Support Ms. Afrika
Donation protected
Over the past six months, since leaving prison, Afrika has been welcomed home into the Chicago community by her friends and supporters. Though she remains legally homeless, she has been able to find short-term places to stay from month to month. The money we fundraised through the support committee before she got out has been essential in keeping her safe and able to meet her basic needs. We are renewing a fundraising effort now, to make sure she is able to continue to stay housed, safe, and supported for the next six months.
She is on several waitlists for subsidized housing through social services in Chicago, but in the meantime this money will help ensure that she can stay housed in the meantime, access CTA transit, and take care of her needs that are not able to be met by seriously lacking resources from the state, city, and social services.
Who is Afrika?
Afrika is a self-described transgender, African woman. She was born in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa and came to Chicago after being adopted by a family here during her adolescence. She has fond memories of South Africa and misses her homeland.
Afrika has spent many years in and out of bars. While on the outside, she’s lived mostly on the northside of Chicago between Lakeview and Rogers Park. She fondly remembers the LGBTQ Pride Parade through Lakeview and has a deep love for what she calls her “Rainbow family”. She signs most of her letters “Love to my Rainbow family!” and enjoys writing poetry about, and to, her community.
Before getting connected to her penpal Afrika wasn’t in contact with anyone on the outside. Afrika has been an incarcerated member of the Black & Pink family for several years, which is where she connected with her penpal and several other members of Black & Pink’s Chicago chapter. Her adoptive mother died soon after her most recent incarceration and she has had very limited contact from other family members for quite some time.
Those that know Afrika through letters or from serving time with her describe her as a very warm and caring person. She always remembers to send birthday cards and ask about how our loved ones are doing. Being a trans woman in a men’s facility, Afrika has repeatedly had to fight for her safety and that of other trans women in the IDOC. Last year, she succeeded in getting necessary hormones after many years of demanding the healthcare she should have received all along. She believes it is her duty to stick up for herself and others.
Since getting out of prison in Feb. 2016, she has become a dear friend to many and contributed much to a number of social justice efforts. Here are some highlights:
- In April she celebrated her 50th birthday!!!
- Later that month, she traveled to LA to participate in the “Black Love Beyond Borders” gathering organized by the Black Alliance for Just Immigration - where she is featured in a video!
- She traveled to Springfield to lobby for an end to long-term Solitary Confinement in Illinois.
- She has spoken at numerous events as a member of Black and Pink Chicago, including a conference at Loyola University and the recent letter-writing event with Love & Protect.
- She has participated in Black Lives Matter protests and events.
This page aims to raise emergency funds to keep Afrika housed, fed, and safe until she can support herself.
A donation of $120 will cover one week of safe housing. A donation of $20 will cover one day’s rent. A few dollars will cover her transit to interviews and appointments. Any contribution, of any size, will make a big difference during this uncertain period in which she is focusing her energy and time on building relationships and dealing with the logistics of reentering society. She is looking forward to telling her story and becoming a mentor for younger people. She is also looking forward to gyros!
We need help covering basic expenses for:
-housing
-trans-inclusive healthcare
-a phone
-CTA pass
-clothing and winter wear
-toiletries
-food
Thank you so much for your time, consideration, and generosity.
Warmly,
#TeamAfrika
A poem from Miss Afrika:
Mother-”Afrika!”
The land of my birth the love
of my people, is always there.
Mother-”Afrika!”
The love for her children is in
Her heart caring for one another
Mother-”Afrika!”
We come together as one to
help in times of sadness we feel
Mother-”Afrika!”
The land that I love that take
great care of it’s own cares now.
Mother-”Afrika!”
So in time we will heal from
our hurts and wars to love again
Mother-”Afrika!”
About Ms. Afrika’s Support Committee:
We are taking to heart the call made by CeCe McDonald, and echoed throughout the weekend at Black & Pink’s ‘Decade’ gathering, to show up for and support Trans women of Color, and in particular Black Trans women who are fighting for their very lives.
