Chicago House shows off ‘true colors’ at annual spring fling

On May 5, Chicago House and Social Service Agency presented its 38th Annual Spring Brunch and Fashion Show fundraiser in the Winter Garden at the Harold Washington Library.

The sold-out event, titled True Colors, featured a fashion show,  flower market and live auction, and was emceed by NBC Chicago’s Matthew Rodrigues, with entertainment by vocalists Tina Jenkins Crawley and Bryson Allison. Fashion show looks and items were provided by Agbobly Black Boy Knits, Cram, Calvin Tran New York and Roar.

The program had raised in excess of $375,000 by the close of the event.

 The show started with Crawley hitting the stage with her explosive take on the LGBTQ+ anthem “True Colors.” Rodrigues then introduced Chicago House CEO Michael Herman, who told the packed room, “We need champions.”

Herman related anecdotes about former Chicago House clients, starting with a young woman who found herself homeless and eight months pregnant. Chicago House was able to secure a fully furnished apartment two days before she gave birth to a baby boy.

Further conveying the importance of Chicago House was Herman’s story about a boy named Jacques Agbobly whose family was sheltered by Chicago House during a crucial period. At the time, he could only dream of becoming a fashion designer, but he diligently pursued that dream. Now heralded as a hot rising designer, Agbobly’s  designs were featured in True Colors.

Herman then announced the upcoming opening of Chicago House’s first new living facility in 20 years, The Englewood Family Home. The project, which is set to open in the fall on the South Side of Chicago, will feature 13 renovated housing units for families affected by HIV, which further prioritizes Black mothers living with HIV/AIDS. The new facility will add to Chicago House’s portfolio of residential and scattered-site housing, which supports over 300 individuals and families.

In an effort to keep the energy high May 5, the live auction was moved before the fashion show with auctioneer Gary Metzner overseeing a particularly heated competition. Among the items up for auction: a seven-night stay at a villa in Tuscany, which went for over $12,000; an at-home meal for eight prepared by Chef Hector of Reunion; a four-hour private cruise on a yacht; and a group dinner at BOKO with four tickets to the play Death Becomes Her for New Year’s Day.

The one prize standing out was Cesar Conde and C.J. Hungerman’s painting “The Bull,” a portrait of queer icon Rohan. When bidding stalled, Conde surprised the audience by jumping onstage and added that, after the sale, the artists would be happy to come to the winner’s home and embellish it further.

Herman came back onstage to present awards to Laura Jensen, who collected the Spirit Award for the Pearce Foundation, and Chicago House Chair Ryan Garrison.

    See chicagohouse.org.