Ticketing
Admission: Complimentary with RSVP ($5 suggested donation)
Doors open at 6pm.
Showtime is at 7pm.
Description:
Celebration of self-expression and gender euphoria as TGNC youth take the stage to showcase their unique, affirming styles at Sashay into Spring.
Sashay into Spring is a fashion bootcamp, hosted by Jae Matthiesen famous model and influencer in Chicago and beyond, aimed at letting trans and gender non-conforming people develop their own sense of style.
While some elements are similar to the former Dare to Drag program, this program is not a drag show. It is a showcase of the style of TGNC youth. The aims of this program is to create access to gender affirming gear, clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as developing self-expression skills (such as hairstyling, makeup techniques and basic fashion “how to’s”).
This program hopes to promote gender euphoria, community building, and resilience in TGNC youth. Participants will receive two full outfits, samples of makeup, skincare and hairstyling products, in addition to guidance on style and fashion.
This program will be filmed as part of Jae's vlog with photo released provided in advance.
Mission:
Center on Halsted advances community and secures the health and well-being of the LGBTQ people of Chicagoland and throughout the Midwest.
We CENTER Community
We are community to each other and to the thousands of LGBTQ+ people we serve in Chicagoland and beyond. We listen to understand, evolve as needs change, and intentionally foster belonging by creating opportunities for fellowship, collaboration, healing, and joy. We intentionally create opportunities for laughter, celebration, creativity, and levity, while also honoring grief and healing. Together we find strength, hope, and the energy to keep moving forward together.
We CENTER Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging
We act intentionally to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by examining policies, practices, programs, and decisions with a lens toward inclusion and fairness, ensuring that belonging is felt and seen across the organization. We commit to living our values with integrity and transparency so that everyone who interacts with COH—colleagues, community members, clients, partners, and board members—knows they belong here. We work to mend and strengthen trust where it has been damaged, building sustainable structures and processes that ensure transparency at every level.
We CENTER Authenticity
We work to see, hear, and honor the self-determination of our colleagues, clients, and communities. We strive to live with authenticity as an organization by embracing creativity, honoring each person’s truth, and standing in our values with clarity and intention. Our communities continue to teach us what it means to be authentic, and we commit to learning and growing in that journey together.
We CENTER Shared Accountability
We recognize that accountability is both individual and shared. Each of us is responsible for our actions, decisions, and behaviors, while together we hold responsibility for the culture and quality of COH’s work. We name that perfectionism is an illusion, and we embrace growth, learning from mistakes, and making things right when we falter. In doing so, we build trust, celebrate progress, and strengthen collaboration.
We CENTER Mutual Respect
We commit to building one another up and working toward healing when harm occurs. We recognize that respect looks different for each person, and we approach one another with humility, curiosity, and care to learn what it means in practice. We honor each person’s humanity by listening, acknowledging, and treating each other with dignity.