Meet Nyla Foster

Nyla Foster is the Executive Director of Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC)—a grassroots initiative led by and for trans and gender non-conforming people of color. Her leadership is rooted in community care, political clarity, and a deep commitment to building systems that center healing, housing, and collective liberation.

Nyla’s journey with this work didn’t start in a boardroom—it started in the streets, in shelters, and in direct service. She got her start at the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project, and went on to serve unhoused youth as the Youth Street Outreach Coordinator and Youth Rapid Rehousing Specialist at Restart Inc. She also served as Lead Advisor with Transformations, supporting trans youth leadership and visibility.

Nyla was also a plaintiff in a landmark federal lawsuit against the state of Kansas, fighting for the right of trans residents to correct the gender marker on their birth certificates—a case that reshaped legal protections for trans Kansans.

She holds a Master of Science in Management, with graduate certifications in Strategic Human Resource Management and Business Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Every class, paper, and project has been done with one goal: to grow TWOCC’s reach, build our infrastructure, and deepen our impact.

Before taking the helm at TWOCC, Nyla served as Development Coordinator at Wyandot Behavioral Health Network, where she raised over $3 million in support of housing and mental health services. She now also works as the Digital Equality Organizer at PROMO Missouri, advocating for digital access across LGBTQ+ communities in the state.

At TWOCC, Nyla leads not just with credentials—but with care, clarity, and a vision that doesn’t ask for permission. She believes our communities are not just capable of leading the movement—we are the movement.