During the month of June each year, Chicago is host to a series of events in celebration of Pride Month. Pinecone Tech, a Chicago technology solutions company who offers digital media marketing, website design/development, and custom software solutions, has announced a social justice initiative and collaborative effort between two local artists for a social media campaign titled #ProjectPride365. Pinecone Tech was inspired by the collaborative artwork of Jeffrey Allmen and Josue Aldana to highlight and bring a committed action of awareness to the LGBTQIA++ community beyond the month of June.

Pride Month promotes LGBTQIA++ self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, non-binary, and transgender people as a social group. ProjectPride365 aims to spread awareness that Pride is more than a single month, but a year-round ode to community acceptance, empathy, and love. The campaign will educate social media users on the misrepresentation and the marginalization faced by the Black, Brown, Queer, and Transgender individuals within the LGBTQIA++ community.

ProjectPride365 will include a local mural creation, t-shirts, art prints, and have a series of free wellness classes for everyone to enjoy.

Jeffery Allmen—yoga instructor and designer of the Intersectional, inclusive Chicago Pride flag, will lead a series of pride-themed virtual yoga classes during the last week of June that will be free to the public. Attendees will be given the option of making a donation to Chicago’s Howard Brown Health Organization to help their mission of “eliminating the disparities in healthcare experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through research, education and the provision of services that promote health and wellness.”

As part of the initiative, Josue Aldana, community artist and activist located in Little Village, Chicago, has created thought-provoking artwork that will be printed on a limited number of t-shirts. The t-shirts will be released and available on July 5th, 2021. All proceeds from merchandise sales will go to the Howard Brown Center. 

• Unisex tee

• 4.5 oz. 100% ring-spun cotton

• 30/1 fine jersey, tubular construction

• Ribbed crewneck, taped neck and shoulders

• Double-needed sleeve and bottom hem

Shipping of this design will begin July 19th