 Affinity
-- Chicago
Affinity is a six-year not-for-profit
organization currently serving Chicago’s black lesbian and
bisexual women’s community. For the past five years, Affinity
has served the black lesbian community through a combination of
educational, social and community collaborations. One of the
central elements of Affinity’s mission has been the creation of
opportunities for visibility, empowerment, and leadership for
black lesbians locally, while serving as a national organizing
model.
Our History & Mission
AFFINITY evolved out of the efforts of black
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered leaders and members
from our community. There was a need to respond to the dearth of
services and resources available on the south side of Chicago
for members of these groups. Something needed to be done. These
discussions grew from a "seedling idea" to a full blown plan to
work towards creating a Community Center on Chicago's south
side, which would provide a safe and accessible environment
committed to promoting or providing services and resources which
would facilitate "wellness."
 AFFINITY'S
Steering Committee members have worked consistently towards this
goal since October of 1994. During this critical time, Affinity
created a "Needs Assessment" tool and surveyed the community
members in an effort to determine what resources and services
respondents found important. Affinity then compiled the data
from close to 200 community members and found this data useful
in obtaining our first operation grant from the Crossroads Fund,
which was funded in 1996.
AFFINITY has and will continue to form collaborative
relationships with groups and organizations within the
aforementioned communities as well as the community at large as
a way of ensuring that the community members have access to
quality comprehensive resources.
Mission
Affinity's mission is to provide comprehensive services and a
safe space on the South Side of Chicago for Lesbians and
Lesbigay youth of African descent.
The scope of our efforts will also include providing a
supportive environment for bisexual women, transgendered
persons, lesbians of color, our families, friends, and other
supporters. We ask that all constituents respect that some of
our activities and events will include forums that are open to
all, and some that are only open to those of African descent. We
will provide and promote services to meet existing and emerging
needs related to health, advocacy, education, racism, sexism,
and homophobia. Our fundamental commitment is to facilitate
wellness within and among these groups and to contribute to the
national knowledge base regarding African American Lesbians.
- Forty Plus
- Healthy Woman Series
- Lez Chat
-
Social Justice
- "Xpressions of You"
Youth Program
- Newsletter
Forty Plus
Forty Plus is dedicated to providing a safe place for
interaction and socialization for lesbian and bisexual women
of African descent over the age of 40.
Key Benefits:
- Open forum for
discussion
- Supportive resources
- Networking opportunities
Scheduled Meetings:
The Third Saturday of each month, 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Other
activities are scheduled by group organizers.
Healthy Woman Series
The Healthy Woman Series explores health issues and barriers
to accessing health services for lesbian and bisexual women
of African descent. Healthy Woman seminars are facilitated
by professionals within the community. The seminars and
programming are designed to provide education, resources,
alternative health information, and promote healthy living
for women.
Key Benefits:
- Seminar facilitated by
professionals
- Resources and referral
information
- Exercise classes
designed for women of all ages and sizes
- Participation in health
panels and conferences
- Collaborative programs
and organizing around women's health issues
Scheduled Meetings:
The First Thursday of each month, 7:00pm - 9:00pm. Other
activities are scheduled by group organizers.
Lez Chat
To provide creativity and high energy to a sistah chat which
hosts a range of humorous, controversial and timely
discussions on issues which impact urban Black lesbians
between the ages of twenty-five and forty.
Key Benefits:
- Open forum for
discussion
- Supportive resources
-
Socialization
- Networking opportunities
Scheduled Meetings:
The Second Thursday of each month, 7:00pm - 9:00pm. Other
activities are scheduled by group organizers.
Social Justice
The Social Justice committee serves as a change agent for
those systems which traditionally marginalize and oppress
people of color, and specifically lesbian, bisexual women
and lesbigay youth. Activities have included participation
in rallies, marches, letter writing campaigns and also
promoting change within the Chicago Public School System
around issues of diversity and safety for lesbigay youth.
Key Benefits:
- Direct action in planned
demonstrations
- Participation in local,
regional and national coalitions
- Development of community
organizing skills and knowledge base
Scheduled Meetings:
Committee chair coordinates meetings based on planned
community actions
"Xpressions of You" Youth Program
"Xpressions of You" is dedicated to providing a safe place
for interaction and socialization for lesbigay youth between
the ages of 18 to 25.
Key Benefits:
- Forum for discussion
around issue of "coming out", safer sex, and risk
reduction
- Safe and friendly
environment
- Resource and referral
information
- Peer outreach/volunteer
opportunities
Youth Drop-In:
The Third Friday of each month, 7:00pm - 10:00pm.
Newsletter
Goal: Produce a high quality newsletter and coordinate all
media interactions.
Functions/Responsibilities:
- Solicit community-wide
articles
- Coordinate information
between Affinity communities and community calendar events
- Update and secure
subscriptions for the newsletter
-
Maintain archives
- Coordinate the
obtainment of other publications both locally and
nationally
- Ensure that the Affinity
newsletter is produced in a cost efficient and
continuously improving fashion
- Ensure Affinity
information and advertisements are published in other
publications
Skills Needed:
-
Organizational
- Good oral and excellent
written communication
-
Task oriented
- Creativity
- Envelope stuffing &
label affixing
-
Word Processing
Time Committment:
- Approximately 4 hours
per month
- This includes one
meeting per month and some working hours
- Meetings are expected to
last one hour
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