The Center For Third World Organizing

It's been 161 years since enslaved people were alerted of their freedom in Galveston, Texas. We honor this day to celebrate the emancipation of Black americans and the work being done to continue the fight towards liberation.

Q***R HISTORY IS MOVEMENT HISTORY.

There is no way to honor q***r history without the people who organized, resisted, and created spaces of safety and belonging. Q***r history and movement history are inseparable.

William Dorsey Swann (1860–1925) is recognized as the first person dubbed the “Queen of Drag.” Born into slavery, Swann began hosting underground drag balls in Washington, D.C., during the 1880s. These gatherings provided rare spaces for community and self-expression at a time when blackness and q***rness were heavily policed.

Over the years, Swann’s balls were repeatedly raided, and he was eventually arrested for keeping a “disorderly house.” After being sentenced to 300 days in jail, Swann petitioned President Grover Cleveland for a pardon. Although the request was denied, the act itself was a powerful form of resistance. Supported by 30 friends who signed the petition, Swann’s appeal is considered one of the earliest known legal and political efforts In defense of q***r people's right to gather free from criminalization, suppression, and police violence.

Source: House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens by Channing Gerard Joseph

CTWO IS HIRING!

We’re looking to hire a Director of Strategic Initiatives and Impact. To learn more about our organization, this position, our benefits, and the application process, visit bit.ly/ctwohiring or the link in our bio. Apply by June 26th.

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA! Are you ready to be skilled up?

Join us July 18th & 19th for our Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted by United Women of Color.

United Women of Color empowers girls, women, and their communities by uniting people across ethnicities to address civic and educational gaps for advancement

Check out the link in our bio or bit.ly/ctwo101 to learn more and sign up!

SAN FRANCISCO! Are you ready to be skilled up?

Join us July 1st & 2nd for our Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted by 5 Elements Youth Program and ¡Poder!

5 Elements uses hip-hop culture and Ethnic Studies to develop the social and emotional learning of youth through art, critical education, and civic engagement. ¡Poder! organizes with Latinx immigrant families and youth to put into practice people-powered solutions that are locally based, community-led, and environmentally just.

Check out the link in our bio or bit.ly/ctwo101 to learn more and sign up.

At CTWO, liberatory leadership is essential to our framework. It refines how we move both internally and externally as an organization.

➡️ Swipe to learn more about the framework we developed in collaboration with the Liberatory Leadership Partnership (LLP)

At CTWO, we believe power can be created and held in 4 different ways. Swipe to learn about the 4 types of Power and how you can harness that power for your future campaigns.

Want to become a sharper organizer? Visit bit.ly/ctwo10 to see our upcoming offerings.

Through 2025, CTWO has invested in what short-term cycles often neglect: deep organizing, leadership development, and lasting movement infrastructure. Through national and local trainings, stronger partnerships with base-building organizations, and spaces for political education, cultural grounding, and strategic exchange, we continue building power for the long term. Despite political backlash, shrinking philanthropic investment, and increasing pressure on grassroots organizations and organizers, we've remained steadfast in our mission: to organize the masses.

Swipe for a snapshot into our 2025 Annual Report and visit ctwo.org for a more in-depth look into our year