Here's What's Happening at the Ballroom Advocacy and Community Engagement Conference (BACE) Aug. 8–11
by Oliver Miska
The Ballroom Advocacy and Community Engagement Conference (BACE) is a capacity-building conference curated by Seattle—Tacoma House and Ballroom community leaders. This conference will engage both mainstream and kiki scene influencers as they develop comprehensive, resourceful, and culturally affirming responses to health disparities in the community in addition to advocating social and economic mobility to this underserved population.
Also: Read a Q&A with Julian Everett, the executive director of SWACE Health and executive producer of monthly ball series Strike A Pose.
Make Ballroom Fun Again Symposium and Mixer
Aug. 8, 5—10 p.m.
4001 E. Stevens Way NE, HUB 145
The Make Ballroom Fun Again Symposium will welcome community members, organizations, and artists to learn about Ballroom culture, cultivate working relationships with one another, and develop a strategic work plan for future activities. Special workshops will be hosted by SWACE Health, GILEAD, and more.
This event is free.
Cool for the Summer Kiki Ball
Aug. 9, 6—12 p.m.
River Seattle, 1927 3rd Ave.
Strike A Pose is a monthly safe-space event that allows community members, artists, and health care professionals to network and cultivate comradery by implementing an artist exhibition, hosting a resource fair, and practicing the preservation of Ballroom culture via a ball competition.
Tickets are $20 at the door.
For the Culture Ball III
Aug. 10, 3—10 p.m.
Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave.
For the Culture Ball III is a Ballroom event and one-of-a-kind experience within the PNW. For the Culture celebrates Ballroom culture, uplifts the QTBIPOC community, and generates access to community resources.
Tickets are $35 online and $50 at the door.
Aftermath Ball (21+)
Aug. 11, 9 p.m.—2 a.m.
Q Nightclub, 1426 Broadway
Join us for the For the Culture Ball III's Aftermath Ball. Didn't win at the ball? Come through and get your lick back! Cash prizes, drinks, and community!
Tickets are $25.
Oliver Treanor Miska, 33, is a queer Seattleite, educator, organizer, and community lobbyist for educational justice policy in Washington State. Transitioning out of Seattle classrooms after six years, they recently founded Solidarity Policy and Public Affairs, a political consulting firm. As a community organizer, Oliver has held leadership roles within Seattle Democratic Socialists of America and Washington Ethnic Studies Now. Oliver is also a member of SCORE, the Caucus of Rank and File Educators within Seattle Education Association, our educators union. They work to organize youth, families, educators, and community organizations to pass progressive revenue to fully fund our schools statewide. To contact them, email SolidarityPolicyWA@Gmail.com.
Featured Image: An enthusiastic crowd cheers on performer Bird Ada(on the floor). (Photo courtesy of Strike A Pose.)
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