TASTE Takeover, a queer Latina- and veteran-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., is launching “Claiming Our Space” — a groundbreaking initiative to secure our first-ever permanent physical location. This space will serve as a cultural, creative, and healing hub for the LGBTQ+ Latinx community in the Washington metropolitan area.
Since 2022, TASTE Takeover has created events that celebrate Latinx culture, identity, and joy through music, art, storytelling, and wellness. We've hosted outdoor concerts, queer DJ nights, karaoke takeovers, pride parades, embassy collaborations, pop-up wellness events, and more. But these gatherings have always taken place in borrowed venues and temporary spaces. Now, we’re ready to root our movement in a home of our own.
This project will allow us to build long-term community infrastructure for joy, safety, empowerment, and cultural expression—especially for queer women, Afro-Latinx folks, trans and non-binary people, immigrants, and families who are often excluded from traditional LGBTQ+ and Latinx spaces.
OUR GOALS:
Secure a lease on a multi-use space in Washington, D.C., that is centrally located and accessible.
Renovate and outfit the space with the essential tools to host year-round community programs.
Create a welcoming, affirming home for queer Latinx culture that exists beyond the limits of nightlife and seasonal events.
Sustain programming that empowers artists, provides wellness support, and uplifts community voices.
FEATURES OF THE SPACE:
A flexible performance area for DJs, musicians, and open mics
A small retail & vendor showcase for local Latinx and LGBTQ+ artists and entrepreneurs
A wellness corner for community therapy pop-ups, sound healing, and support groups
A creative studio for content, art, and storytelling
Meeting & community organizing space
ADA accessibility, gender-neutral bathrooms, and bilingual signage
PROGRAMS THAT WILL LIVE HERE:
MAMACITA NIGHTS – Monthly artist and DJ showcases featuring queer Latina talent
TASTE TALKS – Panels and workshops on identity, migration, wellness, and social justice
WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS – Free sound baths, yoga, journaling circles, and access to mental health professionals
QUEER FAMILY DAYS – Kid-friendly music, arts, bilingual storytime, and family resources
ECONOMIC JUSTICE HUB – Pop-ups for queer vendors, cooperative entrepreneurship talks, and gig opportunities
WHO WE SERVE:
Our audience is intersectional, underserved, and under-celebrated. Our programming intentionally centers:
Queer and trans Latinx people
Women, non-binary folks, and femmes of color
Afro-Latinx and Indigenous communities
Immigrants, refugees, and undocumented families
People with disabilities and chronic illness
Veterans, low-income individuals, and single parents
WHY THIS SPACE MATTERS:
Too often, we are forced to create joy in spaces not built for us—bars, institutions, or venues with limited access or cultural understanding. Many of our community members are excluded from both traditional Latinx spaces and mainstream LGBTQ+ venues. This new space will remove those barriers and allow TASTE Takeover to grow with—and for—our people.
We envision a future where no queer Latinx person in D.C. has to ask for a seat at the table. We’re building our own.
ESTIMATED BUDGET:
Expense Estimated Cost
Lease deposit & rent (12 months) $25,000–30,000
Insurance, licensing, security $5,000
Basic renovations (paint, lighting, plumbing, ADA access) $15,000
Equipment & furniture (sound, lights, projector, seating) $10,000
Staffing & coordination support $10,000
Program launch & outreach $5,000
Total Budget $70,000–$75,000
OUR TRACK RECORD:
Produced 40+ events since 2022 with over 6,000 attendees
Successfully launched Mamacita Festival — the first queer Latina music festival in the U.S.
Built an online and local following of 7,000+
Partnered with embassies, veteran groups, LGBTQ+ centers, and Latinx-led organizations
Paid and spotlighted 100+ queer, BIPOC artists, vendors, and creatives
FUNDING REQUEST:
We are seeking $75,000 in funding to secure and activate this space in 2025. Any support—whether full or partial—will directly fund access, equity, and joy for the most vulnerable members of our Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities.
All donations are tax-deductible. TASTE Takeover is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: [Insert EIN]
CONCLUSION:
This is more than a space—it’s a declaration. A declaration that queer Latinx joy deserves permanence. That our culture deserves a stage. That our families, stories, music, and magic matter—not just during Pride or Hispanic Heritage Month—but every day.
Join us in claiming our space.
