May Erlewine is selling TBA (Tender Badass) bracelets
to raise global care, concern, support and awareness
for those experiencing hardship and injustice.
How did this all start? Read the full origin story below.
In 2025 we are sending 100% of TBA profits to support the ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) mission is to defend and expand the civil liberties and rights of all people in the United States. The ACLU is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.
https://www.aclu.org/about/about-aclu
JOIN OUR BEAD TEAM COMMUNITY
If you are interested in joining the bead team and supporting this effort
by volunteering your time to make bracelets, let's connect!
You can email our Bead Team leader,
Rhonda at tbabeadteam@gmail.com
It's easy to get started and make a difference one bead at a time!
After you send in your first batch, you'll become an official part of
the bead team and have the option to join our online platform
for connection and support in your beading.
We even host live online events so that folks can bead together in solidarity.
A few years ago I wrote a poem entitled Tender Badass for a dear friend of mine that is courageously vulnerable. Soon after, I coined the term TBA to refer to anyone demonstrating vulnerability, compassion and care with tender tenacity. As so much of my work involves writing and advocating for social justice and the environment, I decided to use TBA as a not for profit arm of my work.
In December of 2023, when the violence and suffering in Gaza had reached a new and horrific peak, I wanted to find a small way of doing something with my voice. I decided to sell TBA bracelets at my shows to raise funds and awareness to support relief efforts in Gaza. I invited people to join me before the concerts and make bracelets, in return I offered them a spot on my guest list. I brought all of the supplies and a lot of hope, but I had no idea how it would go. To my surprise, a lot of people turned out to offer their hands and hearts to the cause.
Before I knew it, people were emailing and showing up left and right to offer their help to make more bracelets. The outpouring was tremendous. People were making them remotely and sending them in the mail and even organizing events to bead with others. There was something so moving about coming together and doing something. Honoring the tender care within us and our grief. One small bead after another, we were making an impact. Thus the Bead Team was born.
Rhonda Robinson, a friend, jewelry maker and exceptional TBA offered to head up the Bead Team and to help organize the enthusiastic support. In 2024 I sold as many bracelets as I could at my shows. Because of the generosity and care of the TBAs that made the bracelets, and the TBAs that bought them, we raised over $20,000 to send to the World Food Program earmarked for Gaza relief.
We decided that each year we would support a different cause, and each year we would change the colors of the bracelets so that folks could collect them all and this meaningful work could continue. This year we have chosen the colors gold and black to symbolize security and becoming protectors of beloved community. In 2025, all of the TBA sales will go to supporting the ACLU.
Please join us in this small but mighty crew of TBAs by joining the bead team, or purchasing a bracelet at the shows! Most importantly, join us in cultivating a culture of care. We need it now more than ever.
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