In 2020 we utilized these platforms to receive donations: ActionNetwork, Venmo, PayPal, and ActBlue. PayPal or Brave Space Alliance's Venmo. "Allegations (that I) misappropriated funds were to support community, and I will continue to stand by (that) that money belongs to community, and it will continue to go to the community that we serviced," she said, explaining that she directed money to "trans relief funds to making sure that people stay afloat, funeral funds to make sure that our community continued to get buried, housing to make sure people's rents were still getting paid, medical bills to make sure people were still able to get their meds.". A dedicated fund would allow BSA to provide the support needed while continuing their amazing mission: "Brave Space 3 0 obj Housing Assistance Program Coordinator Application . I most enjoyed connecting our stories and truths to the solstice while finding ways to let shit go., The group was a breath of fresh air, I appreciate the time & space made for people like myself to gather and talk about our experiences. LaSaia Wade, former Brave Space Alliance executive director, poses on May 27, 2021, at the alliance's Hyde Park offices and food pantry. About 42% are Hispanic/Latinx. The Makeup Room is a trans- feminine affirming room open for BIPOC trans and queer folks and sex workers to pick up makeup for free! and using the funds collected by the pod, and delivering those items to a previously coordinated location. LaSaia talks about the services provided by the Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ organization, what it means to have a "brave space," and what the pathway towards liberation loo . stream Diapers: 3000 packages Due to the need and success of our support groups all of our support groups will occur twice a month starting March 2021 (updated days have been noted below) from 7 pm to 9 pm for trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people. We thank you for your continued support. Thats my husband.. Within our pantry network volunteers redistribute supplies from the drop off locations listed above to different pantry sites within our network. Drop off locations and donation pods track their supplies by using the Shared Inventory Google Sheet created to assess need as well as capacity. This conversation is candid and organic. The board reports that its law firm and accountant investigated the misappropriations and other alleged workplace policy violations for months. Brave Space Alliances (BSA) is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ+ individuals on the South and West sides of the city. Almost a month ago, I was called to the apartment on the floor just below mine. Brave Space Alliance, the first Black led, Trans led LGBTQ center on the Southside, has created a new community initiative called Get Brave. We propose revising our language, shifting away from the concept of safety and emphasizing the impor I asked him. at our pantry sites. Furthermore, the few trans-specific resources in the city are located in majority-white neighborhoods on the North . LaSaia Wade, former Brave Space Alliance executive director, poses on May 27, 2021, at the alliance's Hyde Park offices and food pantry. Success! These mutual aid groups are the pilot program of VAMP; each group will have an initial cohort of no more than 15 participants. A letter from the legislators read, in part, "In August, the National Center for Transgender Equality reported that in the first 7 months of the year, we had already seen more murders of trans women than in all of 2019. Wood is strictly rationed, so mourners began by fashioning what looked like a makeshift stretcher: First three short, heavy logs were laid on the ground parallel to one another; then longer, narrower planks were put on top, perpendicular to the logs. We have also struggled at times with even being able to load our Ventra cards., I only know about the pantry but would like to look into other options. You have permission to edit this article. Brave Space Alliance says former CEO misappropriated nonprofit's funds Today, as a deadly second wave of the coronavirus ravages the country with some 300,000 new infections daily and more than 21,400 dead over the past week Mr. Modi and his party are downplaying the severity of the crisis, grossly underestimating the numbers of the sick and the dead. Its these spaces that allow us to process the years of built up fear and colonial gender rules. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/30/opinion/india-covid-crematorium.html. Brave Space Alliance Funeral Fund - gregharris.org Workshops are available on a sliding scale depending on the length of training, the number of people who are planning to attend, and the budget of the organization requesting the training. We strive to empower, embolden, and educate each other through mutual aid, knowledge-sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as we build toward the liberation of all oppressed peoples. Each nonprofit listed here is involved in work that benefits the LGBTQIA+ community in some capacity, + 100% of the funds raised will be split evenly between the 50 organizations. Only in this case, there is no superhero., Instead of superheroes, there are people like Mr. Mehta, the government lawyer, who, in response to the Delhi authorities complaints that the Modi administration was not providing the city with enough oxygen, said in court, Lets try and not be a crybaby.. She added that the organization grew rapidly. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. breathe their last breath, Bikki wheels the body down to the morgue. Elise Malary, Beloved Trans Activist, Is Still Missing And Her Family Needs Help. Background Brave Space Alliance was founded in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois in 2017 by LaSaia Wade Coats: 200 A spokeswoman said Brave Space Alliance is financially solvent and that the amount misappropriated is in the six figures. Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, and designed to create and provide affirming and culturally competent . The lawmakers are . Items include binders, packers, boxers, boxer briefs, packing underwear, binding tape, clippers, durags, curl combs, ties/bow ties, and wave brushes. Im pulling back the tarp, and Im seeing their faces, he said. Windy City Times News - Several LGBTQ and allied legislators are partnering with Chicago-based trans organization Brave Space Alliance (BSA) to establish a dedicated fund to support the funeral expenses of local trans women who have been murdered. Nearby, a middle-aged man in a striped T-shirt told me, pointing at a pyramid of flames, Thats my mother., Non-Covid case. Flames crackle over the wails and prayers of grieving families as they mourn loved ones laid on funeral pyres that burn through the night in New Delhi. We value all contributions of time, treasure and talent equally. and access to care, must be central to our efforts. Get Updates and Stay Connected - Subscribe To Our Newsletter. Brave Space Alliance operates a Crisis Pantry Delivery Program for all Chicagoans (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immunocompromised, elderly, and/or disabled folks prioritized) who are in need of food assistance. I pushed our organization through pandemic years, and we got over a hump, Wade said. Median Donation Size on Action Network: $20, Donors from all of the 50 United States and 38 countries (across five continents), Total estimated value of in kind donations: $470,348.04. The organization's fiscal sponsor is the Chicago-based Center on Halstead, an LGBT-oriented advocacy and community organization. This promotes accountability and direct community building. I wasnt sure before I guess. Racial demographics: 95% Latinx; 3% Black; 2% Middle Eastern/white Neighborhoods served: *Albany Park*, Irving Park, Avondale, Logan Square, West Ridge, North Center. Opinion | At India's Covid Mass Cremations - The New York Times Things moved faster once Ms. Parakhs family caretaker arrived; soon, the pyre was built. Grantee Partner Spotlight with Brave Space Alliance - Woods Fund Chicago Events; Volunteering; Media. Uncles face appears in front of me each time I pass his door. Its my husband. Thank you!, Morgan was such a wonderful facilitator who kept the discussions Read our statement on the rebellion for Black Lives. Join our community of donors! Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, and designed to create and provide affirming and culturally competent services for the entire LGBTQ+ community of Chicago. In addition to donations from private individuals, we received in-kind donations from the following brands: Midas Cosmetics, Drench Cosmetics, Reese, KimChi Chic Beauty, Arda Wigs, Maybelline, and Nyx Cosmetics. The Coat Drive serves as an extension (Partner Pantry site within the crisis pantry network). A family member who had escorted her fathers body from the hospital morgue to the crematory had suddenly felt sick there. Brave Space Alliance was created to fill a gap in the organizing of and services to transgender (trans) and gender-nonconforming people. We extend our gratitude to the Center on Halsted for supporting us in this capacity. After a week, I tried to get a Covid test but couldnt because the labs were overwhelmed with samples. India's crematoriums overflow with victims, with pyres burning through This was just one of the many advocacy initiatives Malary worked on, and part of why organizations like the Brave Space Alliance, a Black, trans-led LGBTQ+ center on Chicagos South Side, refer to her as a trans liberation leader., Elise was a pillar of our community, a friend and accomplice to many, and a shining example of Black Trans Excellence, the organization wrote in an Instagram post, adding that her work with the Chicago Therapy Collective touched countless lives, and helped make Chicago a better place for trans people to live, work, and thrive.. BSA understands that to supportour communities, an intersectional approach that addresses the root causes of oppression (i.e. But the graphic images of mass cremations have cut through this wall of noise, misinformation and propaganda, capturing what epidemiologists call excess mortality in gruesome detail. The Braze ERG Grant Program allows each ERG to direct up to $30,000 of Braze's donor-advised fund (each of the four organizations will receive a $7,500 cash donation). We are also excited to be completing the renovation of our office space located on the 3rd floor of our building in Hyde Park, and are also looking to expand to the 2nd floor. 2 0 obj Brave Space Alliance is a Black trans-led LGBTQ community organization in Hyde Park at 1515 E. 52nd Place; it is in the process of moving to South Shore. in union/protected workplaces all over Chicago. They can only do 10 bodies at a time inside the crematory, Bikki said. Brave Space Alliance - 2020 Annual Report Aaron Gettinger, a third-generation newspaperman, studied sociology at Stanford University and the University of Chicago and joined the Herald in 2018. Another dashes to the shed to get its allotted share of wood before all the good pieces run out. We are very disappointed that this happened. Contribute here: weblink.donorperfect.com/bsa_sustain. Rep. Greg Harris 13 th District. Here are some tips. The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Indias most populous state and one of its poorest, has asked officials to seize the property of people he accuses of spreading rumors about shortages on social media. These mutual aid groups are part of Brave Space Alliances VAMP (HIV AIDS Manifesting