on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified, declaring slavery abolished in the United States. but even in the absence of chains, Black people have never truly been free. the weight of inequity, exploitation, and exclusion has followed us through every generation — shaping where we live, how we work, and whether we can rest. 

in the early 20th century, Black communities created rent parties — gatherings filled with music, food, and joy where neighbors pooled resources to keep one another housed. when systems failed, collective care kept the lights on and the roof overhead.

today, in the midst of rising rents, housing crises, and policies that continue to destabilize Black families, these traditions are not just history — they are instruction. they remind us that when systems fail, we return to one another.

therefore, on December 6, 2025, we gather in that same tradition for The Rent Is Still Due: An Evening of Care — an intimate night of storytelling, connection, and community hosted by acclaimed author and cultural advocate Christine Platt, The Afrominimalist. together, we will raise critical funds to keep Black women and femmes safely housed and supported.

what your support funds:

your gift provides direct access to:

• safe housing: rent assistance for women facing eviction or housing insecurity.

• therapy access: culturally affirming mental health support for survivors and mothers.

• community care: resources and navigation to help women stabilize and heal.

our goal is to raise $100,000 — because after all, the rent is still due.

join us IRL for an evening of food, dance, and communal joy in the name of home, healing, and collective liberation. and if you can’t be with us in person, your donation ensures that the spirit of care continues—keeping Black women and femmes safely housed, resourced, and reminded that they are never alone.