Real Talk: Intersectionality and Redefining Change
Aloha Spill The Tea Friends,
Last week, the HANO (Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations) Fellows program concluded—a transformative opportunity for Spill The Tea Cafe to explore new approaches to leadership and systems change. The true highlight was witnessing our youth at Spill The Tea Café captivate Hawai‘i’s nonprofit leaders with their brilliance and bold vision for a more inclusive future.
They shared more than their personal stories—they illuminated the systems we work within, highlighting how the intersection of race, gender, sexuality, neurodivergence, and economic status shapes their opportunities and experiences. Using the Wheel of Power and Privilege as a framework, they reminded us that those living on society’s outermost rings often bring the most transformative ideas.
Here’s the takeaway:
Real change begins at the margins, where lived experiences sheds light to the system that the center often fails to see.
💡 Why Intersectionality Matters More Than Ever
Intersectionality isn’t just a framework—it’s a way of understanding the world we live in. At Spill The Tea Café, our youth embody the intersections of queer, trans, non-binary, kanaka, neurodivergent, and BIPOC identities. These intersections are not barriers—they are sources of strength.
Our youth are not just surviving—they’re reimagining what the future could look like for all of us. 🔥🌎✨✨
Last weekend, they posed powerful questions to nonprofit leaders:
•Who gets to create change?
•Who is still left out of the conversation?
•What would it look like to amplify the voices we so often overlook?
The kids remind me: The answers lie not in anger, but in leading with love—love for ourselves, love for our communities, and love for the world we want to build together.
🌈 At Spill The Tea Café, We Don’t Just Talk About Inclusion—We Live It
Our programs are designed to celebrate every identity and amplify the voices of those who have been historically silenced:
•Transcend Group provides a safe space for trans and nonbinary youth to connect and grow.
•Youth Entrepreneurs Program empowers teens to transform their creativity into sustainable income.
•Chill & Achieve offers queer and questioning youth a place to recharge, explore, and simply be themselves.
These programs aren’t just about inclusion—they’re about disrupting the status quo. By centering intersectionality, we empower youth to step into their fullest selves, unapologetically.
🔥 Leading With Love and Self-Love 🔥
At Spill The Tea Café, we believe that true change begins with love—especially self-love. When we honor our identities and live authentically, we inspire others to do the same.
Self-love is revolutionary. It’s a way to reject systems that tell us we don’t belong and to build new ones where everyone is valued. It’s the foundation for creating a world where equity isn’t an aspiration—it’s a reality.
📆 Youth Community Calendar 📆
Want to see these values in action? Join us:
📅 Transcend Group
For youth aged 12-18 who identify as transgender, non-binary, or questioning.
🗓️ Wednesdays | ⏰ 5 - 6 PM
🌈 Chill and Achieve
A safe space for high schoolers of any gender or sexuality to unwind and connect.
🗓️ Thursdays | ⏰ 4 - 5 PM
🎨 Teens Palette
Express yourself, explore painting techniques, and earn money while creating art!
🗓️ Fridays | ⏰ 4 - 5 PM
💖 Transcend Group (Second Session)
For youth aged 12-18 who identify as transgender, non-binary, or questioning.
🗓️ Saturdays | ⏰ 1 - 2 PM
🚀 Youth Empowerment Hub
A motivational meet-up on passion, persistence, and goal-setting.
🗓️ Sundays | ⏰ 12 - 1 PM
💼 Youth Entrepreneurs Program (Y.E.P)
Hands-on workshops in entrepreneurship, branding, finance, and more!
🗓️ Sundays | ⏰ 1 - 3 PM
Upcoming Events:
🎲 Ready to Play and Win? 🎮
📍 Location: 2nd Floor, 1034 Queen St, Honolulu
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📅 Date: Friday, December 6th
🎮 Tournament-Style Games 🏆
🎶 Music and Vibes
🍕 Free Food and Drinks
🕺💃 Dress Code: Be yourself and express your style! Just keep it PG-13.
🎄✨ Holiday Hangout Alert! ✨
📍 Location: 2nd Floor, 1034 Queen St, Honolulu
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📅 Date: Friday, December 13th
Music: Holiday hits + upbeat vibes to keep the cheer alive
Food: Warm sliders, seasonal snacks, and sweet treats 🎉
Drinks: Specialty teas, festive mocktails, and surprise holiday sips!
✨ Vibe: Cozy and decorated for the season—perfect for a night with friends!
🎉 Dress Code: Come as you are or add a holiday twist (festive sweaters, sparkles, or Santa hats!)
💖 A Call to Action
At Spill The Tea Café, we’re building a grassroots movement rooted in authenticity, inclusion, and love. But we can’t do it alone. Your support fuels this work—keeping programs running, empowering youth, and creating spaces where intersectionality is not just acknowledged but celebrated.
DONATE NOW to help us create a brighter, more inclusive future.
Warmly,
Haylin & the Spill The Tea Café Team
P.S. How are you bringing intersectionality into your work? Reply to this email or stop by the café for a chat over boba. We’d love to hear from you!
