Affinity is a non-profit organization in its eleventh year serving Chicago’s black lesbian and bisexual women’s community. For twelve years, Affinity has served the black lesbian community through a combination of educational, social and community collaborations. One of the central elements of Affinity's mission has been the creation of opportunities for visibility, empowerment, and leadership for black lesbians locally, while serving as a national organizing model.

JNJ TICKETS ON SALE NOW! EARLY BIRD SPECIAL PRICE FOR APRIL!!!

Volunteers and Silent Auction Donations Needed for Jazz N July

We are seeking volunteers for the following committee areas: corporate sponsorship, entertainment, ticket sales, special gifts, silent auction, program ad sales, volunteer, hostess, public relations/promotions. All committee members will be offered discounted tickets. [Download the Jazz N July Committee Form] (pdf).

We are also looking for artists to donate artwork, sculpture, photography, etc. This year will feature a special tribute to President Barack Obama. We are looking for unique, creative one-of-a-kind artwork inspired by President Obama. [Download the Silent Auction Form] (pdf).

Join Affinity! Download the membership applicaton and become a member. [Download application (.pdf document)]. Affinity's Fall 2008 Newsletter is available [Download the newsletter (.pdf document)]. Submit ideas for sponsorships, collaborations and programming [Submission form].

The Spirit Health Education (S.H.E.) Circle is a unique series developed by African American lesbians for African American lesbians and bisexual women. S.H.E. Circle honors the African traditions of health and healing through the body, mind, spirit connection. This intensive two day training will offer women the tools to conduct and support S.H.E. CIRCLES in the Chicago area. Together, participants will explore the 6 part series covering breast health, reproductive health, colorectal health, exercise and nutrition, smoking cessation and coming out to your health care provider.

Join Affinity and Mautner Project’s S.H.E. Circle facilitator/trainer as together we create sacred space for beginning the journey to creating healthier lives for ourselves and our communities. [More Information]

Affinity's Health Provider Resource Guide

Our inaugural list of health providers is now available online. It includes physicians, psychotherapists, site-based providers. The providers were solicited by constituents of Affinity Community Services and the larger Black lesbian and bisexual women’s community. Constituents were asked to refer both primary and behavioral health care providers with they had positive experiences in terms of actual care, office environment, partner inclusion in treatment, and inclusive language on all forms and documents. [View the list]

Voice your opinion! Read and comment on the Affinity Blog

There are several Affinity Blog authors posting on a myriad of topics including Advocacy, Economic Empowerment, Health, News and Social Justice. You can also subscribe to the Blog's web feed via your RSS newsreader. [Read the Blog]

Looking ahead
Affinity focuses in on three particular areas of importance within our communities. Old friends of Affinity will recognize that several of these areas are integrated aspects of the work we have enjoyed for years, with a new focus on collaborations, advocacy and initiatives to building much stronger relationships with communities of ally, and supporting the needs of family, children, health, education and economic development. These efforts will be organized through the following strategies:

• Health Advocacy
  This initiative involves various activities, including building coalitions within and outside of Black les/bi communities to assess key health care barrier issues, creating and maintaining a referral list of sensitive and excellent health providers, and providing information to constituents about pertinent legislative policies and information locally, and nationally which impact the lives of our constituents. The Affinity Take Charge Health Report and Health Provider List are now available for download.
  
  
• Networking Opportunities
  These activities will include current networking opportunities, including but not limited to young women’s drop in, singles nights, topic oriented discussions, special events, community meetings and workgroups center drop-in, and updated access to site and web based resources.
  
  
• Economic Development
  This involves current activities such as disseminating career opportunity information, business fairs, investing, and educational opportunities that will support and sustain individual and family growth.

Affinity is also committed to:

• Advocating for Black lesbian and bisexual women’s issues internationally, nationally, and city-wide
• Standing against violence, hate crimes, and war
• Promoting African American lesbian and bisexual women’s creativity in music and arts
• Being inclusive of African American lesbian and bisexual women of various ages, abilities, lesbian gender roles, and sexual identity labels

To accomplish these activities and to live by these values, we will shift to an evening work period that would allow for open house and folks to drop in between the hours of 4pm-8pm. This revised schedule will begin a couple of days a week. But within the next year, we expect that center drop-in will occur 5 days a week.