Nique is the Founder and Executive Director of Lady J & Linda Kay’s House (LJLKH), a multi-service nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cis Black women, Trans women of color, and their children. LJLKH provides critical services such as professional development, workforce training, linkage to primary and behavioral healthcare, housing assistance, and community enrichment programs. Under her leadership, LJLKH continues to fill service gaps and create pathways toward stability, empowerment, and self-sufficiency for historically underserved populations across the Bay Area and Central Valley.
As a Health Educator, Gender and Health expert, Mo’Nique has spoken on and participated in various panels, institutions, and conferences. Some of her engagements include Sacramento
State University, UC Davis, Santa Clara University, the United States Conference on HIV & AIDS, A Shot in The Arm Podcast, UCSF School of Medicine, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is also a CDC-trained behavioral intervention facilitator of the TWIST (Trans Women Involved in Strategies for Transformation) intervention, further deepening her expertise in community-based public health strategies.
With a background in public health, nonprofit leadership, and community organizing, Mo’Nique has consulted for the CDC, worked with the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), and continues to champion health equity for historically marginalized populations. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Social Work at Walden University, further solidifying her expertise and commitment to social justice and advocacy.
Her passion for transformative change is driven by lived experience, a deep understanding of systemic inequities, and an unwavering dedication to improving the lives of those most impacted by oppression.
We are grateful for the prior service of:
Brittani D. Murray, Board Treasurer
Drew medvid, Lead Project Coordinator Brothers PGH
Stephanie Alona Helen, Lead Progra Coordinator TGNC Youth Collective
Celeste Scott, Housing Chair & Board Member
Rest In Power Celeste!