Val Hogan is a writer, activist, and the director of Layers of Change, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. Raised in Roanoke, Virginia, and now calling Richmond home, Val’s writing often draws on her lived experiences as a trans woman in recovery, addressing themes of identity, trauma, and resilience. Her work has been featured in community newsletters and advocacy platforms, where she shares stories of overcoming adversity and finding strength in the face of systemic challenges. Val is currently working on her first full-length project, "TRANS-Formed in Recovery," a compilation of recovery stories from the TGNC community.