SJE Clothing Swap
Summary
Each year, the Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities (SJE) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick hosts a free clothing swap. Open to everyone, the clothing swap is a place for those who have outgrown or outgendered their clothes and who may not have the means to purchase new items to pick up new threads. All clothes that are not taken at the end of the event are donated to the Trenton Rescue Mission, which gives them directly to families in need.
Strategy
Part of the Division of Student Affairs’ effort to promote SJE’s Gaypril events, our team helped to produce a video highlighting its annual clothing swap. Styled like a “haul” video, the piece features students who talk about the importance of having a safe space to explore their identity while showing off their new items. Although open to all, the swap is especially important to trans students who may not have the means to purchase new clothing that aligns with their gender expression.