{"id":76086,"date":"2018-12-12T14:25:25","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T19:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/29rooms-pop-up-educates-empowers-and-inspires-with-a-social-justice-spotlight\/"},"modified":"2018-12-12T14:25:25","modified_gmt":"2018-12-12T19:25:25","slug":"29rooms-pop-up-educates-empowers-and-inspires-with-a-social-justice-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/29rooms-pop-up-educates-empowers-and-inspires-with-a-social-justice-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"’29Rooms’ pop-up educates, empowers, and inspires with a social justice spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

’29Rooms’ pop-up educates, empowers, and inspires with a social justice spotlight<\/b><\/p>\n

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Refinery29<\/em><\/a>, a digital media company dedicated to female<\/a> empowerment, invited those in Los Angeles to #ExpandYourReality in a funhouse of culture, technology, and creativity. The downtown pop-up called 29Rooms showcases, you guessed it, 29 Instagram worthy art installation ‘rooms.’<\/p>\n

The exhibit welcomed everyone, young and old alike. But in the spirit of my recent 21st birthday, what other choice did I have but to visit their other offering,\u00a0Party After Dark, the late-night experience solely for adults.\u00a0And so, with a peppermint cocktail in one hand and a camera<\/a> in the other, I explored 29 thought-provoking rooms filled only with the aesthetic.<\/p>\n

The exhibit collaborated with a host of brands and artists to create the most imaginative backdrops for your new Instagram post. From a bright full moon in the sky to neon galaxy jellyfish tentacles, guests had a list of backdrops to choose from. But this was more than a mere photo-op.<\/p>\n

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The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles sings at Refinery29’s 29Rooms. (Mike Roe\/LAist)<\/a><\/h5>\n

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In line with Refinery29<\/em>\u2019s philosophy and mission, many rooms were dedicated to larger conversations about empowerment, inclusivity, and equality. GLAAD partnered up with 29Rooms to create Room 21, ‘A Different Tune.’ The room featured speakers, microphones, and a stage to welcome Trans Chorus of LA and Tonality, two local LA choirs who leverage music as a vehicle for self-expression and empowerment.<\/p>\n

Additional social justice-minded rooms included, ACLU\u2019s Room 10 which strove to educate the public on the rights of marginalized communities in a colorful game show themed room; TNT’s Room 8-9 that boldly displayed the statement \u201cHollywood can\u2019t win without women<\/a>;” and Unbothered’s Room 7 was dedicated to the black female<\/a> experience and the celebration of a black woman<\/a>\u2019s hair. LGBTQ stars,\u00a0Kesha and Lena Waithe also hosted their own rooms.<\/p>\n

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.@LenaWaithe<\/a> discusses her artistic collaboration in @Refinery29<\/a>‘s #29Rooms<\/a>, which addresses “what it means to be black in America and all the contradictions that come along with that.” t.co\/DWl4jxHlb6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) December 6, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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More experiential rooms encouraged guests to have a phone-free moment and step out of their comfort zone. One standout experience paired people with strangers and challenged them to answer intimate questions. Another guided guests through an ASMR sensory experience. There was also a room that led a painting workshop with a local LA artist.<\/p>\n

But it was the late night party, and to catch the performance one had to visit during the day. Nonetheless, guests were not left bored. In the spirit of inclusivity and creativity, drag queens slayed and sashayed the night away at the bar to tunes like Little Mix\u2019s \u201cTouch\u201d and Nicki Minaj\u2019s \u201cAnaconda.\u201d The sassy performance was then followed by a graceful interpretive dance and a fist-pumping DJ to close out the night.<\/p>\n

As I walked down the red carpet stairs back to the parking lot with my friend, we scrolled through my phone to look through our photos. \u201cThese are cute!\u201d I exclaimed. And while I am sure to bombard my Instagram with posts recapping the event, oddly enough, I am grateful that the highlights of my night weren\u2019t captured\u2014the best moments are phone-free.<\/p>\n

\"\"Chris Balderas is a GLAAD Campus Ambassador<\/strong> and senior at UCLA studying communication, film, television and digital media.\u00a0He has collaborated with experienced reporters and editors from top tier media outlets like The New York Times, CNN and People to break and manage headlining news stories and media campaigns. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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December 12, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n