About 50 people attended a party at the Wicker Park home of Chicago House CEO the Rev. Stan Sloan Aug. 25 to hear about the organization's new TransLife programs.
The programs will launch next year with the opening of the TransLife Center in Edgewater. The center will offer TransHousing, TransWorks and TransHealth (Connect-to-Care) services for transgender adults.
The event's hosts were Sloan; Dr. Rob Garofalo, director of adolescent HIV services and research for the Center for Gender, Sexuality and HIV Prevention at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and point person for the TransHealth program; and two new Chicago House board members: June LaTrobe and Emma Joy Jampole.
Guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and cupcakes ahead of a presentation by Chicago House board and staff members.
Following introductory remarks by Chicago House Special Events Manager Jeremy Hilborn, LaTrobe said, "The trans community has certainly seen tremendous progress in terms of protections and rights. However, that hasn't always been the case and is not even the case today for the most vulnerable members of our trans community, young trans women of color. Chicago House TransLife project is a very important step in rectifying that situation."
Garofalo remarked that this project is a labor of love for him. "I am honored to be involved with the Chicago House TransHealth program," he said.
Jampole said she is looking forward to working with everyone to ensure the success of these initiatives and expressed excitement at being a new board member.
Sloan explained how his understanding of the transgender community grew over the years as he learned more about their lives. From that understanding, Sloan said he recognized there were gaps in services to the transgender community that he hopes Chicago House will fill in with the TransLife programs. "So far there is enough funding to get the programs started, however, more donations are needed for the programs to continue," said Sloan.
Chicago House Program Director Judy Perloff explained what each component of the program will provide for individuals and said, "Our goal is very simple. We want to provide long-term structural intervention to improve the stability of the transgender community to decrease economic and social marginalization and to improve greater health outcomes."
See www.chicagohouse.org for more information.