In its ongoing efforts to provide safe spaces for transgender and gender non-confirming BIPOC, Brave Space Alliance (BSA) closed on a 7,000-square-foot building on 71st Street and Jeffrey Avenue, in the South Shore community, to expand its programs, services and resources.
Renovations necessary to accommodate optimal use of the property will begin within 30-60 days, with completion and occupancy expected by mid-December 2022. It’s slated to open for community use in January 2023.
Although funding for the purchase and renovation of the property has been made possible through the organization’s inclusion in the Capital Fund, which Illinois state Sen. Robert Peters helped to promote and secure, BSA is requesting donations for the programs and services to be provided.
“Brave Space Alliance is thrilled to be expanding our presence in the South Shore neighborhood with our new building on 71st and Jeffery”, stated BSA Associate Executive Director Stephanie Skora in a press release. “Located in the heart of the Black LGBTQ community in Chicago and just steps away from historic Jeffery Pub, BSA’s new drop-In location will allow us to serve our community better, and more intentionally, than ever before, she went on to say.”
People can donate to BSA—the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ center on the South Side of Chicago—at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/bsa_sustain.