Brave Space Alliance is inviting the community to its first-ever Partners in Dignity Soiree—a celebratory and mission-driven fundraiser marking a new chapter for the Black- and trans-led nonprofit.
The cocktail-style evening—which takes place Thursday, May 15 from 6-9 p.m. at Venue West, 221 N. Paulina St.—features a fireside chat, community awards, music, cocktails and food. Most importantly, the event will honor the partnerships and collective care that helped Brave Space Alliance regain its footing and expand its impact under CEO Channyn Lynne Parker’s leadership.
“We wanted to create a meaningful way to celebrate the individuals and organizations whose support makes our work possible,” Parker told Windy City Times. “But more importantly, we want to rally community support in a time that’s way more crucial than I initially imagined when I first came up with the idea for the soiree.”
Tickets to the soiree start at $100, with a $50 student ticket option available. Tickets can be bought here.
Parker, who is entering her third year as CEO, will host a conversation with LGBTQ+ advocate Mary Morten and Tracy Baim, owner and co-founder of Windy City Times and a founding board member and board emeritus for Brave Space Alliance.
The soiree will also honor Angela Barnes and Renauda Riddle, co-owners of Nobody’s Darling; social services agency Life is Work; and Ferrara Candy Company for being key partners of Brave Space Alliance.
These “partners in dignity,” Parker said, are those who “give us the support and say, ‘We trust that you will support the community in the way that you know how to do it.’”
Since Parker took the helm in 2023, Brave Space Alliance has emerged from a challenging period of reputation repair and entered a phase of steady growth and renewed trust, Parker said.
In the past year, the organization launched counseling services, opened a new medical services room and distributed tens of thousands of pounds of food through its mutual aid and pantry programs, Parker said.
These efforts fall under BSA’s core pillars of health, housing, food, identity and advocacy, with each program designed to provide culturally affirming care and meet the evolving needs of Black and trans people on Chicago’s South Side.
Parker said the soiree marks a moment of growth for Brave Space Alliance, “stepping forward not just as a grassroots initiative, but as an established leader in LGBTQ+ advocacy, direct support and community empowerment.”
Still, challenges remain, particularly funding, Parker said. Brave Space Alliance is not reliant on federal grants, but the organization faces both significant delays in state reimbursements and the broader financial strain, Parker said.
“Supporting us at our soiree helps to plug the gaps that are poised to go missing,” Parker said. “It fuels the programs that so many of our participants rely on.”
The soiree also comes at a time when Brave Space Alliance is outgrowing its current home in Hyde Park, Parker said. On some days, the organization welcomes more than 80 people into a space that simply can’t accommodate that volume.
Parker’s vision for the future includes relocating to a more accessible facility—one with showers, laundry services, a commercial kitchen for meals and cooking demos, and room to expand Brave Space Alliance’s programs and visibility.
“This event marks a significant moment in our journey,” she said. “It’s a signal to me that Brave Space Alliance is growing up.”
The team’s internal growth has matched its external expansion. Parker recently implemented quarterly goal-sharing among staff, a move that fosters confidence, transparency and career development, she said.
“I want my team to be able to see that they’re doing well—measurably—and to be able to tell the story of their success,” Parker said. “That’s how we build power.”
As Brave Space Alliance prepares for this next chapter, Parker hopes the soiree will serve not only as a celebration—but also as a rallying cry for continued investment.
“If our community can enthusiastically support galas with $500 or $1,000 tickets—and those are worthy causes—then surely they can rally behind and organization that consistently shows up every single time,” Parker said.