Trystan Reese
HE / HIM / HIS
Trystan Reese is an anti-racism workshop facilitator who has been organizing with the trans community for nearly two decades. He is a professionally trained anti-racism facilitator and curriculum designer, studying under Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington at the Social Justice Training Institute.
We believe that change is developmental, so a "one size fits all" approach is rarely effective.
Popular Talks
Bridging to Authentic DEI
If you’re ready to take on the work of DEI but feel apprehensive about where to begin, start here. In this modified DEI 101 session, we will unpack common definitions and address what it takes to create an inclusive environment for marginalized identities. Familiarization with terms such as White privilege, allyship, accessibility, and equity, and intersections with marginalized groups such as LGBTQ, PoC, and persons with disabilities.
Unpacking DEI
Designed to support participants in understanding the impact of race on daily experiences, participants can expect to have dialogue about unconscious bias, intersectionality, personal stories and leave with new tools, perspectives, and frameworks. This session can be customized to address inequality in hiring and promotion practices that prohibit the accumulation of wealth, and exacerbate generational poverty.
Understanding Unconscious Bias and White Privilege
Once we see our privilege, we can acknowledge it, share it, and dismantle the systems that support inequities. Regardless of your previous experience, you will leave with additional skills.
Raising Awareness and Capacity-Building Through DEI
Deepen your understanding of racial identity development and move from inactive to active leadership. We will engage with the complexities of dismantling White supremacy and examine intersectionality. This is a 2-part series. This is recommended for Executive teams, hiring managers, and internal DEI Employee Resource Groups to better serve your internal support systems, and external clients.
Creating a Trans Inclusive Workplace
This 90-minute training will be a mix of head (the facts and data around trans communities), heart (the empathy and connection needed to foster an affirming environment), and hands (practical skills to help trans people feel welcome in your work). From gender-neutral language and asking for pronouns from colleagues, to meaningfully recovering from inevitable missteps, this workshop will ensure that everyone leaves with tangible skills to help make a more inclusive and affirming space for your trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming staff and clients.
I’ve Got Your Back: Becoming an Active Trans Ally
Ever heard a client or co-worker say something inappropriate but weren’t sure how to respond? Trystan will provide your staff with effective tools for interrupting oppressive moments when they occur in and outside the workplace. Using a methodology based on scientific research for how to spark behavioral change, Trystan will equip learners with tools for having effective, shame-free conversations around racial and gender justice.
Speaking, Workshops, Consulting, & Coaching
Workshops
Intersections of LGBTQ Identity: A Panel Discussion During this interactive panel, Trystan Reese moderates a discussion with a diverse set of LGBTQ
activists. The conversation will focus on participants’ unique experiences based on the intersecting identities they hold. The panel will discuss how we can honor our differences across identity and use the experience of our own lived identities to enhance our allyship across lines of race, gender, and sexuality.
Bridging to Authentic DEI
If you’re ready to take on the work of DEI but feel apprehensive about where to begin, start here. In this modified DEI 101 session, we will unpack common definitions and address what it takes to create an inclusive environment for marginalized identities. Familiarization with terms such as White privilege, allyship, accessibility, and equity, and intersections with marginalized groups such as LGBTQ, PoC, and persons with disabilities.
Unpacking DEI
Designed to support participants in understanding the impact of race on daily experiences, participants can expect to have dialogue about unconscious bias, intersectionality, personal stories and leave with new tools, perspectives, and frameworks. This session can be customized to address inequality in hiring and promotion practices that prohibit the accumulation of wealth, and exacerbate generational poverty.
Understanding Unconscious Bias and White Privilege
Once we see our privilege, we can acknowledge it, share it, and dismantle the systems that support inequities. Regardless of your previous experience, you will leave with additional skills.
Raising Awareness and Capacity-Building Through DEI
Deepen your understanding of racial identity development and move from inactive to active leadership. We will engage with the complexities of dismantling White supremacy and examine intersectionality. This is a 2-part series. This is recommended for Executive teams, hiring managers, and internal DEI Employee Resource Groups to better serve your internal support systems, and external clients.
