A celebration of life for the late Chicago trans icon "Mama" Gloria Allen will take place Thursday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., inside the third-floor theater.

Allen founded and ran a charm school for homeless trans youth in Chicago and was the subject of the acclaimed documentary film Mama Gloria and the play Charm. She died on June 13 at age 76. The celebration will be held on what would have been her 77th birthday.

For her work with the charm school, Allen was awarded the Living Legend Award by Janet Mock and Precious Brady-Davis at the 2014 Trans 100 Awards in Chicago. She famously appeared on the cover of the book To Survive on This Shore, featuring photographs and interviews of trans and non-binary elders by Jess T. Dugan.

Illinois state Rep. Greg Harris, the Illinois House Majority Leader, will speak and there will be a special message from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. In addition, there will be film clips and performances.

For more information, email stephenjlewis72@gmail.com and zainab@zagmediaproductions.com , or visit CenterOnHalsted.org.