06/03/2026
MUSIC FOR LOVE: A Pride Showcase benefiting Youth Outlook was hosted at Groove Street in DeKalb and headlined by Nik Person with featured performances by Beaverhead, Lady Love (Alex Dawe), and The Woodruffs (including Elisa Curl-Woodruff), the evening showcased a range of musical styles by some of the area's best Q***r and Gender Expansive musicians.
The night kicked off with a wonderful speech by the MC Frankie DiCiaccio (described as a real mover and shaker in the community advocating for LGBTQ+ rights) who shared about how we need community now more than ever and how people were doing that by sitting in those seats and being present that night. All four musicians shared songs, some original and some cover, that they felt sent a message of strength and support to the q***r and trans kids in DeKalb.
Throughout the night, at the Youth Outlook table, folks opened their wallets and their hearts, sharing about how they themselves were a member of the q***r community and wanted to show support, or how two folks in attendance were once Youth Outlook volunteers from years ago (one from our Aurora site and one from DeKalb when it used to be at the NIU Gender and Sexuality building).
Audience members enjoyed free cookies (freshly baked by The Woodruffs, and we can't stress enough how tasty these homemade treats were!) and free pizza, and greeted the owner of Groove Street, Mike. Mike shared that this was only the beginning of performances he wanted to bring to the venue to help support local nonprofits and up and coming musicians.
He said this was the most people he had ever seen in the space and that he cant wait to see it grow even further. We also had some of our Sterling youth come and enjoy the show! Overall, the night felt welcoming, intimate, joyful, and very, very q***r.
Through the community's generosity, we raised $1,421.77 in one night for the q***r youth of the area. That's a combination $394 in cash donations, plus some checks, including one for $777.77 (talk about a lucky number)!
Thank you again to all of the musicians, to all of the audience members, and to Mike and Groove Street for opening your hearts, wallets, and doors to our agency and proving that LGBTQ+ youth in and near DeKalb are Safe, Supported, and Celebrated even beyond the doors of our Drop-In Centers!
