Joslyn Hatfield: Marketing Director
Please introduce yourself?
My name is Joslyn Hatfield, I am a member of the all-volunteer leadership team for Know Other Festival, a queer camping and wellness experience for LGBTQ+ women, trans and non-binary identities. I am also extremely fortunate to serve as the Director of Marketing Communications at San Diego Pride, the 501c3 year-round education and advocacy organization responsible for the largest single-day civic event in the City of San Diego (the San Diego Pride Parade) and one of the largest Pride festivals nationwide (San Diego Pride Festival) — which has contributed over $3 million to LGBTQIA+-serving nonprofits largely funded by tickets sales and partnerships at the festival.
Tell us a bit about yourself (where are you from, how did you end up in SD) what do you do for work?
I am from Arizona, but I have been in San Diego for the better part of the last two decades, so in many ways I consider myself a hometown gal. I am a community-builder and connector of dots. I have been a producer of LGBTQIA+ events for about twelve years. I first started as a volunteer at San Diego Pride, which led me to join the founding team of volunteers who produced She Fest. Since then, I have volunteered countless hours for national and international pride events. I am very passionate about creating community for LGBTQ+ women, trans and non-binary people.
How did you become involve with the Know Other Festival?
I found my way to Know Other Festival through collaborating on other community events and spaces focused on LGBTQ+ women, trans and non-binary people. Our team came together while collaborating on other events and projects. Know Other Festival was born out of our shared experiences and insights in this work. Producing other events helped us identify what was missing in our community spaces, i.e. what needs of LGBTQIA+ women, trans and non-binary people were going unaddressed. We kept coming back to the needs for healing, connection and celebration in nature.
The importance of a Festival like Know Other Festival?
Unfortunately, the first few months of this year have been a somber reminder exactly why events like Know Other Festival are important. Attacks on our bodily autonomy, rights and very existence are coming at an unprecedented cadence. We know this is intended to exhaust and bewilder us. I truly can’t imagine a greater need for this refuge for connection and healing.
What are you looking forward to the festival?
One of my favorite parts of the festival is seeing people disconnect from technology and be present with one another for a few days in nature. It’s remarkably freeing! I am also really excited to see our new home in the desert transformed into a magical space for community. The stars at our new home are unreal. I am looking forward to that!
In terms of programming and entertainment, I absolutely love our partnership with Camp Beaverton for sexual wellness and exploration and I am invariably captivated by the care and intention that goes into the curation of the content for our workshops.