Olga:

A sea of brightly lit screens in the middle of the dance floor is usually sure to kill the vibe, but at Generator Collective’s dance party-cum-political rally (or Gennie Social for short), selfies serve a purpose. Attendees are encouraged to use their social media accounts to share activism tips, information about upcoming elections, and stories of how public policy has affected their lives. Early in the night, we pull out our phones to record Chuck Schumer’s office number and a strongly worded script urging him to support Green New Deal. The message immediately gets amplified x 200 — on a rainy Tuesday night, Baby’s All Right is packed. Promise of social change, music by Cipha Sounds, and host and co-founder Ilana Glazer are all part of the draw.

DJ Cipha Sounds’ eclectic sets punctuate protest-style mic checks and guest speaker appearances. Along with an antidote to political despair, Gennie Social offers a “ridiculously” (to quote Glazer) safe space for women, queer folk, and people of color. Girls (who’ll be boys, and vice versa) are very much to the front here.

All proceeds from the pre-primary edition of Gennie Social went towards The Bail Project, an organization that pays bail for the economically disadvantaged arrestees while fighting for nationwide abolishment of the bail system. I’ll keep an eye out for the next edition. Dancing for a cause in the company of people who give a shit felt good.