SLEEP TALK SKATE

Around the same time that Tayler started organizing the meetups, she also started looking into the programs offered by SKATE LIKE A GIRL. She would eventually apply for the Skateboard Inclusivity Cooperative (SIC) and start her own skate group called Sleep Talk Skate.

SIC is a leadership program for those who identify as queer, trans and/ or women who are spearheading local skateboarding communities around the country. The program offers an abundance of resources to take their skateboarding group or project to the next level, learn team building and teaching skills to create sustainable skating environments, gain skill in and experience networking opportunities with peers and ultimately grow and continue to serve their community’s project/ organization.

Before SIC, Tayler wanted to put a name and an entity behind the meetups at the Dike, Red Raven and eventually the Hawks Nest, and with that, Sleep Talk Skate was born. Eventually, she brought on a friend, Katey, to run ideas by and help with some of the creative processes, like designing posters and any special events they would host.

Tayler first got involved with SKATE LIKE A GIRL last year, joining the organization’s Slack group, where she found resources like Zoom workshops. Joining that group and utilizing those resources inspired her to do more. After a variety of scholarship wins taking her to California for the YMCA Skate Camp Sequoia Lake last August and to Seattle for Wheels of Fortune in September, Tayler and her skate group applied for the SIC program.

This month, Tayler is hosting a Women &/or Trans Group Skate Lesson. Keep an eye out on Instagram @sleeptalkskate for more events in the future!

Sleep Talk Skate was chosen to be one of six skate groups from across the country to be part of the SIC program. For the next seven months, this program will support the chosen skate groups by providing funding, mentorship and more to get their community-based project off the ground. That program just began this January.

One of the unique things about the SIC program is that it supports the skate groups by making them independent. As said, skate groups in the SIC program know what their communities need and what the best way to deliver that is.

“I'm still my own individual. They are seeing people doing things in their own

Because of Tayler and the Sleep Talk Skate group's work, the group will have opportunities to grow and create a sustainable community for queer, trans and/ or women skaters.

How SIC Works to Help Achieve

That:

• Program runs Nov - May

• Five 90-minute virtual workshops

• Bi-weekly organization checkins with SIC Program Manager

• Monthly one-on-one check-ins with Mentor

• Access to digital community of peers & other leaders

• Receive up to $4,000 stipend to support personnel, activities and gear

• In-person orientation in Portland, OR to start off program!

(Information from skatelikeagirl.com) communities and want to give them the tools to help them do more,” Tayler said. “So, they're giving me access to their legal people and their accountant, they're teaching me how [I] should budget out for [my] year, how many boards [I’m] going to need. If [I’m] doing a group lesson, [what] kind of programming for kids camp or adults camp… whatever I want to do, they're just there to help me.”

For orientation into the SIC program, the group gets flown out to Seattle to participate in workshops, meet other group leaders, meet with their personal mentors and more. Through planning this trip, Tayler asked Amara to join on the SIC orientation trip, a dedicated Monday night attendee who also helps hand out waivers, guides new people through the facility, helps to teach beginner skaters, captures photos and videos for the group's social media and more.

With the three of them working together, along with the guidance of the SKATE LIKE A GIRL SIC program, the Sleep Talk Skate group has a bright future ahead for the local women and trans skateboarding community. They have still yet to determine their status as either a registered nonprofit or

LLC business, both of which are good options to operate. Tayler will continue to look to her resources and her personal mentor from the SIC program to work out those details.

“We're in the ‘figuring things out’ stage right now, like the starting of the mentorship. Lots of things are getting worked out because I really wasn't even planning on doing any of this, [but] opportunities just keep presenting themselves so I'm taking them and seeing what happens,” Tayler said.

The Sleep Talk Skate group is planning more community events for all ages and abilities for the upcoming months and will continue to host Monday night meetups at the Hawks Nest. Tayler hopes to mesh music, art, food and skating into some fun events this summer, and a women’s and trans group lesson this month.

To follow along on Tayler and the group’s journey and to keep an eye on what’s to come, follow the Sleep Talk Skate Instagram page @sleeptalkskate

You can attend the Girls & LGBTQ+ Monday Night Meetups at the Hawks Nest on Monday nights, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 302 39th St NW, Unit B, Fargo!

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