Brave Space Alliance (BSA), a Black- and trans-led LGBTQ+ advocacy located on the city’s South Side, announced that longtime activist (and former BSA Board Chair) Channyn Lynne Parker will take the reins as BSA’s new chief executive officer, effective May 1.
Parker has been director of strategic relations for Howard Brown Health since 2019. She was previously that organization’s manager of external relations.
“I am absolutely thrilled to serve as the new CEO of Brave SpaceAlliance and to spend each day lifting up the voices of our community,” said Parker in an April 12 statement. “I intend to lead this organization with compassion and intention to ensure that we are positioning BSA to provide the kind of affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources that our community has come to rely on and needs now more than ever before.”
Parker’s appointment comes following a difficult time for BSA. The organization’s founder, LaSaia Wade, was fired last fall after an independent audit suggested she had improperly diverted organizational funds. Wade maintained at the time that she used the funds to help individuals in need.
The BSA Board of Directors issued a joint statement praising Parker’s appointment: “We are beyond excited that Channyn has decided to join BSA as our new CEO. She has already played an imperative role in getting the organization back on track, and is the right leader at the right time to keep BSA on a path to success.”
The current board of BSA includes Pride Action Tank Executive Director Kim Hunt; filmmaker Lily Wachowski; Windy City Times Owner Tracy Baim; and journalist (and Windy City Times contributor) Michelle Zacarias. Additional board members will be announced in June.
“Channyn is an unparalleled advocate for the communities we serve, and after our thorough search process over the last few months we are thrilled to welcome her as the new CEO of Brave Space Alliance,” added Jae Rice, Deputy Executive Director of Brave Space Alliance. “It’s been an honor to lead BSA during this time, ensuring that no services were interrupted during this transition and that the integrity of our organization remained intact. Under Channyn’s leadership, I look forward to building our capacity to serve our community and continuing to build positive relationships across the organizations dedicated to serving Chicago’s LGBTQ+ population.”