Latonya Maley, executive director of Affinity Community Services, announced March 6 that she would be stepping down from her post. The announcement came from a statement with Affinity board members.
Maley said that, "It has been an honor to dedicate my time and talent to Affinity over the past two years. I fell in love with the work of Affinity when I was a teenage community organizer regaled by the stories of my mentor, Daphne Glanton, working in a chosen family of Black LGBTQ women activists. Nearly 20 years later, it was a surreal experience to step into the Executive Director role and offer intimate care and leadership to the organization."
Affinity largely centers Black LGBTQ+ South Side residents, especially Black queer women, in its services and programming.
Among Maley's accomplishments at the organization were managing the re-opening of Affinity's offices following the COVID shutdown, which led to an increase in client programming participation. Affinity also saw an increase in participation from younger clients.
"In the tricky post pandemic period, Latonya has been instrumental in increasing the engagement of our under 40-year-old members by energizing two new peer groups and supporting intergenerational programing," Phyllis Johnson, an Affinity Board member, said.
The March 6 announcement further stated, "The Board of Directors and Latonya are mutually supportive of this decision and the Board supports Latonya in what is sure to be a bright future. We would also like to highlight the work of the Peer Leads for the excellent programming they continue to lead."
Maley began as Affinity's executive director in August 2022, following the tenure of Imani Rupert-Gordon (who now heads the National Center for Lesbian Rights) and Kim Hunt (now with AIDS Foundation of Chicago's Pride Action Tank). Maley had been interim executive director of Affinity for several months. She also had served as director of Broadway Youth Center.
"I am lucky to now count myself among those who have contributed to shaping the legacy of this organization," Maley said. "I am grateful for the way my time here has evolved my practice and priorities as a social justice and non-profit leader."
