Help Dez Move to Oakland

Hello family, friends, clients, social media acquaintances and maybe even strangers. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

For nearly 20 years I've called NYC my home. And for more than half of that time I've served and supported my queer community: First as a community organizer, and more recently as a barber. I provide a safe space for queer, trans, and gender non-conforming folks to get dope cuts.

Much like everyone else, I was impacted by the pandemic. I went months without working, and still haven't recovered from that period. For good reason, the shop isn't packed like it used to be. The financial struggle is real. The isolation from friends and family is heavy. It's been a really rough go.

Fortunately, I have good people in my circle. I've been given the opportunity to move to Oakland. It provides a change of pace, a chance to grow professionally, and a much needed change of scenery. But I need financial help to make it happen.

Growing your clientele takes time. But these bills and expenses can't stop, won't stop. Which is why I made this GoFundMe page. I've raised money as an organizer. I've held fundraisers as a barber. But to ask folks to donate to me directly comes with a special kind of guilt and shame. It feels like failure as an adult. But one thing I've learned over and over again in this pandemic, is that asking for help is ok. And if folks can help, they usually do.

My bare-bones budget for monthly expenses - rent, utilities, student loans, groceries - is a little over $2000 a month. My goal is to raise 3 months worth - $6000. Instead of driving myself into deeper depression and anxiety worrying about how I will make ends meet, I can use those three months to build my clientele up. If you good people find it in your hearts to help me exceed that goal, I can buy things like plates, pots and pans .

I appreciate you getting to the end of this. Thank you for your support. So much love to those of you who have had my back and continue to hold me down. Cali is gonna be a special time. Thank you for helping me dream.