Reflections on Cozy Kin: Movement's First In-Person Event

Written By Nicole Cabrera Salazar

Earlier this year, I was selected to participate in the Watson Institute’s Ford Philanthropy Fellowship, a startup accelerator for social impact entrepreneurs. The Fellowship was designed to empower people like me—community leaders with a vision—to take our initiatives to the next level. The program's emphasis on leadership, community engagement, and practical skills aligned perfectly with what I am working to achieve: creating meaningful spaces for marginalized people to connect, heal, and grow together.

One of the most impactful components of the Fellowship is the Basecamp, an intensive one- to three-day workshop each Fellow facilitates in their own community. For my Basecamp, I organized Cozy Kin: A Queer Night In, an event rooted in the values of collective healing and liberation for queer people and allies. It was a space for deep, honest conversations, free from judgment—a safe haven where we could all show up authentically.

The day started with a live recording of The Daily Radical podcast on the Gender Spectrum, featuring a panel of four transgender individuals at different stages of their gender journeys. We discussed gender roles, societal expectations, and the fluidity of trans experiences. It was a powerful conversation, and the room was filled to capacity. The audience was deeply engaged, with so many thoughtful questions that we could have continued all night.

After sharing a meal, I led the group in a grounding exercise to help us connect with our bodies and one another. We closed our eyes, focused on our breath, and hummed together—three cycles of breath that set the tone for a calm, intentional space. Then, we moved into a series of facilitated conversations where participants discussed their personal experiences, switching partners between prompts. The three questions were simple but profound:

  1. What makes you feel tired?

  2. What brings you joy and makes you feel whole?

  3. What is life teaching you right now?

These prompts opened the door for vulnerable, heartfelt sharing. The atmosphere was one of mutual respect and validation. Participants shared their thoughts on the mic, and the room buzzed with energy and empathy. We closed the evening by co-creating a digital mutual aid bank, where participants could offer and request support—whether it was childcare, food, or just a listening ear. This bank became a tool for ongoing connection and mutual aid within the community.

It was an incredibly hot day in Atlanta, and the venue—an indoor/outdoor space—was sweltering. But despite the heat, participants stayed for the entire event, driven by the richness of the conversations and the deep sense of community we were building together.

One participant shared their appreciation for the podcast discussion, especially our willingness to explore gender as a journey, not a binary destination. For them, it was validating to hear a conversation that reflected their own uncertain path with gender, a journey they were just beginning. Another participant, a new mother and business owner, mentioned how overwhelmed she felt. After the event, another participant offered her help—childcare, food, and even help organizing her home. That moment of kindness from a complete stranger moved her deeply and made her grateful she had decided to attend.

Many participants expressed that Cozy Kin was exactly what they had been craving: a space to connect deeply with other queer people in a setting free from judgment. Pride month can be a time of both celebration and exhaustion, and Cozy Kin was a return to the core values of Pride—liberation, healing, and collective care. The fact that proceeds from ticket sales were donated to Lambda Legal, a firm fighting for queer rights, added an extra layer of meaning to the event.

While Cozy Kin impacted the participants, organizing the event was transformative for me as well. I had never organized an in-person event before, and throughout the process, I was plagued by self-doubt. I questioned whether I could pull it off, whether people would even attend, and whether it would live up to the vision I had in my mind. There were moments when I wanted to give up. But slowly, as people began to show interest, sponsors came on board, and attendees expressed excitement, I started to believe in the possibility of success.

This experience taught me to lean on my community in ways I hadn't before. I had to let go of my perfectionism and allow myself to ask for help—something I have always struggled with. Organizing Cozy Kin stirred up old insecurities, but it also allowed me to confront them, embrace vulnerability, and heal. In many ways, the process mirrored the event itself: it was about breaking down walls, allowing others in, and creating space for authentic connection. And in doing so, I found myself healing alongside the community I was helping to nurture.

Cozy Kin was not just a one-time event. It was a testament to the power of community, showing up for one another, and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. It was beautiful, and it reminded me why I do this work.

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We’d like to give a heartfelt thank you to our partners for making this transformative event possible.

Sponsors

Vendors

Speakers

Nicole Cabrera Salazar
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