Community Research Affirming Folks of Trans experience

The CRAFT lab is dedicated to research and action to

  • resist and heal from stigma (cisgenderism, misogyny, racism, ableism)

  • support addiction recovery

  • increase access to gender affirmative care

  • reduce HIV health inequities

We are a team of queer and trans community-based participatory researchers whose work aims to develop and implement sustainable, peer-led, evidence-based behavioral health interventions.

Keep scrolling to see some of our recent projects.

Investigators from Illinois Tech are testing a new mutual-help group called “the TLC program” for transgender folks who use substances or are recently in recovery. The TLC Program is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or “ACT” which is a type of mental health counseling that focuses on using mindfulness skills to connect a person to their values and improve their mental health.

We surveyed 140 transgender women of color across the United States to learn about their alcohol use, experiences of stigma, psychological stressors, and HIV risk behaviors.

Meet the Team

  • Arryn Guy she/they

    Principal Investigator

  • Liza Kolbasov they/them

    PhD Student

  • Kate Linenbach they/them

    PhD Student

  • Mikey Shock she/her

    PhD Student

  • Risa Flynn she/her

    Community Partner

  • Mika Baumgardner they/he

    Community Partner

  • April Saravia she/her

    CAB Member

  • Carla Ibarra she/they

    CAB Member

  • Danny Guerra he/him

    CAB Member

  • Jennifer Schwartz she/they

    CAB Member

  • Olly Richards they/he

    CAB Member

  • Storm Gaustria she/they

    CAB Member

  • Jesus “Yarimah” Iñiguez she/they

    CAB Member

  • Nico Moody they/them

    CAB Member

Learn More