If you are younger and you are questioning things like sexuality or gender, those things are constantly being questioned outside in the world.  But Vera is a space where your identity will not be questioned, where you simply can be.
-Vincent Nijenhuis


Connection to Vera: Current Marketing Intern, Current Admin/Archival Intern, Co-chair of the Booking Committee, Steering Committee Member, and Show Volunteer

How did you find Vera? 
I went to a show. I saved up for two weeks just so I could go to that one show. A friend at the show told me if I wanted to see more shows, I should just volunteer at the Vera Project. And that’s how I got involved!

What is your favorite Vera memory? 
My favorite show, weirdly enough, was Why Don’t We, a boy band. I loved the unfiltered passion of the people at that show (who were all under 18 except two people). Just to see that enthusiasm for something– and it’s not being judged, and it’s not being shamed. You just couldn’t help but smile. I know I went through the same thing when I saw Courtney Love when I was 15 or 16.

How would your life be different without Vera? 
I don’t think I would be involved in the music industry or want to go into the career that I want to go into. I want to be a publicist at a label. It sounds like a hyperbole, but I genuinely don’t think I would be on track to do what I want to do right now without Vera.

We’ve currently raised $2,500 of our $15,000 Fall Fund Drive goal. Let’s double that TODAY to get us 1/3 of the way there! Every donations counts. Any amount counts. Donate today to support all-ages music and DIY art in Seattle. Click the above image, or go to our donate page.