{"id":574,"date":"2017-08-14T13:08:26","date_gmt":"2017-08-14T20:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=574"},"modified":"2025-07-21T13:49:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T20:49:36","slug":"kriya-sadhana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/kriya-sadhana\/","title":{"rendered":"Hard conversations make Beavers stronger"},"content":{"rendered":"

Initiating a difficult conversation in the workplace takes boldness and skill. And Kriya Sadhana has been doing it for years.<\/p>\n

Kriya, an Oregon State University Ecampus student majoring in women, gender and sexuality studies<\/a> online, was excited to begin working at a grocery store chain in Portland that has a clear stance as a transgender-friendly company.<\/p>\n

However, Kriya quickly observed a need in the workplace that they believed stemmed from a societal lack of education about trans identities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI watched friends of mine who were transitioning on the job and not getting the respect they needed, and it was glaringly obvious that something needed to happen,\u201d says Kriya, who uses they\/them pronouns.<\/p>\n

Rather than waiting for someone to address the problem, they decided to apply their own knowledge to improve the atmosphere for transgender employees.<\/p>\n

A queer studies<\/a> assignment in one of Kriya\u2019s Ecampus classes prompted them to begin developing a curriculum for managers and employees to foster a more inclusive workplace environment for transgender employees.<\/p>\n

Kriya learned that co-worker Jay D. Rae-StockLynn had begun similar training efforts within his department, and together they developed a curriculum that could be offered company-wide.<\/p>\n

The two facilitated trainings within the grocery store chain where they worked, and in April 2016, officially launched the training program as a business called Trans Affirming Spaces<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“<\/span>If I help make things better for one person who is struggling at work, then I\u2019ve done my job.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Kriya

“I found someone with a similar interest in making changes within the workplace, and we were able to collaborate to create not just a business, but an experience for our coworkers,” says Oregon State Ecampus student Kriya Sadhana.<\/p><\/div>\n

For Kriya, this training also addresses a need for more transgender people\u2019s stories to be told.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne key to supporting the trans community, like with supporting other marginalized communities, is to listen: Listen to trans people, listen to our stories, listen to our requests, listen to what we have to offer, and respect where we\u2019re coming from,\u201d Kriya says. \u201cRight now, there\u2019s a lot of discussion about us, decisions being made for us, and not enough people listening to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

To provide a more diverse range of experiences in their trainings and to ensure trans employees are being heard, Kriya and Jay bring in trans co-facilitators from the stores where they offer trainings. The co-facilitators act as a point person in the store and help make the content feel more relevant and personalized.<\/p>\n

Now, three years into their venture, Kriya and Jay have facilitated nearly 100 trainings at various businesses throughout Portland and Eugene, making a widespread impact for trans employees that reaches far beyond what they originally anticipated.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had people contact us after they\u2019ve gone through the class to say, \u2018I\u2019m trans, too. Can you help me?\u2019 I\u2019ve drafted coming out emails for several people, been a mediator between folks that are coming out and managers they have had issues with, made sure everybody is using the right pronouns and double-checked with the folks who are having the most issues with it,\u201d Kriya says.<\/p>\n

Finn Kay O’Brien, an employee who went through the training at the grocery store where he works, says the training helped him realize he was not alone.<\/p>\n

“For me, the workshop was life-changing. It gave me the confidence to come out as trans at work. I felt like so much of the ground work had been done, and that I was safe,” Finn says.<\/p>\n

“<\/span>Right now, there\u2019s a lot of discussion about us, decisions being made for us, and not enough people listening to us.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For Kriya, who will become one of the first in their family to have earned a bachelor\u2019s degree, this successful business opportunity is serving as a springboard into their next venture: attending graduate school to earn a master\u2019s degree that will allow them to work with queer and transgender youth \u2013 something Kriya has been passionate about since high school.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was coming out, my LGBTQ friends were getting kicked out of their houses and ended up homeless or on the streets,\u201d Kriya says. \u201cThat was my motivation for getting into the women, gender and sexuality studies program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kriya hopes to use their skills to empower homeless queer and trans youth with the language and confidence to teach on their own behalf and ensure organizations understand their needs.<\/p>\n