Prevention) program. Now I am. NEW DELHI The first 36 corpses were placed in the designated concrete cremation pits and set ablaze by 10 in the morning. This is an organization that has applied for and obtained tax-exempt status from the IRS under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Separate individuals that came to pantry: 1500 (7000 if family members are included) We support individuals and organizations who are hoping to build networks and strategies to dismantle oppression in all forms. The Indian government has ordered Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to take down dozens of posts criticizing its handling of the pandemic. The lawmakers are state Reps. Greg Harris, Kelly Cassidy, LaMont Robinson, Yoni Pizer, Heather Steans and Sam Yingling as well as state Sens. We are also committed to keeping the BSA staff fully employed, said board chair Channyn Lynne Parker in a statement. We had the following number of donors per platform: BSA also received over 100 checks and other forms of currency from our supporters. Earlier on Wednesday, Bikki, a young mortuary assistant at a private hospital in the city, had told me about a new type of funeral: the WhatsApp funeral. (He wouldnt give his full name because he isnt supposed to talk to journalists.) (Source: Thompson L, Rusie LK. Since Im Genderqueer it makes me feel good that theres a program thay works with LGBTQ peeps and makes it feel safe., It was incredibly convenient for my family and I. There were no cremation pits in the parking lot, so hospital attendants in protective equipment carried out the dead and placed them near the scorch marks left behind by the previous days pyres. Brave Space Alliance provides services such as a network of food pantries, a transgender relief and funeral fund, and support groups. Her body was found on Thursday, after police received reports that a woman had been sighted in Lake Michigan, according to the Chicago Tribune. Building and maintaining relationships with independent BSA supporters perpetuates longevity and sustainability. But as I got into my car the next morning and drove out to several crematories, I realized I just wanted to feel something. In addition, due to the fact that our community members are continuing to be murdered because our lives are devalued, our power is feared, and our truth is revolutionary, Brave Space Alliances Funeral Fund will be assisting with funeral costs of the families of every member of our community lost to transphobic violence. a former ambassador who passed away in his car. Hello! If I fall sick and die, I will go to heaven, he said, before paraphrasing a popular reading of Hindu scripture: Death is the only truth.. Being a part of this network shows our communities that you are a brave and preferable space to patronize. Brave Space Alliance provides services such as a network of food pantries, a transgender relief and funeral fund, and support groups. On Wednesday, Malvika Parakh, one of the few women at Ghazipur, stood alone amid this frenzy, the body of her father, Dr. Dattaraj Bhalchandra Parakh, at her feet. <> There was an error processing your request. The fires blazing, I thought of everyone my family and friends had lost over the past year, all the funerals we could not attend, all the grief this city carries. Ad Choices. Kimberly Lightford and Robert Peters. One of Bikkis attendants said that every night for the past week he had dreamed of the faces of the dead passing before his eyes in an endless parade. We were able to disseminate $55,600 to 278 Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) trans people in Chicago who are in need. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Light rain earlythen remaining cloudy with showers overnight. I am over the moon satisfied., The support session was beautiful in doing everything that I hoped for: reminding me Im not alone; connecting with others who are also nonbinary or fluid; and showing me that another future is possible. Both new programs are targeted at addressing areas of need where Black and Brown trans people face the most severe discrimination. Many have lost several members of their family. Low 41F. Crisis Pantry Amazon wish list Like us on . Brave Space Alliance and other groups often step in to find resources to ensure victims are given the funeral they deserve, but this work is constant and painful. There was a problem saving your notification. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. View Memorial Fundraisers On Gofundme, The World's #1 Most Trusted Hello?. Currently, very few LGBTQ+ social services or advocacy networks exist on the South and West Sides of Chicago. The Get Brave initiative consists of a network of brave spaces around the city of Chicago. Please continue to keep up the phenomenal work because it does not go unnoticed. For Giving Tuesday, we are making it easy for employees to give directly to causes supported by Braze ERGs. This year BCA would like to promote the following organizations that are dedicated to enhancing the lives of black youth and professionals. It was almost 5 in the evening now, and the parking lot looked like a small, congested village of low, pointy-roofed homes. A relative waits for a cremation to begin at Ghazipur. About 47% are Immunocompromised & about 27% are disabled. In addition to her tireless advocacy, Malary was also remembered for her shining light and angelic spirit, in the words of Chicago Therapy Collective assistant trainer Angelina Nordstrom, who also referred to Malary as their bestie., Whether Elise needed a place to stay and I helped her, or if I needed just a little bit of support just to get through the week, she helped me multiple times, Nordstrom said in a video of the vigil that was posted to Chicago Therapy Collectives Instagram.