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Meet a Grantee

Affinity Community Services

When Affinity Community Services first opened its doors in 1994, it took two years before women started showing up on a regular basis. After meeting in bars, living rooms and church basements for so long, they couldn't believe they had a physical space of their own-a place where lesbian and bisexual African American women could be themselves, where they would no longer be isolated and where they would find structure and community.

Today, Affinity is a revered entity throughout Chicago. Chris Smith, founding member and current Board Chair, explains why. "We try to make sure that when a woman comes to Affinity there is a black woman there to greet her." She tells the story of a 27-year-old woman who came to Affinity for the first time. "That woman took two buses and dodged bullets to get here that night, and when she opened the door, there was a black woman on the other side. She drank hot cider, watched a drumming circle, and made the same trip the next week."

The biggest factor Affinity contends with is isolation. "Whether at home, work, or socially," Smith says, "it takes a toll. Isolation is a result of dealing with racism, homophobia and sexism on a daily basis. It often pushes women to places where they don't take care of themselves, and where they make bad decisions." In 2003 as part of their Health and Wellness agenda, Affinity implemented a "Heart Smart" program to combat heart disease, the leading killer of black women in the U.S. Sixteen women committed to a 12-week self-maintenance program-they ran, spoke with nutritionists, learned about stress management and tried to create realistic goals for an active healthy life.

Smith explains that Affinity is a place where women can come and be themselves, without judgment, skepticism or fear. "Women underestimate how powerful it is to be in a place where they don't have to select what piece of themselves they must highlight or hide." Conveying that message across lines of culture and sexual orientation is perhaps Affinity's greatest challenge. Their constituency includes women who are newly out, still married or trying to leave abusive relationships. More than 60% have children, and cherish a safe place where they can explore a new life. Women barter and network, find places to live, and secure jobs.

Other than one full-time office manager, the organization is run solely by volunteers. However, every board member, chairperson, committee member and volunteer runs their program like it's a full-time job. Smith says there's a good reason for that. "Most women at Affinity have never been in jobs where they were asked to make a high-level decision. Now here they are sitting at a committee meeting making choices that will affect the lives of untold numbers of people."

Affinity Community Services (Chicago, IL) provides comprehensive services and a safe space on the South Side of Chicago for Lesbians and Lesbigay youth of African descent. Through support groups, social justice forums, informal discussions and poetry nights, Affinity promotes visibility, empowerment and community-building.

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