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Support Black Trans Poet in NYC

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Hey y’all. My name is Cai Rodrigues-Sherley and I am a queer Black trans-masculine person living in Brooklyn, New York with my partner, who I married January 17th. This GoFundMe is for the first year of my NYU MFA Program in Creative Writing, where I will be concentrating on poetry (see this link   for a sample of my work/proof I’m not trash). This is my dream program, and unfortunately I cannot currently afford to go. I already had to decline another offer because it was expensive as fuck, but when I got into NYU off the waitlist in May I promised myself I would find a way. As a Black queer person, a survivor of sexual assault, and a former Boston resident (yikes), poetry has saved my life many times. I write to honor Black trans life, and eventually plan to be a poet-educator, working with community colleges and youth programs. I currently work at a non-profit that provides scholarship opportunities and on-campus support to NYC public school youth.

I have a partial tuition scholarship, and these funds would cover the remaining tuition, in addition to 1 year’s worth of basic health insurance for me and my partner! The total amounts to $21,826, however even a fraction of that would make a huge difference. In addition to being a low-income and single income household, my partner is a queer Brazilian asylum seeker, whose case has been pending for over a year. She recently graduated from Smith College, but has not received her work authorization card because COVID-19 has basically put all immigration proceedings on hold. I won’t qualify to sponsor a green card for her due to income requirements either. Fuck Trump and abolish ICE.

I will have to leave my job in August and currently do not have anything lined up, although I am looking. Her student health insurance will also run out in August. The extra $2000 will  cover rent for a couple months after my job ends.

Here is a complete breakdown of the costs:

$ 8,203/semester (incl. all fees)

$1,355/semester x2 for health insurance

= $21,826 for the year

+ 2 month’s rent ($2,000 total)

GRAND TOTAL = $23, 826

We both recognize that this is a huge ask, and so we are adding the following terms to this Go Fund Me:

1. Any additional funds will be donated to the Black LGBTQIA Migrant Project from the Transgender Law Center, and the donation receipt will be made public on my instagram.

2. In the event that I find a job before September (PRAY FOR A BITCH), the extra $2,000 will also go to the Black LGBTQ+ Migrant Project.

3. Anyone who donates more that $100 can request a personalized poem from me

Thank you so much for your support, and for helping me and my partner make this dream a reality. Please share if you can. Any amount is appreciated and will make a huge difference. Bless.

Donations 

  • bryce mcauliffe
    • $5 
    • 4 yrs
  • Paige Kimble
    • $10 
    • 4 yrs
  • Precious Musa
    • $10 
    • 4 yrs
  • Carson Rice
    • $5 
    • 4 yrs
  • Carson Rice
    • $5 
    • 4 yrs

Organizer

Cai Rodrigues-Sherley
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY

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