There were tears and laughter Oct. 24 at the nightspot Sidetrack as Affinity Community Serviceswhich serves the local Black LBT women's communitycelebrated its 15th anniversary.
Among the highlights were the awarding of founding board certificates to Gaylon Alcaraz, Deborah Benford, Adella Crozier, Cassandra Dorsey, Rosalind Glanton, Barbara "Robbie" Smith and Chris Smith. Special ankh-shaped Founder Awards were given to Julie Cole, Teresa Elizabeth "Ted" Dobbins, LaJaunessee Jordan, Karen Long, Nazirah Patricia Mickey, Melissa Petty, Lisa Marie Pickens and Chris Smith.
Petty encapsulated feelings about the past and future in her acceptance speech. She talked about founding members Pickens and Smith, who were "sitting in Lisa's basement going over bylaws and trying to figure out liensand here we are 15 years later," garnering wild applause. "There is a legacy, but there is still much building that has to be done. I challenge us that 15 years from now, we should be fierceour own multimillion-dollar budget and a national force to be reckoned with."
Pickens thanked her partner and father, who were both present. She then talked about the "incredible air and energy in Chicago [ around the time Affinity started ] , specifically in the Black LGBTQ community. There [ were ] Literary Exchange, Pat Parker's Place, African-American Women's Allianceso many other groups that were doing the work necessary to make a difference in the lives of the Black community. I'm honored to be a part of that legacy [ and ] I'm honored to continue to serve the community." She added that many of the founders were very young when Affinity was started, and there were already existing ties among the members at that point. "It's with that connection that we continue to do the work that we do," she said. Lastly, she cited people such as Executive Director Kim Hunt and member Kelly Saulsberry as key components to help the organization move forward. "They are the young people who will continue to move beyond what I envisioned [ and ] what the originators envisioned, and who will do more ... to make this world what it should befor our community, and for all communities," Pickens concluded.
At the end of the ceremony, Sidetrack co-owner Chuck Hyde surprised attendees by announcing that Affinity was one of two beneficiaries ( Broadway Youth Center being the other ) of a summer program done in collaboration with Chicago Beverage Systems. Final numbers had not been tabulated, but Hyde said, "As soon as they have [ the total ] , you will have it."
The ceremony was hosted by professor/performer E. Patrick Johnson, who delighted the crowd by reprising one of the characters from his award-winning book and play, Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South. Text by Andrew Davis and photos by Hal Baim; many more at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com