In collaboration with Rocky Mountain Equality (RMEQ), East Window is proud to present SHINE (2.0). Curated by Aimee Herman and Charlotte Piper, this open mic/spoken word event offers the floor to Colorado queer, trans and two spirit youth to put a voice to their joy, share their hearts, and shine their authenticity into the world.
Last year, East Window hosted the first SHINE event, where we brought together trans youth and elders to celebrate the lives and legacies within the LGBTQ+ community. It was a magical evening of passionate performances and spoken word pieces that moved the entire audience that attended that night.
This year, in the face of ever increasing aggression against our community, we stand defiant.
We will not be erased.
Instead, we celebrate.
We celebrate our lives.
We celebrate our community.
We celebrate the future that WE, the LGBTQ+ are creating for ourselves.
Our collective joy is the resistance. Our voices, words, and stories are the legacy that we build. Our hearts are beacons that shine for future generations.
We hold and uplift one another.
This is our time to SHINE.
So, if you’re a queer/trans/ two spirit youth (15-24) and you’re seeking to have your voice heard, share some space, or simply are looking for a safe community event where you can bare your heart, we hope that you will join us for SHINE (2.0).
Date and time:
Oct 23, 2025 from 7-9 PM
Location:
East Window Gallery
4550 Broadway
STE C-3B2
Boulder, Colorado 80304
Aimee Herman (they/them) is a gay, nonbinary writer and educator. They are the author of the novel, "Everything Grows" (Three Rooms Press) and two full length books of poems, "meant to wake up feeling" (great weather for MEDIA) and "to go without blinking" (BlazeVOX books), in addition to being widely published in journals and anthologies including BOMB, cream city review, and Troubling the Line: Trans and Genderqueer Poetry and Poetics (Nightboat Books). Aimee currently hosts several literary series around Boulder. They teach creative writing workshops in addition to collaborating with Rocky Mountain Equality on their queer creative programming. Aimee is the founding member of the poetry band, Hydrogen Junkbox. They are turned on by public libraries, garage sales and receiving mail. Find them at aimeeherman.com.
Charlotte Piper (she/they): is the owner of Level 11 Content based out of Longmont, CO. Charlotte has been working with East Window since 2023 as a PR and marketing consultant, and now is the assistant to the director, event curator, and project manager for the gallery. She is currently a freelance writer, content creator, and marketing strategist that seeks to use her voice and platform to bring visibility to underrepresented creators and communities across the globe, with a particular soft spot for trans and queer youth. With an eclectic skillset and openness to collaboration, Charlotte found herself at the helm of some truly inspiring projects to include LIVID (2023) and SHINE (2024), both of which she curated for East Window. Instagram: @the_oracle11
Photo by Dona Laurita