Black and Queer AF Book Club: The Chiffon Trenches

The Black and Queer AF Book Club chose to read 'The Chiffon Trenches' because it offers a compelling and insightful perspective on the fashion industry from the vantage point of a prominent Black gay author, Andre Leon Talley. The book delves into the experiences and challenges faced by the author, providing an opportunity for us to engage with a narrative that intersects with both the Black and Queer community.

Flix N Chill: Ailey

The group gathered to watch the Ailey Documentary as a way to honor and celebrate the legacy of Alvin Ailey, a pioneering Black choreographer whose work has had a profound impact on the world of dance. It was an opportunity to engage with his artistry, learn about his life and artistic journey, and appreciate the cultural significance of his contributions to the dance community and beyond.

Flix N Chill: B-Boy Blues

We gathered to watch B-Boy Blues for our latest Flix N Chill! The film stirred up a lot of conversation about relationships, toxicity, and self-hate. Our latest selection for Black and Queer AF Book Club is the James Earl Hardy novel by the same name which inspired the film! 

Holy Smoke Pop-Up Mini Ball

Last Thursday, in commemoration of the unofficial 4/20 holiday, our spiritual wellness partners hosted the Holy Smoke pop-up miniball at Task Force Prevention and Community Services. With four unique competitive cash-prize categories that featured a twist of spirituality, the pop-up ball drew over 100 young people to the space. This unconventional approach allowed for our spiritual wellness partners to introduce themselves as accessible resources to young people within our community who may be struggling to reconcile their sexuality with their spirituality.

Real Men Talk: At The Bar

This past Monday, we co-hosted Real Men Talk: At the Bar in partnership with BM Media Group. This was the first in a series of conversations designed to engage Black men of all sexual/gender identities and socioeconomic backgrounds about the issues that affect us ALL, and to construct collective strategies for addressing them.

The discussion was moderated by our very own Dr. Keith R. Green and featured Faheem Shabazz (Herbert’s Barbershop), Kevin Pleasant (Chicago House Social Services), Jae Rice (Brave Space Alliance), Dr. Adam Murphy (Northwestern Medicine) and Rev. Dennis Langdon (Morgan Park United Methodist Church) as panelists.