A few months before Ms. Afrika’s release date, her pen-pal and another “free-world” member of Black & Pink were nervous about what would happen when Ms. Afrika was released, knowing how few resources exist for formerly incarcerated people in this city. We realized, though, that she shouldn’t have to navigate her transition to the outside world alone, and decided to pursue the idea of a separate support committee. We reached out to Ms. Afrika to see if she would be interested in having an intentional team of people supporting her when she gets out. She was excited by the idea, which encouraged us to keep planning.
We brainstormed what ways we would be able to support, and what expectations/hopes/dreams we had of members of a support committee. Three months before her release, we visited her and shared those ideas to get her input. She provided clarity on what she was hoping for from a support committee, what things were most immediate needs on her release, and what plans she had developed for her first few months on the outside.
After that visit, we clarified the timeline & expectations of her support committee, and began to reach out to other friends & comrades about joining. We were so excited to assemble a team of 10 people, including members of other organizations that are dedicated to supporting queer & trans people impacted by the system, including TJLP and Love & Protect. One month before her release we had our first meeting, where we clarified those expectations, made personal commitments about which aspects we could each support (emotional, social, fundraising, navigating institutions, etc.), and clarified how & how often we would communicate with each other (and each of us with Ms. Afrika.)
In just a few short weeks, Ms. Afrika will leave IDOC, and we hope that she will find that she is not alone as she begins to build the next stage of her life here in Chicago. We cannot wait to celebrate her 50th birthday with her in April, to hear her stories & wisdom, and to build new relationships together.
We recognize this is one small effort, where a massive redistribution of resources and widespread attention is needed. Nearly 12,000 people are released from IDOC every year who return to Chicago, only to find barrier after barrier in the way of housing, jobs, schooling, and even community. Nearly half will go back within a year. We write this all out in the hopes that others might be inspired to take on similar efforts to support loved ones getting out. No one should have to navigate difficult journeys alone. While we put pressure on the state to do better, and will take what we can from the non-profit sector - we know there are real lives at stake in the meantime, so let’s do what we can to love & support each other.
She is on several waitlists for subsidized housing through social services in Chicago, but in the meantime this money will help ensure that she can stay housed in the meantime, access CTA transit, and take care of her needs that are not able to be met by seriously lacking resources from the state, city, and social services.
Who is Afrika?
Afrika is a self-described transgender, African woman. She was born in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa and came to Chicago after being adopted by a family here during her adolescence. She has fond memories of South Africa and misses her homeland.
Afrika has spent many years in and out of bars. While on the outside, she’s lived mostly on the northside of Chicago between Lakeview and Rogers Park. She fondly remembers the LGBTQ Pride Parade through Lakeview and has a deep love for what she calls her “Rainbow family”. She signs most of her letters “Love to my Rainbow family!” and enjoys writing poetry about, and to, her community.
Before getting connected to her penpal Afrika wasn’t in contact with anyone on the outside. Afrika has been an incarcerated member of the Black & Pink family for several years, which is where she connected with her penpal and several other members of Black & Pink’s Chicago chapter. Her adoptive mother died soon after her most recent incarceration and she has had very limited contact from other family members for quite some time.
Those that know Afrika through letters or from serving time with her describe her as a very warm and caring person. She always remembers to send birthday cards and ask about how our loved ones are doing. Being a trans woman in a men’s facility, Afrika has repeatedly had to fight for her safety and that of other trans women in the IDOC. Last year, she succeeded in getting necessary hormones after many years of demanding the healthcare she should have received all along. She believes it is her duty to stick up for herself and others.
Since getting out of prison in Feb. 2016, she has become a dear friend to many and contributed much to a number of social justice efforts. Here are some highlights:
- In April she celebrated her 50th birthday!!!
- Later that month, she traveled to LA to participate in the “Black Love Beyond Borders” gathering organized by the Black Alliance for Just Immigration - where she is featured in a video!
