After finding his own sense of community and fulfillment at an event for trans men, Jordan Sturtz wanted to bring that same feeling to locals in OC with the Good Strange Collective.
Whether it’s through game nights, workshops, pop-up experiences, or casual meet-ups, the Good Strange Collective aims to create a fun and inclusive space founded on the core belief that “community care is radical, joyful, and essential.”
“Meeting people with different identities and experiences from me changed me so deeply,” said Sturtz. “I think it’s important for people to do that, and it’s difficult these days.”
Attendees of the collective’s Coloring and Cheese Night at Let it Brie on Tuesday agreed that it was a great opportunity to mingle with people in their community that they may have never met otherwise.
“It’s been nice to get out of the house and socialize,” said Jules Freitas, an attendee from Murrieta who came to the event to hang out with his friend, Adlai Yambao, and socialize with locals in the area.
The collective was founded in July 2025 and plans to host monthly Chess Nights around Northern Orange County and South Los Angeles, along with outings like kickball and trivia nights. Sturtz hinted at a possible collaboration with the Whittier LGBTQ Center in the future.
Sturtz said he tries to collaborate with local small business owners as much as possible when planning meet-ups and events to help them drive business while also cultivating a lively and welcoming atmosphere for attendees.
Right now, Sturtz runs the collective with the help of his girlfriend, Devin.
“Once we have a community built, I want it to be more of a collaborative effort. Not just me running a collective,” he said.
The Good Strange Collective’s next event will be a Chess Night partnered with OC Chess Co. in Downtown Santa Ana. Tickets to participate are being sold for $5.75.
