BAllroom sponsorships

KBCAN provides sponsorships for balls and ballroom-related events as a means of cultural sustainability and cultural growth. By supporting balls and ballroom-related events, we help to maintain a vital component of the ballroom community.

Crystal LaBeija Organizing Fellowship

In the 1970s, a Black transgender women named Crystal LaBeija started the very first “House” in the Ballroom Scene, it was deemed the legendary “House of LeBeija.” This historic moment launched and solidified the contemporary House and Ballroom Scene (HBS). Not only was the HBS founded by a Black transgender woman, but it was created in response to elevated discrimination and trans-misogynoir that Black transgender women and gender non-conforming individuals experience far too often. Thus, it is only appropriate for the Keeping Ballroom Community Alive Network (KBCAN) to further the often marginalized Black radical tradition of transgender leadership by launching the third cohort of Crystal LaBeija Organizing Fellowship (CLOF). This initiative will identify up to 6 transgender and gender non-conforming leaders in the United States Ballroom Scene, that will further the work of the KBCAN. Each member of CLOF will receive a stipend to address the issues that most impact the lives of transgender women, transgender men, and gender non-conforming people in the HBS.

Applications for the 2024-25 cohort will be released soon. Please stay tuned for more information!

NYC PRIDE Fellowship

The NYC Pride Fellowship seeks to empower ballroom community organizers and event planners. During the 9-month fellowship period, NYC Pride Fellows will receive dedicated support and guidance from KBCAN. This mentorship aims to achieve two primary objectives: first, enhancing professional development and bolstering community-organizing capabilities, and second, orchestrating captivating, community-centric events for the ballroom sphere and its allies.

Community Education Hub

Our Community Education Hub consists of educational roundtables, educational dinner discussions, as well as professional development including assistance with writing resumes and cover letters, preparation for interviews, and job preparedness.

Monkeypox (mpv) awareness and prevention

We provide education and resources for community members impacted by MPV. Resources include individual and group educational sessions with community ambassadors, community outreach and social media to boost MPV awareness, and assisting individuals with MPV vaccinations.