Gaylon Alcaraz

"There were only about 30 Black kids in my class. It was the 1980s and there was still a lot of racism, a lot of isolation, separation. I remember being targeted in certain classes,"

"The high school environment was very traumatic for me, but it was a powerful learning experience. It wasn’t easy, but it made me in a lot of ways. Seeing what is right and what is wrong and not backing down from that and refusing to have my voice stifled."

"If a gay person doesn’t have healthcare, or a job that provides healthcare, that’s economic—plus gender, plus LGBT. It is all intertwined,All the issues hold high importance. When everything is not balanced the way it should be in society, you have a lack of justice. I could leave CAF someday and work in affordable housing because it is all tied together.”"

"“I had left an abusive marriage. I did not get involved with women because of this, but after leaving the relationship I found I was attracted to one of my co-workers,”"

"I gathered up books and all the free newspapers,” she said. “I found Blacklines [which was merged with En la Vida to form the online publication Identity] and read it from front to back. I called every number in the resource section that seemed like it was for Black lesbian women. The only one that called back was Affinity, and that’s how I became involved with them. I went to a meeting, scared to death—drove down from Lincoln Park to 62nd and Indiana. My life was changed from that point."

"“I did not come out in the bars. I came out into activism."

"You can come into social justice work early or late,“I landed this first executive director position without a degree, but I had a lot of experience, a lot of passion, some skills and I was given a chance.” For those wanting to follow a similar path i suggests volunteering, taking classes and networking: “Go to events, meet people, get outside your comfort zone. And follow your passion."