Longtime activist Angela Davis headlined Brave Space Alliance’s second annual Planting Power and Perseverance-themed Partners in Dignity Soirée May 21 at Venue West, 221 N. Paulina St., in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.
Davis spoke about her long history in activism as well the current cultural moment, particularly threats both political and physical against transgender Americans. She opened by emphasizing that in “particularly difficult historical moments like this one, we need to come together. We need to experience our collective strength.”
Davis further recalled that she was “born into a situation that required us to imagine something different, something better in order to live as Black people in the South during a time of racial segregation.”
She was involved in activism from an early age. Her mother was an activist for the Southern Negro Youth Congress (where she was an officer and prominent organizer) so it was ingrained into her at an early age. She added that her mother was able to witness an address by W.E.B. DuBois shortly before she was born.
“I cannot imagine life without the dreams and sense of collective strength that comes from working around all of these issues … of Black liberation … gay liberation … and struggling against climate change,” said Davis.
The discussion turned to protecting Black trans women. Davis said the recent awareness of the intersectionality of issues and movements means that “you can’t be for the freedom of one [marginalized] group” at the exclusion of other marginalized groups.
Davis further pointed out that positive “change rarely comes from above,” which is why community organizing is so important.
Davis said, “Hope is not negotiable … it is a discipline. It’s our job … to help generate and create hope. That is how you encourage people to get involved in movements for radical change. This is a terrible moment” but there is also good things that have happened because people have refused to give up.
She just turned 82 and and has “seen a lot.” Davis pointed out that, “We are not even aware that the change is happening because we inhabit the present so fully.” She said it is the responsibility of those living today to make the world a better place for the people “who are coming after us.
Davis also praised the work Brave Space Alliance has done and is doing to make things better.
Brave Space Alliance Board Co-Chair Maliyah Arnold conducted the discussion with Davis. Earlier in the evening, Brave Space Alliance Interim CEO Nikki Patin spoke about the impact Brave Space Alliance has had on the community.
Patin spoke about a woman who came in looking for clothes and left with a plan for her future, which included going back to school.
She added that, last year, 4,898 people visited their pantry and, “They were a little less hungry.” Meanwhile, 2,139 people visited their Dignity Suite and “felt a little more human,” while 226 people “asked for and received services” and “left feeling less alone.”
Patin said,” We want to hold hunger at bay for another 5,000 people next year … We want to expand our Dignity Suite services” offer more services and “expand our behavioral wellness offerings to include long-term clinical therapy access and more. We want to build relationships with real estate developers and private landlords to build safe pipelines for trans people, especially Black and Brown trans people, to have access to affordable, permanent affirming housing.”
Patin added that they are looking for a larger location for their headquarters and satellite locations across the city to serve more people in need.
“Trans people were relegated into the corners of the LGBTQ community,” said Patin. “Trans people have always been around and vocal organizing, supporting, but never really amplified in the way the rest of the alphabet is. Brave Space Alliance is helping change that in Chicago … It is now the bedrock of the LGBTQ community centers in Chicago.
“Folks still think that human rights and the dignity of trans people and LGBQ people are debatable, negotiable. Our policies to be voted on or laws to pass rather than a simple, irrefutable reality. The reality is that we are human, we are here and we aren’t going anywhere. This country, this state and this city belong to us to.”
Partners in Dignity Awards were presented by Brave Space Alliance Community Engagement Strategist Aicha Chehmani and Brave Space Alliance Director of Programs Nikiya Pruitt.
City of Chicago Mayor’s Advisory Council on LGBTQ+ Affairs member Chaundre White and Taskforce Prevention and Community Services Program Director Reyna Matoaka Ortiz received Individual Partners in Dignity awards while Kennedy Sandoboe and Phil Hundley (Jose Rivas accepted the award in Hundley’s absence) received the Volunteer Partners in Dignity awardees.
Taskforce Prevention and Community Services received the Nonprofit Partner in Dignity award and Old National Bank received the Corporate Partner in Dignity award. Executive Director Chris Balthazar accepted the award on behalf of Taskforce Prevention and Community Services and Old National Bank leadership members Corliss Garner, Andrew Miller and Rosendo Montalvo accepted the award on the bank’s behalf.
The event also featured performances by Trans Voices Cabaret Chicago, queer ballet dancers Brandon Avery and Eona Sae Bae Carey and cellist David Sands. DJ AJ spun tunes throughout the evening. The soirée’s emcee/host, Winter Dior, performed the song “I’m Every Woman” for the raucous crowd.