Creating a Trans Inclusive Workplace
This 90-minute training will be a mix of head (the facts and data around trans communities), heart (the empathy and connection needed to foster an affirming environment), and hands (practical skills to help trans people feel welcome in your work). From gender-neutral language and asking for pronouns from colleagues, to meaningfully recovering from inevitable missteps, this workshop will ensure that everyone leaves with tangible skills to help make a more inclusive and affirming space for your trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming staff and clients.
I’ve Got Your Back: Becoming an Active Trans Ally
Ever heard a client or co-worker say something inappropriate but weren’t sure how to respond? Trystan will provide your staff with effective tools for interrupting oppressive moments when they occur in and outside the workplace. Using a methodology based on scientific research for how to spark behavioral change, Trystan will equip learners with tools for having effective, shame-free conversations around racial and gender justice.
Consulting
At Collaborate Consulting, we build results-driven partnerships from the ground up, listening to your needs and guiding your projects with decades of experience in LGBTQ inclusion, racial justice, equity for the trans community, reproductive justice, inclusive journalism, marketing to the LGBTQ community… and so much more!
Coaching
When I work with you, you’ll get my full attention and focus. It’s rare to have someone truly listen to everything you’re saying (and not saying), from your words to your embodied experience. I am fully present to your challenges, successes, hopes, and fears. This is not therapy. I hope you have an actual therapist for that. This is full-on planning mode.
Where do you want to be, where are you now, and what is getting in the way. I’ll give you concrete tools to get from here to there while removing barriers internal and external as we go.
I can’t help it— I want you to thrive. No, that’s not right… I want you to be WILDLY successful. To make all the change in the world while living a life that empowers you to keep making change for a very long time.
“Trystan is all the things a good presenter should be: engaging, entertaining, and informative. He is also more than that: he’s incredibly smart about the way he presents information, utilizing exercises and techniques to facilitate understanding and inclusion.”
— Carlisle Pearson, Esq. Associate Attorney at Lane Powell LLC
“Enlightening, smart, funny, poignant—and radically informative. With love and creativity, Trystan brought us the best mix of story and science.”
— Wendy Davis, Executive Director of Postpartum Support International
“It’s hard to find people with Trystan’s ability to bring such a high level of professionalism and yet warmth and accessibility to everything he does. His listens to understand your objectives, then works closely with you to find creative and positive ways to reach those goals. I would highly recommend Trystan and look forward to working with him again.”
—Scott Brown, Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Generate Life Sciences
“Trystan is an absolutely inspiring facilitator, and brought incomparable energy to a room filled with future clinicians and medical students. From the very first contact Trystan facilitated a seamless organization process… Students, faculty, as well as community members in attendance were completely captivated by Trystan’s humor, sensitivity and profound knowledge. He imparted imperative wisdom on all of us, and left us enthused to continue our education, as well as continue to push for the inclusion of sensitive, affirmative, and evidence based care for the LGBTQ and particularly trans community.”
– Columbia University
- LGBTQ-owned Business
- Traveling from West Coast, USA
Trystan Reese is an established thought leader, educator, and speaker, focusing on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Trystan has also been organizing with the trans community for nearly two decades and has been on the frontlines of this generation’s biggest fights for LGBTQ justice.
Trystan launched onto the global stage as “the pregnant man” in 2017 when his family’s unique journey gained international media attention. He was invited to give closing performances for The Moth Mainstage in Portland, Albuquerque, and Brooklyn; a video of the Brooklyn event has garnered over 2.6 million views. Trystan partnered with many major media outlets, including CNN, NBC, People, and Buzzfeed, to bring his message of love and resilience to the mainstream.
The founder of Collaborate Consulting, Trystan provides customized training solutions for individuals, organizations, and communities interested in social justice. He has trained hundreds of medical providers on LGBTQ inclusion, has delivered keynotes at dozens of conferences and convenings, and has released his first book, How We Do Family in July 2021.
He is married to his partner Biff and they live in Portland, Oregon with their three kids: Lucas, Hailey, and Leo.
Let’s collaborate to ensure a transformative experience.