- She traveled to Springfield to lobby for an end to long-term Solitary Confinement in Illinois.
- She has spoken at numerous events as a member of Black and Pink Chicago, including a conference at Loyola University and the recent letter-writing event with Love & Protect.
- She has participated in Black Lives Matter protests and events.
This page aims to raise emergency funds to keep Afrika housed, fed, and safe until she can support herself.
A donation of $120 will cover one week of safe housing. A donation of $20 will cover one day’s rent. A few dollars will cover her transit to interviews and appointments. Any contribution, of any size, will make a big difference during this uncertain period in which she is focusing her energy and time on building relationships and dealing with the logistics of reentering society. She is looking forward to telling her story and becoming a mentor for younger people. She is also looking forward to gyros!
We need help covering basic expenses for:
-housing
-trans-inclusive healthcare
-a phone
-CTA pass
-clothing and winter wear
-toiletries
-food
Thank you so much for your time, consideration, and generosity.
Warmly,
#TeamAfrika
A poem from Miss Afrika:
Mother-”Afrika!”
The land of my birth the love
of my people, is always there.
Mother-”Afrika!”
The love for her children is in
Her heart caring for one another
Mother-”Afrika!”
We come together as one to
help in times of sadness we feel
Mother-”Afrika!”
The land that I love that take
great care of it’s own cares now.
Mother-”Afrika!”
So in time we will heal from
our hurts and wars to love again
Mother-”Afrika!”
About Ms. Afrika’s Support Committee:
We are taking to heart the call made by CeCe McDonald, and echoed throughout the weekend at Black & Pink’s ‘Decade’ gathering, to show up for and support Trans women of Color, and in particular Black Trans women who are fighting for their very lives.
A few months before Ms. Afrika’s release date, her pen-pal and another “free-world” member of Black & Pink were nervous about what would happen when Ms. Afrika was released, knowing how few resources exist for formerly incarcerated people in this city. We realized, though, that she shouldn’t have to navigate her transition to the outside world alone, and decided to pursue the idea of a separate support committee. We reached out to Ms. Afrika to see if she would be interested in having an intentional team of people supporting her when she gets out. She was excited by the idea, which encouraged us to keep planning.
We brainstormed what ways we would be able to support, and what expectations/hopes/dreams we had of members of a support committee. Three months before her release, we visited her and shared those ideas to get her input. She provided clarity on what she was hoping for from a support committee, what things were most immediate needs on her release, and what plans she had developed for her first few months on the outside.
After that visit, we clarified the timeline & expectations of her support committee, and began to reach out to other friends & comrades about joining. We were so excited to assemble a team of 10 people, including members of other organizations that are dedicated to supporting queer & trans people impacted by the system, including TJLP and Love & Protect. One month before her release we had our first meeting, where we clarified those expectations, made personal commitments about which aspects we could each support (emotional, social, fundraising, navigating institutions, etc.), and clarified how & how often we would communicate with each other (and each of us with Ms. Afrika.)
In just a few short weeks, Ms. Afrika will leave IDOC, and we hope that she will find that she is not alone as she begins to build the next stage of her life here in Chicago. We cannot wait to celebrate her 50th birthday with her in April, to hear her stories & wisdom, and to build new relationships together.
We recognize this is one small effort, where a massive redistribution of resources and widespread attention is needed. Nearly 12,000 people are released from IDOC every year who return to Chicago, only to find barrier after barrier in the way of housing, jobs, schooling, and even community. Nearly half will go back within a year. We write this all out in the hopes that others might be inspired to take on similar efforts to support loved ones getting out. No one should have to navigate difficult journeys alone. While we put pressure on the state to do better, and will take what we can from the non-profit sector - we know there are real lives at stake in the meantime, so let’s do what we can to love & support each other.
Organizer
Megan Selby
Organizer
Chicago, IL