About the Marshal of Joy Program
Our Foundation
The Marshal of Joy Ambassador Corps is built on the philosophy of resourcing Black trans leaders who have historically provided essential community labor without institutional support or compensation.
Black trans people have long served as informal anchors of their communities through caregiving, nightlife, ministry, mutual aid, and survival without ever receiving the recognition or resources their work deserves. MOJ exists to close that gap by validating, compensating, and amplifying that expertise at the institutional level.
What We’re Building Toward
Build Local Safety Nets
We support Marshals in creating sustainable community networks; weaving together relationships, resources, and local infrastructure that outlive any single event and strengthen the long-term safety of Black trans communities.
Empower Political and Systemic Change
We foster political representation and systemic advocacy through authentic, community-grounded engagement. Marshals are not performing for institutions .. they are building the local power that makes institutions move.
Center Lived Expertise
We validate the informal expertise Black trans leaders already carry:
survival, caregiving, nightlife, and ministry.
These are not soft skills. They are high-level organizing competencies, and MOJ & MPJI treats them accordingly.
Structure and Support
The Residency Model
The Marshal of Joy is a year-long paid residency.. not a fellowship.
Ambassadors are compensated as the professionals and community leaders they already are.
Each Marshal receives a $20,000 total package, structured in two parts.
The $10,000 Personal Stipend supports the ambassador’s own stability, time, and labor throughout the residency year. The $10,000 Event Production Budget funds 2 to 3 signature community events or activations in the ambassador’s local community.
This two-part structure is intentional. By separating the person from the project, we ensure that Marshals are never forced to choose between their
Ambassador Expectations
Ambassadors are leaders, not participants.
Each Marshal produces 2 to 3 signature community events during their residency year, anchored around Trans Day of Visibility, Pride Month, and Trans Day of Remembrance.
Beyond the required touchpoints, Ambassadors have full flexibility to propose additional events based on what their specific community actually needs whether that’s a healing circle, a resource fair, or a community celebration. No two Marshals’ years look the same, and that is by design.
Ambassadors also manage the budgeting and accounting for their own events. This is not a burden it is a feature. Financial stewardship is a professional development opportunity, and Marshals leave the program with the fiscal skills and track record to access even larger institutional resources in the future.
Our Program Advisors
Program Advisors are among the most critical assets in the Marshal of Joy ecosystem.
They are not observers; they are active guides, thought partners, and subject matter experts who walk alongside Marshals throughout their year of service.
Each advisor brings deep, real-world expertise that directly supports the work Marshals do on the ground, forming a multidisciplinary support network designed to help Marshals navigate challenges, sharpen their strategies, and show up with full confidence.
Our 2026 MOJ Advisors
NAMES TO BE RELEASED SOON! STAY TUNED!
