
The Thirsty! Creation Story
In June 2022, Ulan McKnight visited with his friend, Gabbie de Lara in New York City to join her on a “Sound Safari” of the best sound systems NYC had to offer. Having been transformed in his youth by the Richard Long created sound system at the Paradise Garage (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Garage), Ulan was eager to visit Nowadays in Brooklyn which has a system utilizing Richard Long ideas.
Nowadays has build an entire community based in safety and consent culture with a fantastic sound system. Nowadays was everything Ulan was hoping for and more.
Upon his return to California, Ulan brought in his friend, Casandra Anthony, who has a rich history in House music in Atlanta and Florida, and together with Gabbie, started a conversation about how to create a similar Nowadays experience on the West Coast. After months of discussion, Thirsty! is the end result.
We Are The Manifesters is our California 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit corporation formed to create spaces for people who have been traditionally marginalized to contemplate what liberation looks like for them. If there was no oppression of any kind, if you could fly your flag anyway you wished, what would your flag look like and how would you fly it? If you didn’t have to worry about money or paying rent or going to work, who would you be and how would you live your life? Throw off all limitations and interrogate who you are and who you want to become. We Are The Manifesters is building Thirsty! as a members-only social club and a place to imagine the world you want to live in and who you would be if you were truly free.
We center Black women and gender minorities from historically-excluded communities of color and the Global South. We like to say; “If your Black grandmother is in a space and she is feeling comfortable and free, it’s a good bet that everyone else is also well taken care of and doing just fine.” When Black women are fed, everyone gets a plate. We are Pro-Black and specifically Pro-Black women and gender minorities.
We are deeply aligned with the LGBTQ community. We require all events to be welcoming and safe for everyone.
We are building a resilient community through our “Contribution Collective” model where everyone contributes what they can and no one is denied entry due to lack of funds.
We center whole human wellness.
And we are building the best sound system and dance experience on the West Coast.
Please, come join us on the path to Liberation.
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