Kriya\u2019s work with Trans Affirming Spaces has built a strong foundation for their future, educating and inspiring countless people along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever someone approaches me after class and thanks me because they now feel a little safer about being out or coming out, or because they have a better understanding of their trans child, sibling or relative, I feel like I\u2019ve had the impact that I needed to have,\u201d Kriya says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I help make things better for one person who is struggling at work, then I\u2019ve done my job.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>Initiating a difficult conversation in the workplace takes boldness and skill. And Kriya Sadhana has been doing it for years. While earning a degree online in women, gender and sexuality studies, Kriya co-founded Trans Affirming Spaces, a training program that seeks to foster a respectful and inclusive work environment for transgender employees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":576,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[673],"tags":[75,640,260],"class_list":["post-574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives","tag-college-of-liberal-arts","tag-health-and-human-science","tag-women-gender-and-sexuality-studies"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Kriya-final.jpg?fit=4320%2C2777&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-9g","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":900,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/jennifer-oliphant\/","url_meta":{"origin":574,"position":0},"title":"A novel approach to research makes new paths possible","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"June 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Ecampus women, gender and sexuality studies student Jennifer Oliphant is the proud recipient of the 2018 Oregon State University Library Undergraduate Research Award for her winning paper, \u201cSharontheview!\u201d \u2013 a graphic novel she wrote her first term at Oregon State for the Disney: Gender Race Empire course.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jennifer Oliphant, a student in Oregon State University's women, gender and sexuality studies program, sits at a desk with a silver laptop open in front of her. She is writing in a notebook to the right of the laptop. In the room, there are several tall bookshelves and a bright white lamp.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jennifer-Oliphant-Main.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jennifer-Oliphant-Main.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jennifer-Oliphant-Main.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jennifer-Oliphant-Main.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2453,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/community-impact-women-gender-and-sexuality-studies\/","url_meta":{"origin":574,"position":1},"title":"On a mission to \u2018make tomorrow better than today\u2019 for younger generations","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"August 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Conversation was a core theme of Bobby Disler\u2019s online Oregon State student experience. The commonalities he and his classmates discovered amongst one another helped to bridge the divide, both in terms of actual distance and within their own identities.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A man sits smiling at a table inside a library while chatting with others.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Bobby-Disler-1280x720-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Bobby-Disler-1280x720-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Bobby-Disler-1280x720-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Bobby-Disler-1280x720-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Bobby-Disler-1280x720-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2371,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/finding-yourself-in-your-degree-online\/","url_meta":{"origin":574,"position":2},"title":"Finding yourself while finishing your degree online","author":"Elena Moffet","date":"September 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Growing up as a member of the LGBTQI+ community, Michelle Harris understood the power of organizing from an early age. She credits these early experiences with helping to shape her advocacy and as one pillar in her eventual decision to pursue a degree in women, gender and sexuality studies online\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A person kneeling in a black vest with yellow roses behind them.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Michelle-Harris-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Michelle-Harris-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Michelle-Harris-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Michelle-Harris-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":546,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/ecampus-ranked-1-liberal-arts\/","url_meta":{"origin":574,"position":3},"title":"Ecampus ranked #1 in U.S. for online liberal arts education","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"July 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State is the best university in the nation when it comes to delivering a high-quality liberal arts education online, according to a new ranking released last month. Oregon State's College of Liberal Arts offers 11 bachelor\u2019s degrees and two master\u2019s programs online through OSU Ecampus, the university\u2019s distance education\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A black entrance sign reads Oregon State University in gold lettering surrounded by a brick ledge","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/osu-sign.jpg?fit=638%2C319&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/osu-sign.jpg?fit=638%2C319&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/osu-sign.jpg?fit=638%2C319&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":768,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/victoria-keenan\/","url_meta":{"origin":574,"position":4},"title":"Ecampus student conducts research with faculty to change the future of childbirth","author":"Julie Cooper","date":"January 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Ecampus anthropology\/WGSS student Victoria Keenan is investing time and travel into her education, pursuing internship opportunities on the Oregon State campus, despite the distance.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A side profile of Oregon State Ecampus student Victoria Keenan, who studies anthropology and women, gender and sexuality studies online. She sits at a desk with her hands placed on the keyboard of a small, black laptop.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Victoria-Keenan-main.png?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Victoria-Keenan-main.png?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Victoria-Keenan-main.png?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":95,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/luhui-whitebear\/","url_meta":{"origin":574,"position":5},"title":"Blazing a trail","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"October 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Throughout her multiple experiences as an online learner with Oregon State, Luhui Whitebear has immersed herself in OSU's extensive support system for Native American students. It helped guide her to success as an undergraduate, and now she provides guidance to a new generation of students as assistant director of OSU\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Luhui Whitebear, the assistant director of Oregon State's Native American Longhouse Eena Haws, stands amid trees outside the NAL.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/luhui-whitebear-2019.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=574"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/574\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}