Heartland Trans Wellness Group originated, at very first, in 2007 as a small grassroots trans resource project called The GenderQueer Coalition. The GenderQueer Coalition, created and lead by Jac Stringer in Cincinnati, Ohio, was initially designed to be a radically organized community based resource hub for trans people, their partners, and family members in the Cincinnati area. By 2010, Stringer sought to expand the project’s reach and renamed the it, “The Midwest Trans and Queer Wellness Initiative (MTQWI).” The name change was significant because it signified an intermediate phase of growth, ideally resulting in the founding of a formalized non-profit.
The year 2012 marked the growth of several significant partnerships with local Cincinnati organizations including Caracole House, Pones Inc., Planned Parenthood, Crossport, and the Cincinnati Police Department. Cincinnati Trans Community Group doubled in size and activity from summer 2011 to summer 2012 and by 2013 it was noted to be one of the most active trans community programs in the country. In September 2013, the Midwest Trans and Queer Wellness Initiative formally transformed into Heartland Trans* Wellness Group. The organization kept the goals of the initiative from which it was board, with an added sense of urgency to address the growing need of the trans community.
Heartland began to obtain small grants from community funders like the Trans Justice Funding Project and local donors and by 2015 Heartland was able to launch a small Binder-Share project to support local trans people in accessing safer binding methods. Heartland Trans* Wellness Group continues to grow and strive to serve the Midwest’s greater trans community of trans people, their partners, families, and friends. The organization’s work continues to be recognized locally and nationally, and the organizers, past and present, are all anxious to provide more services and resources to the community.
The year 2012 marked the growth of several significant partnerships with local Cincinnati organizations including Caracole House, Pones Inc., Planned Parenthood, Crossport, and the Cincinnati Police Department. Cincinnati Trans Community Group doubled in size and activity from summer 2011 to summer 2012 and by 2013 it was noted to be one of the most active trans community programs in the country. In September 2013, the Midwest Trans and Queer Wellness Initiative formally transformed into Heartland Trans* Wellness Group. The organization kept the goals of the initiative from which it was board, with an added sense of urgency to address the growing need of the trans community.
Heartland began to obtain small grants from community funders like the Trans Justice Funding Project and local donors and by 2015 Heartland was able to launch a small Binder-Share project to support local trans people in accessing safer binding methods. Heartland Trans* Wellness Group continues to grow and strive to serve the Midwest’s greater trans community of trans people, their partners, families, and friends. The organization’s work continues to be recognized locally and nationally, and the organizers, past and present, are all anxious to provide more services and resources to the community.
SOcial Media presence analysis
Heartland Trans Wellness Group has only a Facebook and Twitter account. On Facebook, they have a fluctuating 1,252 likes (they've received an additional 20+ likes since I began following them), and on Twitter, they have 71 followers. They do not use other social media sites such as Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, or LinkedIn. HTWG has only a single tweet on Twitter from March 2016; needless to say, they are not really active on Twitter. Their main activity of social media, or arguably their only activity on social media, is on Facebook.
The good thing about their social media presence is that they have a detailed profile with reliable contact information, they post high quality images, and they always have a positive and upbeat tone. However, their Facebook postings are somewhat inconsistent and not particularly engaging. Based on their postings, a pattern can be determined. Most of HTWG's posts are to promote their events or events with partner organizations, with whom they are very well-connected. When I first began this analysis in January 2017, I noticed that since January 3, 2017, they had three FB posts: a post about an event, the event page for said event, and a different event page. Event pages do not have captions. In February, they reposted an event for a transgender youth rally at City Hall. Later, on March 14, they shared an event from a partner organization called Trans Ohio. On March 29, they posted about the event occurring that evening, which was a free Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic held at HTWG's center at 6pm. This post received 11 reactions and 4 shares, which is much more than many of their other posts.
The good thing about their social media presence is that they have a detailed profile with reliable contact information, they post high quality images, and they always have a positive and upbeat tone. However, their Facebook postings are somewhat inconsistent and not particularly engaging. Based on their postings, a pattern can be determined. Most of HTWG's posts are to promote their events or events with partner organizations, with whom they are very well-connected. When I first began this analysis in January 2017, I noticed that since January 3, 2017, they had three FB posts: a post about an event, the event page for said event, and a different event page. Event pages do not have captions. In February, they reposted an event for a transgender youth rally at City Hall. Later, on March 14, they shared an event from a partner organization called Trans Ohio. On March 29, they posted about the event occurring that evening, which was a free Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic held at HTWG's center at 6pm. This post received 11 reactions and 4 shares, which is much more than many of their other posts.
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All pictures from Heartland Trans Wellness Group's Facebook page
Aside from event posts, they have very few other posts except for the occasional reshare of a trans solidarity-related image. I notice that these events are posted only one time a few days before the event, there is sometimes a post on the day of the event, and there are usually no posts following the event. There is often not very much notice for events.
Another noticeable pattern is the pacing of their posts. HTWG will post a few things, usually events and images, in a span of about 2-4 days, then they do not post for 2-8 weeks, leaving long gaps between their posts. For instance, they posted on January 3, 2017 and not again until February 25, 2017 (approximately eight weeks). After February 25, they posted again on March 14, 2017 (approximately two weeks). And after March 14, they posted again on March 29, 2017 (approximately two weeks). Since their last post on March 29, they have updated their cover photo and profile photo, but have not posted anything else.
While the images they post are high-quality and they are well-connected within their community, the inconsistency in their Facebook postings and their inactivity on other social media sites gives them a pretty weak social media presence.
Another noticeable pattern is the pacing of their posts. HTWG will post a few things, usually events and images, in a span of about 2-4 days, then they do not post for 2-8 weeks, leaving long gaps between their posts. For instance, they posted on January 3, 2017 and not again until February 25, 2017 (approximately eight weeks). After February 25, they posted again on March 14, 2017 (approximately two weeks). And after March 14, they posted again on March 29, 2017 (approximately two weeks). Since their last post on March 29, they have updated their cover photo and profile photo, but have not posted anything else.
While the images they post are high-quality and they are well-connected within their community, the inconsistency in their Facebook postings and their inactivity on other social media sites gives them a pretty weak social media presence.
