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Despite the rain, Monica Fernandez makes her point. Photo by Vern Hester -
Dancing at the ball. Photo by Vern Hester -
Dancing at the ball. Photo by Vern Hester -
Reyna Ortiz speaks at the rally. Photo by Vern Hester -
Reyna Ortiz speaks at the rally. Photo by Vern Hester -
Zahara Bassett speaks at the rally. Photo by Vern Hester -
Monica Fernandez, left, and friends. Photo by Vern Hester -
Guests enjoying the festivities. Photo by Vern Hester -
Members of the AYAR crew from the Core Center. Photo by Vern Hester
The event—co-sponsored by Life is Work, Pride Without Prejudice, Brave Space Alliance and Taskforce Prevention—sought to spotlight the chronic neglect of Chicago’s West Side as well as Black and Brown communities. The rally took place under a bridge at Monroe and Kenton avenues, followed by a ball at the activity space at Taskforce Chicago, 9 N. Cicero Ave. The event also included the participation of The Adolescent Young Adult Research at the Core Center.
Despite a sudden downpour, activists and onlookers spoke at the rally without complaint. Among the speakers were Life Is Work founder/CEO Zahara Bassett; Taskforce manager and author Reyna Ortiz; associate director at Broadway Youth Center and Pride Without Prejudice march organizer Fredy Robert Ramirez; and longtime Chicago trans Latina community activist Monica Fernandez.
The chant “Invest in the West” permeated the rally as speakers pointedly demanded Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to start paying attention to what is needed—particularly for transgender individuals, in the area. Fernandez said, “We need unity in the community!” She also spoke out about job opportunities for transgender individuals and more resources being made available. Ortiz spoke about the steadily rising murder rate of trans women of color and the need for more community involvement on their behalf.