It's time to meet.
Come through for our PRIDE Community Meet-Up on Saturday, June 4 from 11 AM to 1 PM CT at the Future Front HQ. This is a chill space to share your work. Women and LGBTQ+ creatives, leaders and founders of all kinds are welcome.
Come through for a cup of coffee, good conversation and, as always, inspiring community stories. Scroll for more details.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
a community storytelling session, featuring a rad Texan from Future Front
time to meet other good humans and listen to their stories
a low-pressure opportunity to share who you are and what you do during community announcements
THE SCHEDULE
11:00 AM — Meet us on the FFTX HQ porch to settle in. This is a good time to explore our headquarters, grab a cup of coffee and introduce yourself to a few people.
11:30 AM — Storytime begins! Our theme for this meet-up is PRIDE. We'll be bringing in a speaker we admire to share their thoughts on the theme. Stay tuned.
12:00 PM — Announcements open—and if you're there, you can share (capacity limited). If you've got something you want to share about your work, a Community Club you're hosting, etc. this a great time to let people know! You can submit your announcement ahead of time here. Our team will review it and help you get ready.
12:30 PM — Announcements close and your day at the Canopy Arts Complex begins. Feel free to grab lunch in the area, explore arts studios that are open, etc. Our HQ will also remain open for questions and hangs until 4 PM.
HOW TO ATTEND
Tickets are $10 (free for FFTX members). All proceeds benefit our nonprofit events and programs—and if this is your first time at FFTX event, you'll also get one month of membership for free. (The link to claim this will be sent to you after the meet-up.)
NAME YOUR OWN TICKET PRICE DURING CHECKOUT:
OUR JUNE LINEUP
OUR GUEST SPEAKERS
Representatives from Black Trans Leadership Austin
Queer Comedian And Curator Aira Juliet
Future Front’s Summer ‘22 Community Club Hosts
Community Announcements (You can submit your announcement ahead of time here. Our team will review it and help you get ready.)
Aira Juliet (she/her) is a comedian, event curator and comedic writer located in Austin, Texas. Aira is constantly searching and creating ways to elevate black + queer creators through community events.
OUR GUEST DJ
DJing as Boyfriend ATX and Boi Orbison, Ezra Edwards (he/him) was born and raised in Austin, Texas. He’s been voted Austin Chronicle’s Critic’s Choice as Best “Let’s Get the Party Started” DJ 2014. He was nominated for Best DJ of Austin 2016, and he won Best DJ of Austin 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Throughout his career, he has raised funds for Planned Parenthood, SAFE Austin, Out Youth, The Texas Advocacy Project and Equality Texas. He has worked with artists such as Nomi Ruiz, QT, JD Samson, God-des & She, Milk the Queen, JuJuBee, Big Dipper, Roofeeo, Spank Rock, Dai Burger, Chelsea Starr and House of Kenzo.
BoyFriend is dedicated to serving the community and having fun, y’all. You can find him producing many events and series across town, including Middle School Dance Party, gAyCL, Neon Rainbows, Beyonce VS Rihanna and Neon and Rainbows.
OUR GUEST CREATIVES & SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
Sightseer Roasters serves up impact-driven specialty coffee that's farmed, sourced, and roasted by women. While women typically make up about 70% of the manual labor force on coffee farms, they are often shut out of management and ownership. That's why we source exclusively from women producers. When women have decision-making power, more resources are invested back into social and environmental initiatives, leading to better outcomes for families and communities. Land and people prosper - and you, my friend, get a damn fine cup of coffee.
Tabitha Hamilton (they/them) is a gender-defying jeweler born and raised in Austin, Texas. Their family roots run deep in Texas, giving them a deep ancestral connection to the desert, and comfort amongst its big open sky. In 2017 Tabitha picked up their first set of jewelers tools and by the following year was making a business out of their love and appreciation for jewelry, selling at community markets and events. Their work outside of jewelry making involves mutual aid and creating resources within community spaces. In 2020 Tabitha co-founded Black Trans Leadership Austin alongside Naomi Derrick, Lais Milburn and Rocky Lane. Since their birth in 2020, Black Trans Leadership Austin has been able to distribute over 60k in mutual aid to Queer, Trans, Indigenous, Black, and Brown communities in Austin, build and conduct a survey to assess and capture the needs of Black Trans and Gender Expansive Communities, Build a community garden, and initiate a 2 long-term Housing projects. Tabitha's intersecting identities of being queer, non-binary, Black, and Mexican influence the way they show up in their practices. Care and Healing are often centralized with the encouragement to connect frequently to the land.
Jo Rodriguez (she/her) is the founder of Groovy Child. She’s always had an eye for unique patterns and bold colors, especially within fashion. Moving to Austin from Corpus Christi, nearly one year ago, Rodriguez believes that clothing should be a reflection of our uniqueness, so she searches to find pieces that are one of a kind—and of course—full of color.
Shana Rehwald (she/her) knows what it’s like to appear to have it all and feel lonely at the same time. At 30 years old, the dream life she built, while coveted by others, had started to suffocate her. Pouring herself into a journey of self-discovery and purpose led to her leaving her marriage and an established career path in the same year and shortly after becoming an accidental entrepreneur. Her seminal product, the Me-est Me journal launched in 2021 with high acclaim and has helped hundreds build self-awareness, quiet the noise of the world, and embrace short-term discomfort to move towards their truest desires. A native Los Angeleno, Shana recently relocated to Austin, TX where she resides with her partner.
PREPARE YOUR VISIT TO THE HQ:
VENUE LOCATION + ACCESSIBILITY — This mini meet-up will be held on the deck outside the FFTX HQ. We are located 916 Springdale Rd. Austin Texas 78702 within the Canopy complex. You can find our trailer toward the back of the complex, in the furthest back parking lot. We are near Building 4. The venue is wheelchair-accessible and all activities will occur on the ground floor.
OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY GUIDELINES —
All FFTX staff, volunteers and guests will be required to practice mutual respect, as well as demonstrate an alignment with Future Front’s code of conduct and values.
All sessions are held online or in outdoor, open-air spaces. Capacity is limited to reduce crowding of any kind.
All guests are required to practice mutual respect and social distancing, as well as follow APH’s COVID-19 Guidelines, which currently include:
At all levels, people can wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by their personal level of risk.
People with potential COVID-19 symptoms and/or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask, regardless of a negative test.
People with a positive COVID-19 test and/or not fully vaccinated should not participate in an in-person Future Front event or visit a Future Front location until they test negative and/or they are fully vaccinated and no longer at risk.
PARKING — There's plenty of parking onsite! Feel free to carpool, too. This venue is easily accessible by Austin public transportation, too.
AVAILABLE LANGUAGES — ASL interpreters can be provided upon request. Si necesita traducción al español para participar en este evento, envíenos un correo electrónico a hello@futurefronttexas.org.
GOT QUESTIONS? Shoot us a note at hello@futurefronttexas.org. We're happy to help and will get back to you!