Events + Activities
We provide a variety of programs and activities to build resilience and community belonging.
October Featured Artist: Matthew Carmichael
Dates: October 1 - 30
Time: 1:30 - 5:30 pm, weekdays
Location: The Diversity Center
The Diversity Center invites you to view the work of Matthew Carmichael, a queer Santa Cruz-based artist. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Matthew graduated from the Herron School of Fine Art with a BFA in painting and sculpture, and earned a Master of Science in Physical Chemistry from the Purdue School of Science. Matthew likes exploring new media such as 3D printing, plotting, modeling and simulation, in addition to traditional media like pen and ink, painting, printmaking and sculpture. He investigates themes of communication and animism, and the questions we confront in our modern lives about creating and discarding objects without agency. The inability to understand his hidden disability at a young age forced Matthew to turn inward for communicating, and he found solace in the inanimate world around him, forging a connection that would later surface in his art. Stop by the Center to enjoy his playful and surrealist images.
Queer Book Club
Date: October 7, First Tuesday of Every Month
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Location: The Diversity Center
Ages: 18 +
Open to all! Come eat, drink, and chat about LGBTQ+ lit. :)
This month’s book is “Gay Bar: Why We Went Out” by Jeremy Atherton Lin..
Text Jeffrey at 732-272-5896 for deets and to be added to the Whatsapp group.
Dancing for Every Body Series: An All Levels Accessible Dance Class
Date: October 9, 16, and 23
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: The London Nelson Community Center
Ages: All
Cost: $60-120 sliding scale suggested donation for each series, but no one turned away for lack of funds
RSVP: tinyurl.com/dfebseries1
Join Motion Pacific's Mo Katzman for a 3 class workshop series once a week at London Nelson Community Center in collaboration with the Diversity Center. Dancing for Every Body will promote the mind-body connection, with a focus on easeful and fun movement, finding the joy and resilience in our moving bodies, dance making, and story sharing. This class is for all accessibility levels, dancing can be done sitting or standing, and no dance experience is necessary to join.
Queer Movie Club
Date: Friday, October 17
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: The Diversity Center
We’ve got popcorn, snacks, and a big screen, and we’re ready for some fun and conversation. Join friends old and new!
For movie title and information, please call the front desk at 831-425-5422, or read our latest newsletter.
De-escalation Training by Housing Matters
Date: Friday, November 3
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Location: The Diversity Center
Ages: 18+
The community is invited to this de-escalation training provided by Housing Matters, a local non-profit partnering with individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The training will focus on certain types of interactions and will likely cross over into everyday human interactions and relationships.
Never the Last Love Letter Screening for LGBTQIA2S History Month @ UCSC
Date: Friday, October 22
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Namaste Lounge @ UCSC College 9, College 9 Road, Santa Cruz
Ages: 14+
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/UCSCntll
Join us for a powerful screening and discussion of Never the Last Love Letter for queer and trans history month. Through intimate interviews, archival footage, and historical artifacts, this volunteer-made grassroots documentary captures the creativity, courage, and defiance of the Santa Cruz LGBTQ+ community during the AIDS crisis. After the film, we will have a panel discussion about parallels between then and now with our interviewees and production crew to learn lessons from the past to help inform today’s struggles.
Nonbinary and Trans Focus Group & Meetup
Date: Wednesday, November 12
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: The Diversity Center
Ages: 18+ Trans and Nonbinary Adults
RSVP: tinyurl.com/TDCFOCUS2025
Share your experiences, wisdom and insight as a trans and/or nonbinary person in Santa Cruz! Join a casual meet up to share your thoughts on events, programs, trans/nb lived experiences, and nb/trans identities. Your voice matters, and your experiences can help shape better support systems for LGBTQ+ folks. Enjoy food and time to connect with other trans and nonbinary folks, while offering valuable feedback in a relaxed atmosphere, for and by trans and nonbinary people. Light refreshments and a small compensation ($25 gift certificate) available. RSVP required to participate. Please await a confirmation email that your RSVP has been received, as the first 8 people to RSVP will be admitted. In-person attendance is required to receive compensation.
Q&A with Composer Alex Temple
Date: Friday, October 22
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Location: The Diversity Center
Ages: 18+
Join composer Alex Temple for an intimate Q&A and live excerpts from her surrealist song cycle Behind the Wallpaper—a work inspired by her own journey through gender transition and dysphoria, later recorded by Julia Holter and the Spektral Quartet. The Marea Ensemble hosts this one-hour talk at The Diversity Center, ahead of the full performance on Sat. Oct 25 with New Music Works. Learn more at rogueviolin.com.
Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil: The Sound of Holding On
Date: Friday, November 21
Time: 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz
RSVP: tinyurl.com/tdor2025sound
Ages: All ages
A healing evening featuring trans/nonbinary artists, dancers, and musicians to honor the trans and nonbinary lives lost to violence in the last 12 months—short reception to follow. Allies welcome. Attendees encouraged to contribute to the altar dedicated to trans lives.
Queer and Trans Yoga Hosted by Sapphire Collective
Date: Every Monday
Time: 6:00 - 7:15 pm
Location: The Diversity Center
Ages: 14+
This is a trauma-sensitive, all-levels, all-bodies/abilities class taught by a rotating queer-identifying yoga teacher each week. We highlight self nurturance through yoga asana and meditation, a somatic and mindfulness healing practice that resources us for our own resilience as well as community care. No prior yoga experience is necessary. Ultimately, this is a brave space for LGBTQIA++ identifying folks to gather and take deep care. Please bring your yoga mat and water bottle.
Guided Mindfulness Group
Date: Weekly on Thursdays
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: The Diversity Center
Ages: 14+
Give your brain a break, and reconnect with the present moment, using guided breathing and mindfulness techniques. All LGBTQ+ people and allies are welcome.
Our Gala is October 11!
Date: Saturday, October 11
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: The Grove Santa Cruz Event Center
Tickets + Sponsorship + Info: diversitycenter.org/gala
Join us on Saturday, October 11, at 6:00 pm for The Diversity Center's largest and most exciting fundraiser of the year! This year, we'll be celebrating together at the GROVE Santa Cruz Event Center!