Brave Space Alliance

BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE IS THE FIRST BLACK-LED, TRANS-LED LGBTQ+ CENTER LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO, DEDICATED TO CREATING AND PROVIDING AFFIRMING, CULTURALLY COMPETENT, FOR-US BY-US RESOURCES, PROGRAMMING, AND SERVICES FOR LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF THE CITY. WE STRIVE TO EMPOWER, EMBOLDEN, AND EDUCATE EACH OTHER THROUGH MUTUAL AID, KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, AND THE CREATION OF COMMUNITY-SOURCED RESOURCES AS WE BUILD TOWARD THE LIBERATION OF ALL OPPRESSED PEOPLES.

THE COMMUNITY PANTRY PROGRAMS AT BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE ARE BASED ON A MUTUAL AID FRAMEWORK WHERE WE AIM TO PROVIDE NOURISHING RESOURCES IN A CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND ARMING ENVIRONMENT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE COMMUNITY PANTRY HAS GROWN INTO A PANTRY DELIVERY PROGRAM, A PANTRY AT OUR HOME OCE, AND A NETWORK OF 4 PANTRY PARTNER SITES ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT REGULARLY SERVE 1500+ INDIVIDUALS EACH WEEK. OUR EXPANSIVE NETWORK AND PROGRAMMING ALLOWS US TO REACH COMMUNITIES BEYOND OUR OCE IN HYDE PARK. WE ARE HOPING TO CONTINUE THE GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY PANTRY BY REDISTRIBUTING CAPITAL AND OTHER RESOURCES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BIPOC GROWERS AND VENDORS ACROSS THE CITY. BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE'S FOOD-BASED PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 120,000 INDIVIDUALS IN 2021, ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

LHA HOUSING PROGRAM: BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE LAUNCHED DEVELOPMENT AND A CAPITAL PROJECT SEARCH FOR OUR GROUNDBREAKING LUCY HICKS ANDERSON HOUSING PROGRAM IN 2021. THE LHA HOUSING PROGRAM WILL BE A UNIQUE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO SERVICE BLACK AND BROWN TRANSGENDER WOMEN ACROSS CHICAGO, LOCATED IN ONE OF BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE'S CORE SERVICE AREAS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY. THE PROGRAM WILL GO THROUGH A CAPITAL PHASE IN 2022, AND BEGIN SERVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN 2023.

BSA'S MUTUAL AID PROGRAM HAD THE MOST PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IT'S EVER HAD LAST YEAR COMING IN AT 60 ACTIVE MEMBERS DURING IT'S LAUNCH IN MAY OF 2021. THE FINANCIAL AND HOUSING STABILITY GROUP WAS ABLE TO DEVELOP A MUTUAL AID NETWORK OF QUEER TGNC COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE FOOD INSECURITY GROUP PARTNERED WITH BSA'S COMMUNITY PANTRY PROGRAM TO NOT ONLY SUPPLY PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH CONSISTENT ACCESS TO NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AND FRESH PRODUCE, BUT WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO JOIN A FOOD SOVEREIGNTY COALITION AS WELL AS ESTABLISH A PARTNERSHIP WITH VEGAN OUTREACH TO HELP SUPPORT OUR PANTRY DELIVERY PROGRAM. THE SEX WORKER SAFETY AND ADVOCACY GROUP CREATED A NETWORK WHERE EACH PROGRAM PARTICIPANT WAS ABLE TO SHOWCASE THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS AND CREATE AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THEMSELVES AS THEY NAVIGATE PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR EXITING SEX WORK SAFELY. ADDITIONALLY, BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE'S EMPLOYMENT JUSTICE PROGRAM SERVED 48 PARTICIPANTS, ALIGNING THEM WITH AFFIRMING WORKSPACES, AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ECONOMIC INSECURITY AND HIV.