|
|
Affinity board president passes the torch
2012-05-23
|
|
This article shared 3763 times since Wed May 23, 2012
|
|
Affinity Community Services (Affinity) has a new leader at the helm. Kelly Suzanne Saulsberry became Affinity's third board president at the organization's May 22nd board meeting. Ms. Saulsberry assumed the reigns from Lisa Marie Pickens, co-founder of Affinity and its board president for the last five years. Ms. Pickens will remain on the board of directors and lead The Affinity Archives Project. Affinity's founding board president, Christina Smith, stepped down in 2007 after nearly 10 years of dedicated service.
Ms. Pickens had her succession in mind when she requested that Ms. Saulsberry join the board a little over three years ago. "I knew that I had a role to play in building the organization during my tenure," said Ms. Pickens. "But that my true contribution would be in leaving a legacy of leaders that would continue to uphold the founding principles and practices of Affinity and move the vision and mission farther than even I or the other co-founders could ever imagine. And I saw that in Kelly Suzanne Saulsberry. It is my honor to pass the torch to her and the next generation of leaders at Affinity. Ashe!"
Ms. Saulsberry's grooming for the eventual presidency began in 2009 at the VIP reception for Jazz N July, an Affinity fundraiser, when Ms. Saulsberry expressed her interest to Ms. Pickens in taking more of a leadership role in the organization. Ms. Pickens and, at the time, newly hired executive director Kim L. Hunt began suggesting readings and seminars on leadership development and nonprofit management to build upon Ms. Saulsberry's natural leadership ability. Two years ago when the Affinity board voted her in as vice president, Ms. Pickens and Ms. Hunt, began having monthly leadership meetings and coaching sessions with her. The board voted her in as president-elect in 2011.
"I am honored and excited to be Affinity's next board president," said Ms. Saulsberry. This organization has provided me not only a supportive community, but mentorship, leadership development, and a space to share my skills and talents. Lisa's visionary leadership and integrity inspire me. As co-founder, board president, and my mentor, she has made a deep footprint on Affinity and has encouraged me to make mine with my own shoes."
Affinity welcomed two new board members in March 2012. Michelle "Peaches" Hunt, a volunteer with the organization for over 10 years, has been employed in the healthcare industry. Takeia Johnson is an Illinois Appellate Court staff attorney. Two individuals recently transitioned off the board after several years of service, Michele Miller and Errick Murray. We honor their work and wish them great success in their endeavors.
Affinity is a social justice organization that works with and on behalf of Black LGBTQ communities, queer youth, and allies to identify emergent needs, create safe spaces, develop leaders, and bridge communities through collective analysis and action for social justice, freedom, and human rights. Individuals are brought onto the board twice a year, in the spring and fall. For information about board recruitment and programs, visit the website at www.affinity95.org .
|
|
|
|
This article shared 3763 times since Wed May 23, 2012
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
|
| | Kara Swisher talks truth, power in tech at Chicago Humanities event 2024-03-25 - Lesbian author, award-winning journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher spoke about truth and power in the tech industry through the lens of her most recent book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, March 21 at First ...
|
| | Almost 8% of U.S. residents identify as LGBTQ+ 2024-03-16 - The proportion of U.S. adults identifying as LGBTQ+ continues to increase. LGBTQ+ identification in the U.S. continues to grow, with 7.6% of U.S. adults now identifying as LGBTQ+, according to the newest Gallup poll results that ...
|
| | Women's History Month doesn't do enough to lift up Black lesbians 2024-03-12 - Fifty years ago, in 1974, the Combahee River Collective (CRC) was founded in Boston by several lesbian and feminist women of African descent. As a sisterhood, they understood that their acts of protest were shouldered by ...
|
| | No 'explanations' needed: Affinity remains a haven for Chicago's Black queer community 2024-03-12 - Back in 2007, Anna DeShawn came out while she was studying for her undergraduate degree. At around the same time, she searched online for "Black lesbians in Chicago." Her search led her to Affinity Community Services, ...
|
| | Affinity Community Services' Latonya Maley announces departure 2024-03-06 - 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 ...
|
| | LPAC celebrates historic wins for LGBTQ+ candidates in Super Tuesday primaries 2024-03-06 - From a press release: Washington, DC—Today, LPAC,the nation's leading organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary candidates to public office, proudly announces the outstanding victories of 67% of endorsed candidates ...
|
| | THEATER 'R & J' puts a female, queer spin on Shakespeare 2024-03-05 - Romeo and Juliet is the theatrical gift that keeps on giving. It's been reworked for the masses numerous times, whether in direct adaptations or musicals such as West Side Story. Shakespeare's plotline points have even inspired ...
|
| | Without compromise: Holly Baggett explores lives of iconoclasts Margaret Anderson and Jane Heap 2024-03-04 - Jane Heap (1883-1964) and Margaret Anderson (1886-1973), each of them a native Midwesterner, woman of letters and iconoclast, had a profound influence on literary culture in both America and Europe in the early 20th Century. Heap ...
|
| | There she goes again: Author Alison Cochrun discusses writing journey 2024-02-27 - By Carrie Maxwell When Alison Cochrun began writing her first queer romance novel in 2019, she had no idea it would change the course of her entire life. Cochrun, who spent 11 years as a high ...
|
| | Brittney Griner's jersey retired at Baylor University 2024-02-20 - On Feb. 18, Baylor University retired Brittney Griner's #42 jersey. Grinera two-time AP national player of the year, two-time Olympic gold medalist and the NCAA women's career blocks leader (with 748)attended a Bears home game ...
|
| | Second Glance Productions hosts LGBTQupid Soiree 2024-02-16 - In celebration of Valentine's Day, Chicago based film and media production company Second Glance hosted The LBGTQupid Soiree. The event, which was focused on spinning attitudes on this particular day, was presented at The iO ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Elton John, Hannah Gadsby, video game, Jennifer Lopez, queer thriller 2024-02-16 Video below - Sir Elton John has sold his Atlanta home and is now auctioning off more than 900 of his personal items that were kept in the 13,500-square-foot condo, The Daily Mail noted. The massive collection includes rare ...
|
| | WORLD South Africa murder, lesbian couple, Brianna Ghey, Eurovision 2024-02-16 - In South Africa, LGBTQ+-rights groups condemned the brutal murder of Diego Jacobs, a queer man in Cape Town, The Washington Blade reported. Reports indicate Jacobs, 21, was brutally murdered (reportedly by a former neighbor) on Feb. ...
|
| | Human Rights Campaign report releases new data on experiences of Black queer youth 2024-02-14 --From a press release - WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, released a report in ...
|
| | Asians and Friends Chicago to host LGBTQ Lunar New Year Dinner Feb. 24 2024-02-09 --From a press release - CHICAGO—Taking a cross-dressing twist for the Year of the Dragon, members of Asians and Friends Chicago (AFC) will host a dinner-and-drag musical revue, celebrating the Year of the "Drag-on" and bringing together members of the lesbian, ...
| |
|
|