By Ken Magri
“Come one and all” Chico residents, because Safe Space Chico is hosting a family-oriented fundraiser with a circus-theme on Friday, May 23 from 6 to 9 p.m., all in a mission to help those living on the streets of Butte County.
“The Greatest Fundraiser on Earth” will feature live music, games, performers a fire-dancing troupe, a tarot card reader and circus concessions for one night only. Café Coda at 265 Humboldt Avenue will be transformed into in a carnival-like atmosphere. The café will also open up its spacious back patio which includes a full-service bar and a small stage for live acts.
Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased either at the Ghost Poppy candle shop at 1907 Mangrove Avenue or online through Eventbrite.com.
Safe Space Winter Shelter Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides “seasonal low-barrier” emergency shelter, meals and laundry services for Chico’s unhoused population. In the winter months it offers shelter from the cold, and in the summer heat it operates a free cooling center.
“Low-barrier” means that Safe Space is a come-as-you-are facility. It allows animals and couples to stay together. It does not test for drugs or alcohol, but instead asks visitors to adhere to its code-of-conduct to ensure everyone’s safety.
“All proceeds from the event will support our Cooling Center, opening in July, and our newest program, Radical Resilience,” said Safe Space Outreach Coordinator Nicole Coffield.
Performers appearing at the fundraiser
DJ Linda Love will kick off the evening event by spinning some vinyl. Love hosts the monthly Open Turntables events at local bars, where folks bring in their own records and spin them in 20 minute sessions. For this fundraiser Love will play her own favorite playlist of tunes, which she describes as “sweet soul, deep grooves, and smooth vibes.”
Heron Rana is a multi-talented musician and street performer who honed her skills by performing live in the streets of Mexico.
“I started street performing in 2013 using hula hoops, and have since incorporated dance, hoops, clowning, fire, and live saxophone music,” said Rana. “My music has influences of R&B, Jazz, Latin and Brazilian music and Indie/folk and is an expression of my experience, mind and heart.” Rana songs can be heard on Spotify.
Chico musician Scout the Wise combines his blend of Pop, Hip Hop, Country and Folk into a genre-defying musical experience. This gifted trans artist is blessed with a soulful stage presence, a banjo or guitar, samples and beat loops which are all incorporated into their distinctive musical style. You can check out songs by Scout the Wise on Soundcloud,com.
IllumaNexus is a group of fire dancers that spin, toss and juggle flames, mesmerizing their audiences with safe but spectacular fire shows. These local performers helped celebrate at last year’s Downtown Christmas Preview tree lighting ceremony, and were also featured at last week’s Redding Fire Festival.
SisiSmiles is a local performer and old-school caricature artist who specializes in quickly drawn felt-pen portraits that capture the essence of every sitter. She regularly appears at Thursday Night Market.
Proceeds help the cooling center and a new program
By working with its network of community partners and Chico’s 211 phone service, Safe Space has operated a summer cooling center since 2021. Each cooling center offers ice, water and an air-conditioned interior space for homeless persons who need to temporarily cool off in Chico’s blistering mid-day summer temperatures.
The Radical Resilience Day Program is a support group created specifically for the unhoused. The program hosts two meetings per week during its partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services.
Monday and Wednesday meetings focus on creativity, self-healing and companionship for those who feel left out of normal societal activities. Each meeting can include a guest speaker who has shared experiences, storytelling, open discussions and a hands-on creative activity. These activities include starting a journal, making art, writing poetry or creating a zine for self-publishing.
The main idea behind Radical Resilience is that homelessness should be more than merely survival. Each speaker and activity puts a little imagination and fun back into day-to-day living, with the added benefit of building hope and self-esteem.
“Each session includes drinks, snacks, supplies, guest speakers, and a safe space to share, if and when participants are ready,” said Coffield. “Transportation is provided from Chico Plaza between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m., and no sign-up is required.”
Safe Space Chico is always looking for volunteers to help with their year-round programs as well as various fundraising events. Anyone interested in joining the cause can inquire at info@safespacechico.org
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