Turning the Corner and Turning Up for Be Free Festival 🎉🌈
Spring has been a season of reflection and reset here at Kultivate Labs, and we’re feeling the momentum shift.
It’s no secret that this year has brought challenges to San Francisco’s cultural and creative communities. But we’re not just weathering the storm—we’re beginning to build what comes after. And as always, we’re doing it with our people at the center.
Join Us in Shaping What’s Next
We’re currently seeking two new board members to help guide our next chapter. If you—or someone you know—is passionate about cultural equity, community-rooted economic development, and bold, future-forward ideas, now is the time to step into a leadership role.
Save the Date: Be Free Festival 2025
We’re channeling our renewed energy into our first major festival of the year:
🗓️ Be Free Festival
📍 Friday, June 13, 2025
🕔 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
This year, we’re leaning all the way into Queer Joy and Filipino Pride, transforming Mission Street between 4th and 5th into a radiant, one-night-only night market experience.
What’s in Store?
🌈 Jessie West Alley becomes a party zone, featuring:
A whole lechon roast hosted by MOSA
An adobo cook-off and lumpia eating contest
Drag runway shows and DJs lighting up the night
🏛️ Inside Executive Order:
Our beloved Queer Jams return
Followed by a dazzling Queer Ball hosted by Oakland To All
🏬 Along the face of the Mall:
Dozens of food and retail vendors transforming the block into a cultural corridor
🇵🇭 Inside Sentro Filipino:
Broadway-style sing-alongs
A new Hinabi exhibit honoring textile heritage
We’re proud to partner with Into the Streets, a queer-led events company that has brought the Bay Area unforgettable experiences like Bhangra and Beats and Downtown First Thursdays. Their CEO, Katy Birnbaum, was recently named one of SF’s 100 most influential people—and with her team’s creative power, we’re taking Be Free Festival to the next level.
Leadership Transitions: Farewell Kaithleen, Welcome Jimmy
We’re sending deep love and gratitude to Kaithleen Apostol, whose leadership helped shape the voice and vision of Kultivate Labs. She grew the Brownthought Academy into a powerhouse platform for emerging leaders of color, and we’re so excited to see her thrive in new roles at Make it Mariko, Executive Order, and MOSA.
As Kaithleen steps into new adventures, we’re proud to welcome Jimmy Gabiola into her role. A former Brownthought intern and now our new Marketing Coordinator, Jimmy brings continuity, creativity, and deep community insight to the work ahead.
