FAQ
Programs, Services & Resources
All active and current programs can be found under the Programs & Resources tab.
We currently offer four FREE Support Groups for Trans and Gender-nonconforming individuals twice a month from 7 pm to 9 pm. More information about these groups can be found by visiting the Support Groups tab.
The National LGBTQ Workers Center and Brave Space Alliance have come together to create an LGBTQ Black, Brown, and Indigenous-focused job board.
BSA currently offers FREE gender-affirming resources through the Make-Up Room, The Den, and the QT Shop.
Additional resources can be found by viewing your Trans Resource Directory
Community Pantry Program
Your donations during this time have helped us serve some of the city’s most at-risk populations. As of today, through our crisis food pantry, we have served over 100,000 individuals. Please continue to donate, and encourage others to donate to the pantry.
The items we are requesting are:
- Black Beans
- Pinto Beans
- Kidney Beans
- Rice
- Pasta
- Pasta Sauce
- Canned Corn
- Canned Green Beans
- Canned Sweet Peas
- Canned Mixed
- Vegetables
- Canned/Cupped Fruit
- Canned Soup
- Oatmeal
- Honey Nut Cheerios
- Pop-Tarts
- Crackers
- Mac n Cheese
- Instant Potatoes
- Flavored Rice
- Granola Bars
- Bar Soap/Body Wash
- Body Lotion
- Toothpaste and
- Toothbrushes
- Shampoo and
- Conditioner
If you would like to donate funds or items to help our efforts please consider making a monetary donation as well as purchasing items from our Amazon Wishlist.
We are accepting deliveries at our office located at 1515 E 52nd Place, Third Floor Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm. Masks are REQUIRED in order to enter the space. If you have trouble finding us: 872-333-5199.
THANK YOU!!!
We operate a Pantry Delivery Program as a part of our larger Community Pantry Program for all Chicagoans (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immunocompromised, elderly, and/or disabled individuals prioritized) who are in need of food assistance. On a weekly basis, volunteers deliver bags containing staple pantry items as well as personal hygiene products, as requested, directly to community members’ doorsteps. Individuals can sign up to receive a bag here!
Our pantry at our office in Hyde Park is open to community members to “shop” and choose from a variety of grocery + hygiene items. The Free Store operates from 10 am to 5 pm Monday – Friday and every second Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm.
Community members are also encouraged to visit any of our other partner pantry sites as well. A list of those sites as well as their location and hours of operation can be found here!
Other
BSA serves the entire LGBTQ+ community. However, we prioritize and uplift the most marginalized and vulnerable of the community who we have identified as Black, Brown, Indengious individuals, and people of color who are trans and gender nonconforming. We strongly encourage white program participants to view our Standards of Conduct for White Participants.
BSA serves the entire LGBTQ+ community. However, we prioritize and uplift the most marginalized and vulnerable of the community who we have identified as Black, Brown, Indengious individuals, and people of color who are trans and gender nonconforming.
All clothing donations made to the Dignity Suite can be coordinated with our Health & Wellness Manager, Niya Mona at niya@bravespacealliance.org.
All volunteer inquiries can be submitted to our volunteer email at volunteers@bravespacealliance.org
While we are developing our housing program, BSA will be offering emergency housing relief services for LGBTQ+ individuals while prioritizing BIPOC TGNC individuals. If you are in need of housing resources and assistance, please complete our Emergency Housing Assistance Intake Form. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Housing Program Manager Ortiz at reynao@bravespacealliance.org
Our Lucy Hicks Anderson Program is set to launch in 2023! Visit the mentioned link for more information.
Our annual coat drive operates from January through March and can be accessed during our programming hours.
- Monday-Wednesday 10am-4:30pm
- Thursdays from 12:30pm-4:30pm
- Fridays from 10am-2:30pm
If you are a Black, Brown, or Indigenous individual or person of color and identify as trans, you are eligible for our Trans Relief Fund. Please note that funds are limited and distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. Visit the Trans Relief/Funeral Fund tab for more information and to apply.
Donate to BSA
The money that you donate to Brave Space Alliance is used in every corner of the organization, to help us fulfill our mission and serve our community. Your generous donation may help us pay an LGBTQ staff member, give money out to people in need through the Trans Relief Fund or Funeral Fund, or may even be used for something as simple as keeping the lights on. Of course, if you’d like your contribution to go to a specific part of Brave Space Alliance, we are fully committed to working with you to ensure that your funds are deployed in a way that is most meaningful to you! If you would like to make a contribution, or discuss directing your funds to a specific part of BSA’s work, please contact our Development team at development@bravespacealliance.org.
Brave Space Alliance is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization; as such, all donations may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Brave Space Alliance is funded through a combination of donations from individual supporters and grants from foundations. Small donors have always been the financial backbone of our organization–in both 2020 and 2021, our median donation size was $20.
You can set up a monthly donation using our online portal at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/bsa_sustain. After you make your initial donation, you will then be charged on the same day of the month as that initial gift for each subsequent month.
If you would like to change the day on which your monthly donation is processed, please feel free to contact us at development@bravespacealliance.org, or at 872.588.8292.
To adjust a monthly donation, please email the Development Department at development@bravespacealliance.org, or give us a call at 872.588.8292.
Yes! Brave Space Alliance is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
We’re so thrilled and appreciative that you’re interested in fundraising for us! Please shoot us an email at development@bravespacealliance.org, and we’d love to talk with you about next steps.
Training
We currently offer a comprehensive suite of trainings through our Brave Business Network for businesses and community organizations interested in creating workplaces and jobs for trans and gender non-conforming people to promote competence and compliance in gender-inclusive practices for employers and workers throughout Chicago.
Yes. Please refer to our Training tab here.
Community Partnerships
For partnerships and collaborations, please contact our Senior Communications Coordinator at tee@bravespacealliance.org
If you like to inquire about having your event or resource shared with BSA’s community via social media, please contact our Senior Communications Coordinator at tee@bravespacealliance.org
Food and Clothing Drives
Individuals, Businesses, and other Organizations can host a Food Drive on behalf of Brave Space Alliance. Food Drives are a great way to make an in-kind donation to help keep one of our pantry sites stocked. If you would like to coordinate a food drive, please send us an email no later than one (1) week before you plan on starting your drive. Please refer to our Food Drive FAQs for more information.
From here, we will provide you with additional details needed to coordinate this effort. For food drives to benefit our BSA Delivery program, please contact jacoby@bravespacealliance.org.
For food drives to benefit a BSA pantry site, please contact msalbie@bravespacealliance.org.
All clothing drive inquiries can be submitted to our Services Supervisor T Smith at tee@bravespacealliance.org.
