Dear Editor:
The National LGBTQ Task Force is proud to sponsor and organize the 28th Creating Change Conference in Chicago, Jan. 20-24, 2016.
Since 1988, Creating Change has created the opportunity for thousands of committed people to develop and hone their skills, celebrate victories, build community, and to be inspired by visionaries of our LGBTQ movement and allied movements for justice and equality.
The primary goal of the Creating Change Conference is to build our movement's power from the ground up to secure our overarching goal of full equality, social justice and dignity for LGBTQ people in the United States.
As you can imagine, being part and attending the Creating Change conference is an opportunity of a lifetime.
We are writing you because we need assistance to make the Creating Change conference accessible to all community members. This year, the Creating Change housing committee organized a community housing program to expand access to the conference. Our goal is to provide seventy- five no-cost housing options for conference presenters and attendees.
The Host Committee seeks Chicago-area housing hosts who are able to accommodate one or more Creating Change attendees in their homes. Community Housing hosts offer home hospitality to guests over Jan. 19-24, 2016. Hosts are not compensated for this act of kindness and generosity.
We ask for your assistance in providing an accommodation: a room, a bed, a couch; because it reduces the overall conference cost and increases the ability of the number of folks who can then attend. As a housing host you will be part of a larger Creating Change Host Committee community housing network and actively provide access to all community members to attend this very impactful event. Registration fees alone can be up to $450. Travel costs vary greatly depending on distance and option. The Hilton Chicago offer a conference rate of $139 for singles, but still may be too expensive for many.
The Creating Change Committees acknowledge the conference can be costly and offer scholarships to offset travel costs. Our response for the need for more affordable accommodations during the conference is reaching out to local community members like you.
Please take a look at our online community housing form through the link:ngltf.convio.net/site/Survey and complete the form if you can work with us.
If you would like to know more about the Creating Change Conference, visit www.creatingchange.org/ .
Lynnea Karlic
Creating Change 2016
Community Housing Committee