Affinity Community Services

EXCITING UPDATE: Whoa! We're blown away by the enthusiastic response to the Pride Family Barbeque 2026: Hot Fun in the Summertime, taking place on Sunday, June 14. In just three days, we've received 87 registrations. This makes us so happy!

This is going to be a TIME, y'all! Affinity's Pride Family Barbeque is like a big family reunion with guests and new friends we warmly welcome into the fold.

The mouthwatering aromas of meats and veggies cooking on the grill...

The sounds of laughter and the DJ mixing old school with new school...

The sight of people hugging, kids running around playing, and all generations getting in line dance formation...

And the beautiful green, wide space to enjoy it all, to disconnect from some things and (re)connect to nature and each other.

So, why would you want to miss this?!

📧 RSVP stat for the Pride Family Barbeque via the QR code on the flyer or at bit.ly/42Zp0xm (case-sensitive).

ℹ For more info, please refer to the event FAQs, or e-mail [email protected].

Thanks, and keep those RSVPs coming!

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📅⌚ Sunday, June 14, from 12-4pm
📍 Dan Ryan Woods, 8700 S Western Avenue- Grove 13, Chicago, IL
🅿 On-site parking available
🚾 Public restrooms available

: 📣 TGIF Special Announcement: Burning Bowl 2026

🙌🏾 We're excited to announce that this year's honoree of the Barbara "Robbie" Smith Award of Excellence is Sandi Byrd, a pioneer Affinity member, proud le***an, poet, and community-builder.

This award honors a community member who exemplifies leadership, perseverance, strength, compassion, and integrity- all the qualities embodying the essence of our beloved Robbie (1946–2015), an Affinity founding board member, activist, and wife and mother to two phenomenal women, Phyllis Johnson and Christina Smith, respectively, who are still active in our community.

It's almost impossible to think of Affinity and Chicago's LGBT community without thinking of Sandi Byrd.

From her participation in the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Rights Movement, the Gay & Le***an Rights Movement to and beyond…

From opening her home for women and LGBT folks to gather when bars and other community spaces were shut raided and shut down...

From taking the mic at POW-WOW Poetry and WOMB to give voice to her many stories and experiences- some of which are as painful as they are profoundly beautiful...

From creating chosen family to cultivating affirming community spaces on the South Side where Black LBTQ women and their families could be themselves unapologetically...

Sandi's presence, advocacy, friendship, and impact are deeply felt and beyond appreciated.

She's a trailblazer, wife, poet, storyteller, friend, activist, community-builder, South Sider, and one of our fave Chicagoans.

For these reasons and many more, she is Affinity's 2026 Barbara "Robbie" Smith Award Honoree.

👏🏾 Congratulations, Sandi! You are so deserving of this recognition.

: 📣 🙌🏾 We're over the moon to share that THEE E Nina Jay will be our featured performer at Affinity's Burning Bowl 2026: Waves of Resistance & Resilience on Sunday, March 22, at 1pm at UIC Student Center West!

📧 Only 13 spots remain, so RSVP ASAP at bit.ly/BurningBowl2026 (case-sensitive).

e nina jay is a poet who uses words to
break silences
speak pain, love and rage
widen the space/s for
womyn of color,
particularly black diasporic
gurls, womyn, humans
to find and create
different pathways to liberation
in the reach to live
as whole human beings
as we engage in the shifting
of our worlds.

she has published three volumes of poetry:

Body of Rooms
Bricks, Blood & Water
and De~stoning: Migrations From the Outpost

📧 You don't want to miss this, so join us on Sunday for this celebration centering reflection, renewal, and community connection. Only a few spots remain, so get yours at bit.ly/BurningBowl2026 (case-sensitive).

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📆 Sunday, March 22, from 1-4pm
📍UIC Student Center West, 828 S Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, IL
♿️ The venue is wheelchair accessible.
🚾 All-gender restrooms will be available.
🅿️ Metered street parking and paid parking lots on campus are available. You can view the location here: https://bit.ly/4hbUmVX

📣 We're honored to announce that Drum Divas, Chicago's premier percussive collective, will join us for Affinity's Burning Bowl 2026: Waves of Resistance & Resilience on Sunday, March 22, from 1-4pm at UIC Student Center West!

🙌🏾 For many of us, there is no Burning Bowl without the Drum Divas, founded by Dr. Yaounde Olu. They are a thread weaving Burning Bowl gatherings of community members, family and friends, supporters, and stakeholders across decades and generations.

🗣🪘🪇 With invitation and incantation, their beats and vocals set the tone- literally and metaphorically- for the Burning Bowl gathering. They invite us and our ancestors- both recent and distant- into the space. Their original music heals us and connects us with our roots as we continue forward in the new season and next chapter of our lives. This is the very embodiment of "Waves of Resistance & Resilience," this year's Burning Bowl theme.

📧 So, join us on Sunday for this celebratory gathering centering reflection, renewal, and community connection. We're almost at capacity, so RSVP ASAP at bit.ly/BurningBowl2026.

See you soon!

📆 Sunday, March 22, from 1-4pm
📍UIC Student Center West, 828 S Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, IL
♿️ The venue is wheelchair accessible.
🚾 All-gender restrooms will be available.
🅿️ Metered street parking and paid parking lots on campus are available. You can view the location here: https://bit.ly/4hbUmVX

: The look of joy on your face because you're *almost* at capacity for Burning Bowl 2026. (Reserve your spot ASAP at bit.ly/BurningBowl2026 (case-sensitive).)

The sounds of excitement and pure dedication planning a beautiful gathering for our Affinity community, friends, family, and guests. Props to the Burning Bowl Planning Committee, The Kaya Kollection, our fierce Committee Chair and Event Planner; Phyllis Johnson; Jo Lewis; and Kelly Suzanne Saulsberry.

The waves of joy, anticipation, and open-heartedness felt amid the "Waves of Resistance & Resilience," this year's Burning Bowl theme.

Please join us for this long-honored Affinity celebration on Sunday, March 22, at 1pm at UIC Student Center West, 828 S Wolcott Avenue.

In the meantime, we're rolling out the lineup this week. We've held you in suspense long enough. :-)

📧 bit.ly/BurningBowl2026 (case-sensitive)
📆 Sunday, March 22, from 1-4pm
📍UIC Student Center West, 828 S Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, IL
♿️ The venue is wheelchair accessible.
🚾 All-gender restrooms will be available.
🅿️ Metered street parking and paid parking lots on campus are available. You can view the location here: https://bit.ly/4hbUmVX