A new coalition is working to empower Miami-Dade County’s transgender community by helping them come together and advocate as a larger force.

TRANSform Dade convened its first meeting Tuesday after about a year of planning strategies and objectives.

The group is made up of about a dozen transgender individuals and allies. Some of the founding members work for local nonprofits such as Survivor’s Pathway, CARE Resources and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

One of the first items on the agenda was a brainstorming session on how get the word out to South Florida’s transgender community that TRANSform Dade exists.

Lorena McGraw, a peer educator with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, suggested a barbecue or beach party.

“We can hand fliers out and that way we can reach the community and get them in one location,” she said.

Gaby Garcia-Vera, a field coordinator with Florida Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, volunteered to create a survey to find out what times and geographical locations are preferred for those interested in attending the group’s meetings.

TRANSform Dade was born out of a transgender workgroup funded by the Miami-Dade Health Department. Now that the funding has ended, the group is branching out on its own.

While HIV/AIDS prevention is among the issues TRANSform Dade hopes to tackle through prevention education and targeted outreach to sex workers, the group will also be a hub for trans resources and community and leadership building.

For more information about TRANSform Dade, email transformdade@gmail.com.