The Woodlands is a monthly, online spiritual community gathering for trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender expansive, and intersex people, as well as the parents, caregivers, partners, and spouses who love and support them.
Rooted in Unitarian Universalist values, The Woodlands exists to offer belonging, spiritual care, and restoration-centered community in a world that too often denies trans people safety, dignity, and rest. This is not a discussion group or advocacy forum—it is a place to be held, celebrated, and nourished.
Launched in September 2025 by Rev. Jami Yandle, The Woodlands has become a consistent home for people seeking connection with others who understand their lives firsthand. Here, trans lives are not debated or explained. They are honored as sacred, whole, and worthy of care.
What Happens at a Woodlands Gathering?
Each monthly gathering is gently structured and chaplain-led, offering both grounding and flexibility.
Gatherings include:
- A shared opening ritual and grounding
- A monthly theme centered on resilience, restoration, identity, or joy
- Story-sharing and reflection
- Breakout groups designed for different ages and identities
- A brief postlude shared together as one community
- Participants are never required to speak. Listening, resting, or simply being present is always enough.
Community Groups
To ensure safety, relevance, and care, participants gather in small groups based on age and role:
- Saplings: trans youth (13–high school)
- Sycamores: trans adults (18+)
- Sequoias: parents & caregivers of trans people
- Sequoias Jr.: parents & caregivers accompanying trans children 12 and under
- Sweetgums: partners & spouses of trans people
Every group is nurtured by trained chaplains who hold space for stories, tears, delight, and healing. We close each gathering as one community, with a shared chalice release and words of grounding to carry into the wider world.
The Woodlands Gatherings 2026-2027
Dates
- September 6th, 2026
- October 4th, 2026
- November 1st, 2026
- December 6th, 2026
- January 10th, 2027
- February 7th, 2027
- March 7th, 2027
- April 4th, 2027
- May 2nd, 2027
The Woodlands pauses during June, July, and August each year and returns in September. We intentionally build in a summer sabbath period for both participants and chaplain staff as a practice of rest, sustainability, and long-term care.
As a carefully designed, nationally supported UUA program grounded in thoughtful stewardship of time, staffing, and financial resources, this seasonal rhythm helps ensure that The Woodlands remains strong, well-supported, and sustainably staffed for the communities it serves.
Time Zones
- Central: 4:00 PM
- Eastern: 5:00 PM
- Mountain: 3:00 PM
- Pacific: 2:00 PM
- Alaska: 1:00 PM
- Hawaii: 12:00 AM
- Puerto Rico: 5:00 PM
The Woodlands was created because trans people and their families deserve more than survival. They deserve spiritual grounding, community support, and places where joy and grief can coexist. Community care is resistance!