Founders of the The Dae Project, Yoojin Park and Dulce, have spent the last two years dreaming up possibilities for an organization that will offer holistic support to LGBTQ+ youth. They envision a nonprofit that will eventually encompass a variety of services to alleviate the stressors this vulnerable population faces — including a transitional housing center that could become a model for national efforts to support unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.
The project is named for Daelicious O’hare Mizani — a young, Black drag performer who died under suspicious circumstances in 2024. The name just felt right, Dulce said, remembering Dae as someone who was “emboldened and empowered” to be themself despite often lacking the resources to get ahead in life.
“Their resilience and light continue to inspire the work we do,” Park said.
Dulce and Park, who are both under 30, are a unique team with professional backgrounds in social work and corporate leadership. Dulce is a strategic executive who has helped major companies grow and thrive. Park is a social worker who is also a well-known activist and drag king.
“It’s known that queer and trans youth are at the highest risk for houselessness,” said Park, who has been working in affordable housing and youth services for five years. “Currently, there are no shelters that are either not gendered or faith-based so they don’t feel safe to go there.”
“Essentially, we’re envisioning a world where every LGBTQ youth — and every BIPOC LGBTQ youth — who has faced displacement and rejection can find not just shelter but also resources where they’re able to really thrive,” explained Dulce, adding that the team hopes to help LGBTQ+ youth do more than just “get by.”
In addition to a dormitory-style shelter that offers mental health services — like therapy — and case management, the organization hopes to provide life skills resources — such as financial literacy and home economics courses, outlets for creativity — like dance and music, job training and mentorships, and other services that will help young people develop as whole people.
“We want to see more leaders, more changemakers in the community,” said Dulce. “We want to be able to give them the tools to help build their generational wealth and to help break their generational curses and to really figure out a way to make things work with what they have.”
Although organizers want The Dae Project to evolve into a physical location, the organization will launch by providing community meals and other life skills services starting in early summer. Although referrals won’t be required, many of the kids connecting with the organization will likely find their way there through partnerships with schools, shelters and nonprofits that already serve this population.
Dulce noted that government grants are a bit off limits right now due to restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, but The Dae Project’s leaders are not discouraged — as they’re looking into other funding sources to kick-start their efforts.
One of those avenues is through community support. The organization is hosting a benefit show that will help fund start-up costs and provide supporters with a better understanding of their goals. Those who can’t attend but are interested in donating can make contributions online.
Big names — including some City Councilmembers and primetime drag queen Sapphira Cristál — have taken notice and might be in attendance, said Dulce, who hopes the event will help the organization find investors and other partnerships but also allow community members to connect with each other.
“We just want to bring people in,” they explained. “We just want everyone to understand and to see firsthand this really special thing that we’re working on.”
The benefit, which will take place on April 4, will begin with a networking hour at 8 p.m. A show will follow — featuring Park as his drag persona Eugene Rideher Betta, Jo-Sephine Steel, Dayla Mizani Cristál and Lasha Cristál.
“A lot of people who run nonprofits can be a bit removed from the people they serve,” said Dulce, explaining that the people on The Dae Project’s team are people with lived experiences of marginalization.
“We are queer people of color looking to help out other queer people, and that’s what makes us different,” underlined Dulce, a first generation afro-Latina who is neurodivergent.
Although The Dae Project’s board members are an eclectic group, Dulce said being a young leader better equips them to understand the needs of the population they hope to serve. They also appreciate the insights they’ve gained by learning from generations who came before them — including activists who have responded during crises to create what the LGBTQ+ community needed at the time.
“With the growing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, we knew we couldn’t wait any longer,” said Park about the decision to officially launch The Dae Project during the Trump administration. “Queer youth need us now more than ever.”
“I know that it’s very important in this difficult time to create a safe haven where youths from all over can come and find solace and have people who genuinely care,” Dulce said. “If we can’t beat the system and can’t fix the system, we have to help in other ways — to provide them with the hope and knowledge and strength to keep going.”
The Dae Project Benefit show will take place at 8 p.m. on April 4 at Redcrest Kitchen, 625 S. 6th St. To reserve tickets, make a reservation for that date and time at www.redcrest.kitchen. For more on The Dae Project, visit thedaeproject.komi.io.