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Academy of Art University Partners with Juanita MORE! to Raise Money for Youth Empowerment Summit

Students help raise funds for the Gay Straight Alliance Network during San Francisco Pride Week
San Francisco, CA, June 23, 2015 – This summer Academy of Art University School of Fashion is partnering with local activist Juanita MORE! in her effort to raise money in support of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) community during San Francisco Pride Week. MORE!, a celebrated drag performer, fundraises with a variety of LGBTQ organizations each year in conjunction with Pride Week and has chosen to raise money for the Youth Empowerment Summit (Y.E.S.) for her annual Pride Party on June 28.
Eight School of Fashion Textile Design students from the Applied Textiles 3 course have hand-printed imagery inspired by MORE! and her French Bulldog, Jackson, on 32 100% organic cotton tote bags made in the U.S. with eco-friendly, water-based ink. MORE! selected her four favorite bags to be produced locally by Morrison Productions and distributed to select retailers in San Francisco; the winning totes are currently for sale at Sui Generis Consignment, Unionmade, ATYS Contemporary Design, s16 Home, Asterisk San Francisco and M.A.C. Modern Appealing Clothing. The bags are priced at $25 and all proceeds will go to Y.E.S.

A winning tote, designed by Yi-Hsuen Kuo. Photo by Bob Toy
“I am excited to be collaborating with the textile class at Academy of Art University,” said MORE!. “I talked to the students at the beginning of the semester about Pride and the non-profit Y.E.S. When I returned at the end of the semester I thought I was only going to view about a dozen totes, and when I saw that there were over 30 totes on display I was incredibly impressed. I was in disbelief that I was the inspiration behind all of the amazing artwork. Picking just one tote to produce was impossible – so I choose four of them! I hope we work together again next year!”
The remaining 28 totes are being sold at Academy of Art University’s store, SHOP657, as one-of-a-kind items for $15 each with all proceeds going to Y.E.S. SHOP657, located at 657 Sutter Street, is open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays from 1- 6 p.m.
“Academy of Art University was founded in San Francisco and is very rooted in this city’s culture,” said Rhona MacKenzie, Assistant Director of Textiles at Academy of Art University School of Fashion. “Our students are always looking for ways to get involved in the community and to support Y.E.S. during a relevant period of time for the LGBTQ community was valuable opportunity.”
Download Tote Images: http://bit.ly/1dc6Wo6 (Photos by Bob Toy)
View Tote Images on Fashion School Daily: http://bit.ly/1GFHXnQ
 
About Youth Empowerment Summit (Y.E.S.)
Y.E.S. is a free annual conference for LGBTQ and ally youth activists who are dedicated to racial, economic, and educational justice for trans and queer youth under the guidance of Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Network. Y.E.S. ensures that queer youth and their allies have the necessary tools and information to confront adversity on all levels, whether in the classroom, at home, or on the street. GSA Network is a next-generation LGBTQ racial and gender justice organization that empowers and trains LGBTQ and allied youth leaders to advocate, organize and mobilize an intersectional movement for safer schools and healthier communities.