Episode 89: Drag Show To End Homelessness

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Community Forward SF’s Annual Drag Show To End Homelessness

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“They want housing to allow them to build their lives up from there…” - Poly Pop-Tart

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, we featured Sammie Rayner and Community Forward SF’s work in episode 5 and with our unhoused trans-gender, LGBTQ, and people female-identify community members.

In this episode, we bring Sammie back along with Felicia Torrez the Director of Development at Community Forward SF and Poly Pop-Tart, Drag Queen, Stand-Up Comedian and Performer to focus on Community Forward SF’s upcoming Drag Show to End Homelessness “Stepping Out”

Sammie Rayner

Sammie Rayner is an entrepreneur and philanthropist focused on poverty alleviation. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Community Forward SF, a network of homeless service programs serving the most vulnerable San Franciscans with trauma-informed care. Before joining Community Forward SF, Sammie co-founded and served as COO at HandUp, a fundraising platform for human service nonprofits in the U.S. Sammie’s initial passion for designing programs to alleviate poverty started in West Africa where she co-founded and served as Executive Director for Lumana, a micro-finance organization in Ghana. Sammie is passionate about using human-centered design, data, and compassion to tackle poverty. She frequently speaks at social good and human service events such as SOCAP, Stanford’s Social Media on Purpose conference, and more.

Poly Pop-Tart

Poly Poptart, the Original Drag Intro Comedian is a queer, Jewish, drag queen Oakland comedienne. After completing a 10 day intensive Vipassana meditation retreat, Poly realized she had a talent for creating drag names and intros, and set off and achieved the feat of posting a drag name intro every day for 365 days. The 365 Days of Drag Names is recognized by performers around the world, and catapulted this young comedienne into stand up comedy. Beyond stand up Poly Poptart incorporates impressions, gymnastics, and fabulous costumes into an entertainment style you can't help but enjoy. Some of Poly's most significant achievements are:
● Headlined Oakland Comedy Fest 2019
● Headlined at the All Out Comedy Theater in Oakland
● Accepted to Mutiny Radio 2020 Comedy Festival in SF
● Completed a 365 Days of Drag Names project that attracted > 4,300 Instagram followers
● Co-Hosted show with Honey Mahogany of RuPaul's Drag Race
● Hosted Uncensored Pillow Talk - a Bay Area talk show (guests include Sister Roma & Peaches Christ)
● Founding Events Director of Impulse SF - a queer men's sexual health non-profit organization

She is very excited for the opportunity to use her skills to build community and build meaningful connections through performance and advocacy.

Felicia Torrez

Felicia Torrez serves as Director of Development at Community Forward SF. With over ten years of experience and expertise in nonprofit operations, events, communications, annual giving, and institutional fundraising, Felicia is passionate about building strong partnerships with individual donors and institutional funders that create transformational impact for nonprofits and the communities they serve. Prior to Community Forward, Felicia held various positions at De Marillac Academy and the University of California, Berkeley. Felicia holds a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University, where she serves as a board member for the SJSU Latino Alumni Network, and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco.

Community Forward SF

Community Forward SF helps the most vulnerable individuals of SF get off the street, find comprehensive services, and achieve stability so they may thrive.

We’ve been serving San Francisco for over 40 years. We’ve seen our city change drastically in that time and continually evolve our services to meet new needs. We envision a San Francisco where every life counts. Everyone who has lost the ability to care for themselves will be given the support they need to gain control of their own lives. There will be no homelessness on the street, those with illness and addiction will be cared for, and everyone will be supported along a path toward permanent housing and self-sufficiency. You can find out more about our work here and you can support the work here

Annual Drag Show to End Homelessness Background
Chronically homeless women, especially transgender women, are one of the most significant at-risk populations for violence and traumatic events. Since 1995, Community Forward SF has provided gender-specific housing and support services for cis and transgender women and gender nonconformist individuals. Our Annual Drag Show was created to raise funds to support our vital work with our guests.

We are excited to announce our Annual Drag Show is back by popular demand! Community Forward SF invites you to join us on Thursday, March 10, 2022, for the most fun you'll have this year!

This year’s theme is “Stepping Out” and we hope you’ll step out for a night of fun with Community Forward SF. We guarantee being a part of the solution has never been as fun or fabulous!

Event Details For Annual Drag Show to End Homelessness

Date: Thursday, March 10, 2022
Venue: El Rio, 3158 Mission St, SF
Doors open: 7:00 pm with cocktails, dinner, and mingling
Showtime: 8:00pm
What to expect at this year’s Drag Show to end homelessness:
● A special show curated and emceed by the one and only, Poly Poptart
● Performances from some of the Bay Area’s top talent… stay tuned!
● An opportunity to celebrate with attendees, staff, and friends of Community Forward SF
● Food and drinks available for purchase by Tacos El Precioso and El Rio
● All guests will be required to show proof of vaccination and must wear a mask during the event when not eating or drinking

Now more than ever, we need your support. Please join us as an event sponsor and partner with us in our mission to provide vital services and support for San Francisco's most vulnerable neighbors who are experiencing homelessness.
Buy Tickets and Bring your friends, coworkers, be the change you want in the world, and come out to our Drag Show to end homelessness!
Become a Sponsor - Please email sponsorships@communityforwardsf.org with immediate questions or if you need assistance with sponsorship or event registration.

Videos

Enjoy the comedy of Poly Pop Tart through their Tik Tok Videos
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