Chicago, IL.--By the fall of 2011, Affinity Community Services (Affinity), Amigas Latinas (Amigas), and Black Women for Reproductive Justice (BWRJ) will come together in their new home in the south-side of Chicago. This historical move is intended to address a lack of institutions and resources for women in the south-side of Chicago, including those who are lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer [LBTQ] and trans, gender non-confirming and gender queer people.
"The work of BWRJ in this current economic and political climate is even more crucial to the lives of women of color. BWRJ believes this historic collaboration affirms and support our work to end all forms of reproductive and sexual oppression in the lives of all women, especially women of color," said Toni Bond Leonard, President of BWRJ. All three organizations have worked to create safe spaces for women, and specifically women of color, for a combined history of nearly 50 years, and expect this strategic move to lead to closer collaborations in order to provide better services and strengthen women's opportunities to lead grassroots, social and reproductive-justice initiatives.
"We know that LBTQQ Latinas live throughout the city and suburbs of Chicago and we want to make our organizations accessible to them," states Rosa Yadira Ortiz, Board President of Amigas Latinas. "I'm excited about creating a safe and affirming space for women of color on the south side of Chicago with my Affinity and BWRJ sisters. As grassroots organizations, we know collaborations are critical to continue to move forward and provided the necessary services are members need" she concluded.
The creation of this social justice, women of color space comes at a time where all three organizations are in need to find a new home. Affinity had established the organization at First Unitarian and temporarily moved in with BWRJ in 2010. On its part, the home of BWRJ has become too small for the organization's needs and growth over the past year, making a new space a priority. Similarly, Amigas Latinas has outgrown the cubicle at the Center on Halsted.
During the winter and spring of 2011, the three organizations searched for the best space to create a safe and affirming space for women and which could house all three growing organizations. The dream of sharing space amongst longstanding allied organizations became a reality in the summer of 2011. "Affinity's founders originally envisioned creating a south side community center to serve the many needs of our diverse communities," said Kim Hunt, Executive Director of Affinity. "This move is a huge step towards that vision."
Affinity, Amigas, BWRJ will move into their new home at the end of the summer. Leading up to the move, joint fundraisers will be held to increase visibility and awareness of the new center as well as raise necessary funds to sustain this new location.
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Affinity Community Services 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.
Amigas Latinas mission is to empower Latina lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning women by providing a safe environment, personal growth, support, education, and advocacy to impact family, friends, and the larger communities we live in. Amigas Latinas Vision is to celebrate who you are with pride and acceptance, without boundaries or limitations, fearlessly and unapologetically.
Black Women for Reproductive Justice was founded in 1996. Our mission is to help Black women and girls realize reproductive justice. We seek to build a grassroots constituency organized to collectively affect changes in the public and private institutions and policies that prevent us from obtaining optimum reproductive and sexual health.
