THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

The event will take place on Chicago's southside at Compassion Baptist Church, 2650 E. 95th St., on Thursday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and will be a full-day event including health services, roundtable workshops, exhibit areas, a lunch break, and a closet filled with accessories donated to enhance work attire and promote empowerment.

The Women Connection Summit of Hope is a community expo that brings together local service providers to create a "one-stop" environment where participants can access vendors (case management, employment, housing, prevention, legal), informational round tables, a women's accessory closet, gift bags, transportation, and an array of other women focused services to better ensure reentry into society. The mission of the Summit of Hope is to guide and assist returning citizen's participants with available services to better ensure reintegration into the community and thus reduce recidivism. The Summit of Hope is a proven IDPH and IDOC sanctioned program and is independently organized in communities throughout the state of Illinois. Additionally, the event will support women that are experiencing homelessness or domestic violence.

The expo will feature HIV/HCV screenings as well as referrals to primary and HIV healthcare. Other services and resources that will be offered include counseling and mental health; domestic violence resources; food, accessories, and shelter; childcare; employment and interview services; state identification cards; transportation; legal services; education and training services; and a variety of other resources offered by local social service organizations.

For more information, contact L'Oreal Bailey at LBailey@aidschicago.org .

This event is curated by AFC and the Women's Connection Taskforce, Chicago Reentry Taskforce and a partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).