The 418 Project

06/01/2025

🌈 Happy Pride Month from The 418 Project! 🏳️‍⚧️

If you’ve been feeling like the world is a lot lately, we get it. It’s easy to freeze up in the face of so much uncertainty. But this month, we’re choosing something else:

We’re choosing joy.

We’re choosing visibility.

We’re choosing each other.

Joy isn’t a distraction.

It’s fuel.

And when we come together in celebration, we remember our collective power.

💥 At the Emerald Ball, our incredible community showed up BIG, raising over $13,000 for the Trans Mutual Aid Fund and reminding us that even in turbulent times, generosity and solidarity still lead the way.

✨ As Pride Month begins, we’re holding fast to this momentum. We’re dreaming up the next event in our Ally Series, and we want YOU with us… dancing, decorating, donating, lifting one another up.

Let this be your invitation:

To get involved.

To get loud.

To get joyful.

The work continues and so does the celebration.

***rjoy

05/31/2025

And 100% of that money will directly support local trans individuals in need. 💖

So, what is the Trans Mutual Aid Fund?

This fund provides direct support to local trans people facing critical needs, including loss of housing, gender-affirming care, assistance with travel documents, and supporting opportunities for growth. 100% of the money goes directly to those in need, ensuring that our community is supported in the ways that truly matter.

This initiative was born out of conversations with Dual Demons and The 418 Project during our Ally Campaign, and it’s amazing to see how the whole Ally Series came together to take action. 🙌

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this effort and helped us provide real, tangible support to the trans community. Your generosity is creating lasting change.

04/24/2025

Trans people, immigrants, and undocumented people are being targeted. To those not directly affected, it may seem like a niche issue.

But make no mistake. What’s happening right now is a test.

As Lex puts forth here, if these policies succeed, they won’t stop there.

This moment isn’t just about one group of people or another.

It’s about all of us.

Being an ally means understanding that our struggles are interconnected. That the erosion of one person’s rights opens the door to harm for everyone. That trans liberation is tied to your freedom, too.

If you want to help build a world where everyone is safe to live and thrive, it starts with showing up now.

💚 Join us at the Emerald Ball: a celebration of visibility, solidarity, and joy in support of trans and q***r community members.

This event, free to attend, is a time to remember, celebrate and support. We will raise $12,000 for Dual Demons Trans Mutual Aid Fund, to provide resources for our Trans community members who are experiencing strife in these difficult times of attempted erasure and dehumanization.

📍April 25th, 7pm, at The 418 Project

🎟️ Tickets by donation

🪩 Costumes, dancing, and powerful community

***rliberation ***rjoy

04/22/2025

What’s the Emerald Ball really about?

Yes, it’s a party. It’s glitter. It’s karaoke. It’s green. It’s your favorite “Wicked” characters in full costume.

But underneath the sparkle, this night is holding something much bigger.

🌈 The Emerald Ball is about three things:

1. Raising critical funds for trans and q***r individuals facing hardship through the Trans/Queer Emergency Fund at The 418 Project.

2. Celebrating allyship and the powerful role allies play in protecting LGBTQIA+ lives.

3. Building joyful, connected community across identities, organizations, and walks of life.

This event was born from one person’s wish to do something meaningful on their birthday. And now, it's become a collective act of care, expression, and resistance.

💚 Whether you're coming to dance, table as an organization, or show up in solidarity—this night is for you.

🎟️ Admission is by donation. Every dollar helps us create the kind of Santa Cruz we believe in: inclusive, expressive, and radically welcoming. 🔗 is on eventbrite and in the comments

***rjoy

04/16/2025

Somewhere over the rainbow, dreams really do come true—and on April 25th, we are coming together for a night of magic, love, and boundless celebration benefiting trans and q***r community causes.💗💚 Join us on April 25th for The Emerald Ball: A “Wicked” Evening in OzMusic, costumes, games, fashion, allies, and YOU.Wear your most imaginative Oz-inspired attire or just add a touch of green to join the festivities. From live music to a costume contest and even a "Defying Gravity" karaoke singalong, this evening promises to be nothing short of magical.🗓 Date: Friday, April 25th🕖 Time: Starts at 7 PM📍 Location: The 418 ProjectCome celebrate, meet new friends, and be part of a night where love and allyship are the real magic that binds us. ticket, every donation, supports our LGBTQIA+ community during these crucial times. It’s a ball, and a benefit.Your participation means everything. See you in Oz for a night where every moment is about more than just fun—it’s about making an impact. 🌈

04/16/2025

We’re building something bigger than ourselves. And you’re invited. 💚 tag a local org who might be interested!

