Transform Dane’s work is rooted in a vision in which transgender and gender-nonconforming folks are treated with dignity, equity and respect, especially within systems that have historically caused harm to LGBTQ+ individuals and other marginalized groups.

We advocate for change in incarceration practices in Wisconsin by advancing policies that protect human rights and affirm the full humanity of all people.

These values aren’t just ideals, they are active commitments that shape how we organize, advocate, and imagine a more just future. It is with these tenets in mind that we work to shape better systems for our community.

Our core values guide everything we do.

Human Dignity

Every person deserves to be safe, seen, and treated with care. We reject all systems that degrade, dehumanize, or treat people as less than whole. Dignity is not something to be earned, it is inherent and it must be protected.

Respect and Self-Determination

We honor the right of all people to define who they are, what they need, and how they heal. We recognize people as the experts in their own lives. Liberation begins when people are encouraged and supported to speak up for themselves. Respect means listening, believing, and supporting people as they name themselves, tell their stories, and choose their path.

Collective Care

We recognize the deep impacts of trauma, including from policing and carceral systems, and approach our work with empathy, patience, and a commitment to healing. We believe that care is not a luxury or a transaction. Care is a practice of justice. We center interdependence, knowing that we survive when we show up for each other. Trauma-informed care means creating spaces grounded in safety, choice, and empowerment. It means slowing down, listening deeply, and beginning from a place of compassion, not control.

Constitutional Rights

We believe the promises of the Constitution, like equal protection, freedom of expression, and due process, must apply to all of us. That includes trans people, Black and brown people, disabled people, poor and working-class people, immigrants, and other people who are often discounted. We work to ensure these rights are not just theoretical, but real and lived.

Access, Equity, and Individualization

We are building a world where everyone has the tools, safety, and support they need to live fully. We reject one-size-fits-all solutions and work to dismantle systemic barriers – physical, cultural, linguistic, and institutional – so everyone can participate with dignity and without fear.

Transparency and Accountability

We believe in open communication, shared power, and the kind of transparency that builds real trust. We own our mistakes, stay teachable, and course-correct with humility. We practice accountability as an act of love, not punishment. Growth, not perfection, is the goal. By demonstrating this in our practice it is our hope that others will share a transparent and accountable ethic.

Grassroots Over Hierarchy

We reject saviorism, gatekeeping, and top-down control. Real change comes from the ground up, through organizing, storytelling, and collective action. We follow the lead of those most impacted, and we build structures that center collaboration, not hierarchy.