SCENE + HEARD: There's No Place Like Home Sweet Home for the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund

(The Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund's Phillip Howze, Larry Lyons and Julius McFly at Home Sweet Home)

Last night at Home Sweet Home was an evening demanding attire of Roxanne Shanté-style retro-realness as an enthusiastic and dapper crowd came out to enjoy drinks and beats and show solidarity at Lyrical, the benefit party for the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund. Named after a gay Brooklyn teen who was viciously murdered in 2005, the nonprofit trust awards scholarships to high-school students interested in battling homophobia and other forms of oppression.

William Johnson of Mary literary quarterly (at left) organized the night’s proceedings, adding his trademark touch of irresistibility along with out rapper Last O (seated at right) who spat some fire at the enthusiastic crowd. (Many recognized the hip-hop artist from a delectably shirtless appearance on the cover of Mary’s first issue.) DJ duties were then resumed by four friends calling themselves the Black Female Executives.

Desire Brazell, Rashawn’s mother (seen here at center), said she was “overwhelmed” by the community’s response to her son’s still-unsolved case. “[I like] the fact that my son’s name is associated with helping students go to college, as Rashawn was ready to do.”

One guest, Cedric, who was drawn to the event from the Bronx, said he was inspired to see young people coming together at event because, “our communities are still under siege.” Less solemn was the foundation's Larry Lyons, who was sporting an updated ’80s-era funky-hipster ensemble. He told the crowd, “We’re not letting the mood get too serious. We want to do this in the vibrant spirit that Rashawn would have wanted.” While many battles require a raised fist, it’s comforting to remember that activism need not always be enraged or overly somber. —Jerome Murphy

Jerome Murphy is a New York-based journalist and the writer of Next Magazine's monthly book column, Outwords.