The Emerald Ball is more than a party. It’s a chance to come together, make new connections, and celebrate the power of community and allyship for the LGBTQIA+. Whether you’re an ally, an artist, or a local organization doing important work, this is a night to stand in joy and solidarity, together.

Local orgs: we’d love to have you with us! Free tabling spots are still available to share your mission and connect with our community. And we’re still looking for donors and sponsors for the event! 💌 Send us a message for more info. Let’s lift each other up while raising funds for trans and q***r lives.

📅 April 25 | 🎭 Costumes encouraged | 🎶 Music, mingling, karaoke + more
🪩 Admission by donation
Message us for more details!

***rjoy

04/09/2025

Hi There,

I wanted to share some thoughts about the times, because, who isn’t thinking about them?
Today, I want to talk about the difference between peace and complacency.

Okay, let’s start with Peace.

Peace. A state of harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. I don’t know about you, but personally I don’t think that’s what we have right now. And this can be very tough to come to terms with.

In an innocent effort to maintain our mental health and feel peace, we might accidentally move directly into a state of Complacency. You know: let’s go to—wherever--the dance, the bar, a rally, meditation--to escape this terrible feeling of dread and powerlessness.

But where we can end up is Complacency.

Complacency. A place of disconnection from reality where we’re mistakenly out of touch with the need to do anything. Complacency is a sense of false security; it can be a form of denial, shock, or numbing out. And this, friends, is exactly where the powers that be want us.

Fortunately, there is another possibility.

Power. The ability or capacity to influence the course of events.

But how to move toward Power in such challenging times?

There is a secret ingredient that can help--and it’s called Joy.

Joy. A feeling of happiness and well-being, Joy can be a powerful motivator and a source of strength, contributing to our sense of control and agency, key components of empowerment.

We’re here for you as a resource, and we’re committed to providing opportunities to feel joy, stay connected and express yourself in these challenging times. At the intersection of many communities, we offer a place to meet others, feel possibility, and experience the Joy we need to take action--and create a world where all people feel safe being together.

Glad you’re here

Laura Bishop
Executive Director

03/18/2025

Sugar Rush with Dual Demons is coming up soon! Get your tickets and support local q***r artists.

03/18/2025

Art allows us to be ourselves – and in today's world, that’s nothing short of radical. At The 418 Project, we stand firm: DEI is NOT cancelled.➡️ Diversity enriches us, bringing a spectrum of experiences and perspectives that transform the canvas of our community.➡️ Equity ensures that everyone has access to the tools they need to paint their masterpiece, no matter where they started from.➡️ Inclusion creates a space where every voice can be heard, every story told, and every individual can truly feel they belong.We’re here to stay. We strive to be a beacon in our community—a place where you can find community, belonging, and the freedom to come as you are.Join us. Create with us. Grow with us.

03/15/2025

When being ourselves feels more like an act of defiance than ever, spaces like The 418 Project become a sanctuary.

As Leo James Osborne shares in our latest feature, The 418 Project can be a lifeline during times of challenge and crisis. We’re experiencing that more than ever, with many communities feeling the strife of the times.

To our q***r and trans communities, we hope to be a place where art and affirmation intersect, protecting and elevating q***r and trans voices against the backdrop of a world still learning to embrace you.

Join us. Witness the transformation. Stand with us in creating a space where every voice not only survives but thrives. Your support is crucial—consider making a donation to help us continue to offer sanctuary and celebration for those who need it most. 🌈💪

02/22/2025

02/22/2025

This Sunday at 4 PM, join us at The 418 Project for an essential gathering: our Community Art Forum. This isn't just any meeting—it's a chance to brainstorm and share your vision for our upcoming 120-foot mural on the river wall.

Facilitated by the esteemed Rebecca Hernandez, PhD., this forum is your opportunity to influence the future of public art in Santa Cruz. Come share your ideas, dreams, and inspirations as we plan this monumental artwork together.

Location: The 418 Project lobby, 155 South River St.
Date & Time: Sunday, Feb 23rd at 4 PM

This is just the start of something huge! Come share your ideas, dreams, and inspirations as we plan this monumental artwork together. Be a part of crafting something spectacular that will beautify our city and express our community's voice!

Can’t attend? Head to the comments and fill out a 6-minute survey to tell us your thoughts.