Philly Black Pride has awarded its first grant to three Black, LGBTQ+ activists and artists. The Michael Hinson Mission Grants, named for the late advocate and the city’s LGBTQ+ liaison Michael S. Hinson Jr., support projects that honor his legacy in advocacy and health care. This year’s grantees include Shaé Smith, Sean “Shiz” R and Jakai Johnson.
Founded in 1999 by Hinson, Philly Black Pride was created to celebrate Black queer joy while working to identify the health inequities and disparities affecting Black and brown queer individuals. During his lifetime, Hinson focused on providing space and access to his community, and Philly Black Pride sought to honor him with a grant open to Black and brown queer people in Philadelphia that brings resources to help their ongoing projects. The board and honorary members of Philly Black Pride combed through 15 applications to find the three that best represented Hinson’s legacy.
“The three grantees represent three different scopes of the community, and show an outstanding dedication and commitment to their missions,” said Jacen Bowman, Vice President of Philly Black Pride.
Shaé Smith
One such recipient, Shaé Smith, will be using the Michael Hinson Mission Grant to help incorporate mental health services into chosen•kin, a resource exchange for Black, queer and trans parenthood. They will pair members with the mental-health providers that specifically meet their needs at specific times in their parenthood journeys. The grant will also be used to partner with Dirtbaby Farm, which provides fresh produce to deliver postpartum meals to families in the Philadelphia area.
Smith is a queer, nonbinary therapist and refers to themself as a community healer. As the co-founder of chosen•kin, they foster spaces where Black, queer and trans parents can thrive through storytelling, teaching and embracing healing practices.
“chosen•kin is about rewriting our own narratives pertaining to parenthood, family dynamics, and creating space to reimagine and reenvision what family, what connectedness, what community looks like for us from the vantage point of healing,” Smith said.
Sean “Shiz” R
Another grantee, Sean “Shiz” R, will use the grant to broaden the reach of the U-City Art Walk, reimagining it as the Philly Art Walk. Developed in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, the Art Walk was designed to bring people together to celebrate artwork and community, all while following social distancing guidelines. “Shiz” R is also putting the grant toward materials for the clothing studies he hosts at Patterson Elementary, where he teaches children about the environment and sustainability in fashion.
“Shiz” R has been a makeup artist, a wardrobe stylist/designer, an emcee, and now a creative lead for the U-City Art Walk for five years. His experience in fashion and his advocacy for artists have made him a notable figure in Philadelphia’s creative circles, where he has built a reputation for connecting artists, creatives, small businesses and the LGBTQ+ community.
“The Art Walk is about community engagement: trying to come together at the sake of where there was nothing,” said “Shiz” R. “So I created an outdoor gallery where people could still come see art, shop, create and network.”
Jakai Johnson
The third recipient, Jakai Johnson, who could not be reached for comment, plans to tackle public health issues while hoping to work as a public school administrator with the Michael Hinson Mission Grant. Currently pursuing their master’s degree with a focus on urban health, Johnson seeks to broaden their knowledge in designing and implementing effective programs to promote sexual health for youth and young adults.
Johnson has received multiple honors during their academic tenure, including Dean’s List and President’s List. They hold degrees in health studies and public health, and have a certificate in Medical Billing. While attending school, they developed a program proposal designed to combat the prevalence of HIV among African American men who have sex with men, reflecting Johnson’s commitment to tackling public health issues.
Honoring Michael S. Hinson Jr.’s legacy
“The grantees have great leadership, and their initiatives really embody the spirit and service of innovation that the grant aims to promote,” Bowman said. “The effort that they make in their communities is commendable, and it’s vital for fostering growth, understanding and compassion.”
This is in line with how Bowman describes Hinson, whom he says was like a father figure or uncle to him. Bowman called him a “philanthropist and humanitarian” who worked to make the local Black LGBTQ+ community feel heard and connected to vital resources. Creating a grant that followed in those footsteps to help uplift these projects was “near and dear” to Bowman’s heart.
“I always say that if it wasn’t for people like Michael Hinson, Damon Humes, and Tyrone Smith, I would not be alive,” said Bowman. “They were able to keep me grounded and navigate how to create and maintain a voice, and how to magnify my voice for other people.”
This grant was made possible by a mix of fundraising efforts and generous donations from Philly Black Pride’s Nightlife Partners, including Deviant Events, Simply Philadelphia, Jack’d App, SWAY Philly, The Main Event Philly, and Takeover Ty. The ongoing donations help sustain the grant, which will be awarded annually.
“Too many times in the Black and brown LGBTQ+ community, there are not enough financial resources to help further education, or to help bring to reality our dreams, goals and aspirations,” Bowman said. “With this grant, we want to make sure this community always has access to resources, to be protected and loved.”
Grantees of the Michael Hinson Mission Grant will be speaking during the welcome ceremony of Philly Black Pride’s event on April 24 at Club Quarters. For more information on the event or to make a donation, visit phillyblackpride.org.
