About Us

The story of Sweet Tea Social Club began, as many great stories do, with conversation and connection. Two friends—both multiracial, both deeply rooted in community organizing, and both proudly and firmly rooted in the South —found themselves sitting across from each other at doing arts and crafts in a sweet community space in Winston-Salem NC. We had spent years working tirelessly in movements for justice and equity, creating change in systems that often felt resistant to transformation. Yet, even in our shared commitment to the work, we recognized something was missing.

We started to talk about connection—the kind that feels like coming home. We talked about joy—the kind that sparks not just happiness but a sense of wholeness. And we talked about belonging—the kind that wraps you up and says, “You are enough, just as you are.” These weren’t just abstract ideas to us; they were lifelines. And yet, in so many of the spaces we had been a part of, these lifelines were absent.

As folks from the rural south, we understood the power of sweetness—not just in the literal sense, but in the way it symbolizes warmth,connection, and care. For us, sweetness isn’t just a flavor; it’s a way of being, a way of showing up for each other.

“What would it look like,” one of us said, “to build a space that centers those things—connection, belonging, and joy—especially for our queer and BIPOC communities?”

That question became the seed. Over countless conversations, we began to imagine what such a space could be. It wouldn’t be tied to a single identity or a single purpose. It would be fluid and welcoming, a place where people could come as they are and find what they need. A place where laughter and love were abundant, where isolation was replaced by community, and where people could leave feeling seen, heard, and celebrated.

We named it Sweet Tea Social Club because sweet tea, for us, symbolizes connection, warmth, and the kind of intentionality that goes into brewing something that brings people together. Sweet tea is a staple in Southern culture, and for us, it’s deeply personal. It’s the drink you offer to a neighbor on a hot day, the taste of a family gathering, and the unspoken promise of kindness and connection.

Our first steps were small but intentional. We decided to spend our first year hosting gatherings that reflected our values. Events where people could connect authentically, whether through a queer speed dating experience, a game night, or simply sharing space over food and conversation. We knew that to build a community, we needed to create moments where people could feel the power of belonging in real time.

Sweet Tea Social Club is about a vision: a world where vibrant, queer- and BIPOC-led spaces are hubs for safety, creativity, and collective joy. It’s about bridging isolation with interconnection, about taking a radical stance that joy is resistance and belonging is liberation.

We built this club not because we had all the answers, but because we saw the need. We see and feel how much our folks crave spaces that feel alive, intentional, and rooted in love. And we believe—that when we create those spaces, we create the conditions for something transformative to take root.

Sweet Tea Social Club is more than a business. It’s a dream we’re bringing to life, together with everyone who walks through our doors. As we begin our journey, we invite you to join us. Because this isn’t just our story; it’s yours too.

Mission

Sweet Tea Social Club exists to cultivate culturally relevant, welcoming, and joyful spaces that foster community, belonging, and interconnection. By centering queer and BIPOC experiences, we aim to create safe and inclusive environments where people can connect, share information, and celebrate collective joy through events and accessible spaces.

Vision 

We envision a world where vibrant, queer- and BIPOC-led spaces serve as hubs for joy, safety, and creativity. Sweet Tea Social Club aspires to bridge isolation by building an interconnected community that inspires collective action, nurtures belonging, and champions kindness and inclusivity, ultimately creating a legacy of shared joy and empowerment.