Brave Space Alliance

Friendly reminder for those with appointments for today’s Chicago CityKey event today at Brave Space Alliance…

For today’s event on Tuesday, July 23, at Brave Space Alliance, remember to bring the following documents to your CityKey appointment:
•Your confirmation code
•Proof of Identity documents
•Proof of Residency documents
•CityKey application

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Brave Space Alliance is honored to be one of five grantee partners of the Transgender and Gender Diverse Wellness Program (TGD), a new statewide initiative funded by the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago and the Illinois Department of Human Services. This statewide initiative supports and expands our gender-affirming healthcare services.

Through this strategic partnership, we recently launched our mental and behavioral health initiative this summer! We completed five mental health pilot support groups serving transgender, gender non-conforming, and same-gender loving men.

We're currently recruiting for individual mental health therapy at our office once a week throughout the month of July. The sessions will begin in September, prioritizing TGD individuals.

For questions or more info, please e-mail [email protected].

Happy Friday, Good People! We're going live on Insta at 10:30am. See you in a few!

It's time for a TGIF Insta Coffee Chat! Join our CEO, Channyn Lynne Parker, and our Director of Development, Cicilia Harley Robison,
tomorrow morning (Friday) at 10:30am CST.

They'll give you the scoop on our Bold New Horizon Campaign and some exciting new partnerships and community programs we've cultivated at Brave Space Alliance. We've been busy!

So, pull up to the screen with your morning beverage of choice and tune in. See you then!

Drumroll, please, for an exciting update on our Bold New Horizon Campaign.....We have raised $263,212 of our $500K goal to date!!!

Many thanks to every individual donor and foundation and corporate partner who donated and promoted our campaign. YOU made this progress and momentum possible! Because of you, we achieved our half-way milestone of $250K just before the July 4th holiday. Say what?!

We believe we can reach our final goal of $500K if we push just a little bit harder for a little while longer, so we’re extending our Bold New Horizon Campaign through Saturday, August 31, at 11:59pm CST. Coincidentally, August 31, is our team member Kelly’s birthday, and…well…you NEVER want to disappoint a Virgo. 😊

So, please, make our rainbow-colored dreams come true by joining and promoting our Campaign and encouraging your friends, family, and colleagues to do so as well!

https://www.classy.org/campaign/brave-space-alliance-a-brave-and-bold-new-horizon/c576133

A million thanks again for your continuing generosity and support of Brave Space Alliance! Our Bold New Horizon Campaign reflects our mission to embolden, educate, and empower TLGBQ+ and Black communities in Chicago by providing holistic and affirming community services, programs, and connection in health, housing, food, and identity- our Four Pillars of Dignity. Your participation helps us and the communities we serve to sustain and thrive in the present and in our collective future.

https://www.classy.org/campaign/brave-space-alliance-a-brave-and-bold-new-horizon/c576133

Brave Space Alliance CEO Channyn Lynne Parker joined fellow friends, colleagues, and family members of our sister Taylor Casey, who was reported missing in June in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Our hearts are with Taylor's family and other loved ones, and we remain supportive of their efforts to find answers.

Unfortunately, Taylor's case is emblematic of what happens to way too many trans women, whose disappearances and deaths receive little to no public attention or demands for resolution by law enforcement.

Brave Space Alliance is deeply concerned about the Supreme Court of the United States' (SCOTUS) recent ruling that permits cities to ticket, fine, and arrest homeless individuals for sleeping on the street and in other public spaces. This ruling overturned previous lower courts' rulings, deeming banning homeless people from sleeping outside, especially in communities where no shelter is available, as cruel and unusual punishment.

The SCOTUS ruling has essentially criminalized homeless people for daring to sleep and rest- biological functions necessary for survival. This is incredibly callous amid the ongoing privatization of health and human services and persistent poverty, mental illness, strained shelter systems, shortage of low-income and affordable housing for individuals and families across our nation, and forced displacement of migrants. This ruling will disproportionately harm poor and working-class citizens and residents- a disproportionate number of whom are Black American, Latine American, displaced migrants, and TLGBQ+ youth.

We urge the administrations of Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker to ensure enforcement of Illinois' Homeless Bill of Rights that former Governor Pat Quinn signed into law in August 2013. This act provides anti-discrimination protections to people experiencing the loss of housing, including the right to maintain gainful employment; to access emergency medical care; to access public spaces and transit systems; the right to privacy of personal property, records, and information; and the right to vote on the same basis as other people. Under this act, these rights cannot be denied based on one’s housing status.

Brave Space Alliance believes housing should be a human right, not a privilege. Housing goes beyond having a shelter to making a home, having what we need to feel at home, and feeling a sense of community and safety at home. While we remain committed to providing housing readiness services to our community, we know that housing instability and homelessness are multi-faceted systemic problems that require systemic interventions and solutions.

We want to acknowledge and applaud the work of organizations and coalitions like Bring Chicago Home, Lugenia Burns Hope Center, The Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, Palenque LSNA, SOUL - Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation, SouthWest Organizing Project,
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Housing Action Illinois, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, and others for advocating alongside those fighting for a place to call home.

Chicago, Illinois Advocates Hope Impact of Supreme Court’s Homelessness Ruling Muted Locally The decision is expected to have a sweeping impact on policies for the unhoused, but local advocates are hoping the effect will be muted in Chicago and Illinois.

