Affinity Community Services
Share
A social-justice organization dedicated to serving Black Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, Queer, and Gay people, particularly women.
03/22/2026
Happy Burning Bowl Day! Here's the line-up in one place.
Starting at 1pm!!!
: 📣 TGIF Special Announcement: Burning Bowl 2026
🙌🏾 We're excited to announce that this year's honoree of the Barbara "Robbie" Smith Award of Excellence is Sandi Byrd, a pioneer Affinity member, proud le***an, poet, and community-builder.
This award honors a community member who exemplifies leadership, perseverance, strength, compassion, and integrity- all the qualities embodying the essence of our beloved Robbie (1946–2015), an Affinity founding board member, activist, and wife and mother to two phenomenal women, Phyllis Johnson and Christina Smith, respectively, who are still active in our community.
It's almost impossible to think of Affinity and Chicago's LGBT community without thinking of Sandi Byrd.
From her participation in the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Rights Movement, the Gay & Le***an Rights Movement to and beyond…
From opening her home for women and LGBT folks to gather when bars and other community spaces were shut raided and shut down...
From taking the mic at POW-WOW Poetry and WOMB to give voice to her many stories and experiences- some of which are as painful as they are profoundly beautiful...
From creating chosen family to cultivating affirming community spaces on the South Side where Black LBTQ women and their families could be themselves unapologetically...
Sandi's presence, advocacy, friendship, and impact are deeply felt and beyond appreciated.
She's a trailblazer, wife, poet, storyteller, friend, activist, community-builder, South Sider, and one of our fave Chicagoans.
For these reasons and many more, she is Affinity's 2026 Barbara "Robbie" Smith Award Honoree.
👏🏾 Congratulations, Sandi! You are so deserving of this recognition.
02/20/2026
: Affinity Friends, this week's news cycle has been especially heavy for many reasons.
The passing of our fellow Chicagoan, Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., is top among them. He is Affinity's Black History Month Spotlight this week.
Some of us remember our elders calling us into the living room to watch Rev. Jackson on our TV screens as he held systems of power and people who abused them to account.
Some of us marched with him, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and thousands of others from Selma to Montgomery.
Some of us made a beeline to Operation PUSH on Saturdays to hear him speak, inspiring us to tap into our collective power and be part of local movements for racial, economic, and social justice.
Some of us organized alongside him with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to end desegregation in libraries, schools, restaurants, and other public accommodations.
Some of us built the Rainbow Coalition he founded in 1984 alongside him- creating a multicultural political movement to unite marginalized groups and promote social, economic, and political justice.
Some of us campaigned and organized for his 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns, and let it be known that he was the first U.S. political candidate to include LGBTQ people in their platform.
Some of us joined him in leading boycotts and buycotts against companies with discriminatory employment practices against Black people, other people of color, women, and other marginalized groups.
And maybe some of us did none of the above, but we know Rev. Jackson's name and feel the impact he made in Chicago, the U.S., and the world.
Those of us from younger generations are the beneficiaries of the battles he and countless others fought and won for us.
The work continues, and his legacy lives on. Thank you and well done, Rev. Jackson.
Rest in peace.
****************************************************************************
For information on Rev. Jackson's Celebration of Life Services, visit here: https://www.rainbowpush.org/
: 📣 Whoa, Affinity Village! Our "Be Our Sweetheart Brunch" on Saturday is now SOLD OUT! Well, it's free of charge, so not technically "sold" out, but fully booked. You get the point. :-)
🙏🏾 Thank you for your enthusiastic response! We're thrilled by this news and look forward to a joyful gathering over good food and good music with great people. As a reminder for those who RSVP'd, this gathering is for all types of sweethearts- family, friends, partners/spouses, etc.
ℹ For those who wanted to attend, we will let you know ASAP if anything opens up, as we'd be delighted to have you. If you'd like to be on the waitlist, please e-mail [email protected].
Thanks for being Affinity's sweethearts!
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
Category
Website
Address
2850 S Wabash Avenue, Suite 108
Chicago, IL
60616
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10am - 6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 6pm |
| Friday | 10am - 6pm |
