Theory of Change

We dream and practice building a next world that centers justice, liberation, and joy, and directly apply our politics in our relationships with one another and our communities, as well as through action. ​​​​​​​

Our collective grew out of a recognized need for safe and free local community spaces curated by and for Black and brown people. Everything we do is oriented toward sharing joyful relationships through art, education, organizing, and action. We experiment with (re)building life-sustaining systems that invest in community care while firmly believing in providing reparations - wealth redistribution, rematriation, and land back - for all peoples harmed by the settler colonial state. Ultimately, through our programming, we hope to reaffirm the the radiance of queer Black and brown joy and life. ​​​​​​​

Collective Values

Abolition:

HUG believes in the elimination of the carceral state from all sectors of life, ranging from violent colonial institutions to our (inter)personal relationships and normalized logics. We seek to see the end to the Prison Industrial Complex, and by extension, the Military Industrial Complex, for the wellbeing of ourselves and our future descendents. 

Transformative Justice & Healing Justice:

HUG is committed to moving through healing with an awareness of how systems of oppression impact us. , and believes in a sense of justice that is rooted in transformational change. We are committed to practices of care and accountability, as opposed to the state's practices of punishment and disposability. It is in our interest to transform ourselves and our interpersonal and communal relationships by identify the underlying conditions that perpetuate harm and the systemic issues that contribute to it.

Art & Expression:

Art is vital as a form of expression, emotional processing, cultural understanding, and a catalyst for change. When words fall short, art embodies our inner worlds and the visions we hold for the future. In many of the containers we hold, art-making fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility as we co-create the next world. 

Joy, Connection, & Love:

At the center of HUG's work is the pursuit of joy, connection to the land and each other, and love. These values drive our convictions and our commitments, because we need each other.