Donald Trump isn’t exactly known for uniting Americans, but at least one Portland, Oregon partnership wouldn’t exist without him, or his vile policies: A pair of exotic dancers are working with a United Church of Christ pastor to raise money for the hundreds of children whose parents were rounded up in ICE’s latest raids in Mississippi.
Dawn McCall, who dances at a popular vegan strip club (which is possibly the most Portlandia thing ever), has teamed up with Rev. Adam Ericksen, whose church marquee messages of love have made him a viral celebrity. Using the hashtag #OurKids, the Oregonian reports that the pair is working to raise funds for the Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance.
McCall and a team of fellow sex-industry workers will hold charity events the next two Saturdays at Casa Diablo, known for its meatless food menu and policy of prohibiting performers from wearing animal products on stage.
Ericksen, meanwhile, has asked the congregants at his Clackamas United Church of Christ in Milwaukie and other faith communities in the Portland area to pitch in financially.
McCall, who is no stranger to activism, through her “altruistic stripper company,” TeamBLU, first met Ericksen when he gained well-deserved fame for his church sign. Despite being an atheist, she donated to his church to support his efforts. The idea to help the temporary orphans in Mississippi came from a colleague, who was compelled to do something, anything, for the children, many of whom came home from their first day of school to find their parents in ICE custody.
(A) former co-worker, who is also an artist, asked (McCall) what they could do to help these immigrant children.
The co-worker, Lauren Seeley, created an image for t-shirts and postcards now available online.
When Rev. Ericksen got wind of the effort, it was a no-brainer for him to join in.
“Christianity is about trying to help those on the margins of society — that’s where God goes,” Ericksen said. “Anyone who goes to people who need to be loved, I want to be on their team.”
The dancers’ #OurKids fundraiser is now featured on the pastor’s famous marquee and the church’s homepage.
In addition to selling Seeley’s art and the fundraising events at Casa Diablo, McCall and her colleagues are also accepting cold, hard cash.
In the video posted on Thursday to launch the initiative, both McCall and Ericksen each address the “strange bedfellows” aspect of their collaboration — and then they run right over it.
McCall: “As an atheist, I know it seems super weird that strippers would do anything with a church for any reason. However, this is Portland, and we keep it weird.
[...] Preacherman here, Pastor Adam, and I … both felt pretty devastated over what was happening to these kids in Mississippi, so we decided to link up ...”
Ericksen: ”Because at the end of the day, we are all saints, and we are all sinners, and the children in Mississippi are our children, too.”
All the same, McCall offered the Oregonian one last message for those still surprised by her partnership with Ericksen.
“We hustle for those who right now can’t hustle for themselves,” she said.
That’s a life mantra for all of us — and a quote that would look great on any church marquee.
The Daily Kos Community has raised almost $190,000 for the children and families targeted by last week’s ICE raids. Can you chip in $3 or more and help us reach $200,000?