Our dear friend and comrade Taylor Casey is missing. She was last seen in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Please help us find her by sharing this post widely, reaching out to contacts you may have in the Bahamas, and supporting efforts to bring Taylor back home safely.

The Brave Space Alliance Team is deeply concerned about our sister Taylor Casey, who has been reported missing. She was last seen on Wednesday, June 19, in the area of Paradise Island, Bahamas. If you have any information, please contact the Criminal Investigation Department at the number on the flyer.

A close friend of Taylor and her family is requesting recommendations for attorneys or legal teams who have advised cases like this or who understands Bahamian/international law. Please direct message us with any leads, and we'll pass them along.

We send lots of love and support to Taylor and her family and friends and are here to support however we can.

Brave Space Alliance wishes everyone a Happy Juneteenth!

Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth also commemorates the beauty and resilience of Black American people and culture, the countless contributions we have made- and continue making- to our country, the collective progress and achievement our recent and distant ancestors made possible, and the ongoing fight for human and civil rights for all. Juneteenth is a time to reflect and rejoice. For more information on Juneteenth, visit https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth.

We wish you all a Happy Juneteenth!

Happy Monday, everyone and happy 3rd day of Pride month! We’ve already had an eventful start to the season. Big thanks to for hosting us yesterday. Keep a close eye on our socials to find out other places around the city that are supporting Brave Space Alliance this month!

BIG thanks to the for hosting us! We had an amazing time telling fans about the vital work we do here at Brave Space. We also curated a Vogue exhibition that had the crowd hype and ready to WALK the runway! What a great way to celebrate the first day of Pride month!

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Happy first day of pride! Around here, everyday is pride day, but this month, we are able to collectively shine an intentional light on the bravery, resilience, and liberation of our community! Happy Pride!
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Hey sports Qu**rs! We have two opportunities coming up to root for your hometown teams, show your pride AND support our mission here at Brave Space Alliance! Check out the links in our bio for ticket info. LETS GO CHICAGO!

Hi community! 👋🏾 We are closed today (Monday May 27th) in observation of Memorial Day. We will reopen tomorrow, May 28th. We hope you all have a great day!

Way-to-go, IL! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Illinois Will Soon Allow Trans Residents to Correct Out-of-State Birth Certificates and IDs The historic law would also apply to identification issued outside the country.

We’re teaming up with for an exclusive 9-piece accessory collection designed by our own Deputy CEO Jae Rice! Celebrate Pride Month with purpose and style with 100% of the collection’s proceeds going directly to BSA.

Join us on May 30 for a kickoff event at Tie Bar’s Chicago location on Armitage from 6-8 PM for free drinks and snacks while you shop! Learn more at the link in our bio and RSVP @ [email protected].

We're teaming up with for an exclusive 9-piece accessory collection designed by our own Deputy CEO, Jae Rice! Celebrate Pride Month with purpose and style with 100% of the collection’s proceeds going directly to BSA.

Join us on May 30 for a kickoff event at Tie Bar’s Chicago location on Armitage from 6-8 PM for free drinks and snacks while you shop! RSVP here [email protected] and learn more at https://www.thetiebar.com/blogs/news/a-braver-chicago!

Wow! What a phenomenal night, full of celebration, love, and collective optimism, and positivity towards Brave Space Alliance ‘s future! We celebrated an impactful year of our not-so-new CEO, Channyn Lynne Parker, and 7 years of the dignified work of Brave Space Alliance. Thank you to all who shared space with us, and all of you who contributed to our sustainability campaign. (Link in bio) It is indeed, a bold new year at BSA!

Happy Friday everyone! In less than an hour, it’ll be time to grab a cup of tea or coffee, and head on over to Instagram for our Friday Morning. Coffee Chat!

May your week be filled with boundless success and joy! Our Brave New Horizon campaign has already reached $32K, setting the tone for an incredible week. Check the link below for an update on our journey towards a bold new horizon!

Friend of BSA, Teamwork Makes the Dream Work! Bold New Horizon Campaign Update A Bold New Update Tuesday, May 7th 2024 Donate TODAY! The Brave Space Alliance team is integral to the foundation on which our Four Pillars of Dignity stan

Grab a coffee, head over to our instagram and join us tomorrow for our weekly IG live, featuring our C.E.O. and Deputy C.E.O.🏳️‍⚧️

BIG s/o to our Partners In dignity, The Ferrara Candy Company for hosting our very first TDOV 365 gathering. We had a candid conversation about visibility vs. tokenism, and uplifted the necessity of visibility of our community 365 days a year!
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We are THRILLED to see our phenomenal board member, Tracy Baim included in the 2024 Curve Power list. Tracy’s impact on community doesn’t stop just within Chicago, it’s globally felt, recognized, and highly appreciated. Sitting amongst names, such as Britney Griner and Wanda Sykes, this is a well-deserved recognition for someone who has dedicated their life to the uplifting of our communities! Thank you, Tracy for all you do, and all you will do!

THANK YOU, . Thank you for hosting us this week. Brave Space Alliance has become a LGBTQ+ staple on the Southside. Providing resources, anchored in dignity to all of the communities that reside here, we appreciate the support of our neighbors, local businesses, and overall community. THIS is what it takes to build a Bold New Horizon! Check out the link in our bio to donate to our mission🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

https://www.classy.org/campaign/brave-space-alliance-a-brave-and-bold-new-horizon/c576133