Welcome to the Lighthouse Foundation News page, where we share updates, stories, and insights about our work and impact. Here, you’ll find original blog posts from our team, including community stories, event highlights, and updates on initiatives advancing racial and LGBTQ+ equity, as well as articles and features from trusted media outlets about Lighthouse Foundation.
The Black LGBTQ+-led, multiracial social justice organization Lighthouse Foundation held a Black Women and HIV: A Critical Conversation talk on World AIDS Day Dec. 1 at Gallery Guichard located in Chicago’s Bronzeville Art District, marked the fourth year that the organization commemorated World AIDS Day.
Lighthouse Foundation is excited to announce the opening of applications for the 2025 Black Queer Equity Index (BQEI) cohort, inviting nonprofits across the United States to participate in this groundbreaking initiative.
Earlier this month, Lighthouse Foundation hosted its first annual Black Queer Equity Index (BQEI) Convening. This groundbreaking event marked a significant milestone in our commitment to advancing equity within nonprofit organizations.
Another month, another Self-Care Recharge! Our most recent Self-Care Recharge event was a powerful testament to the strength of our community. This event series, which continues to grow in popularity, is designed to offer essential resources, reduce social isolation, and promote overall wellness for Black LGBTQ+ Chicagoans.
Happy five years of Lighthouse Foundation (LF)! On Saturday, July 13, we celebrated our first five years at Meeting House Tavern in Andersonville with Glitter & Giving: A Drag Bingo Fundraiser, featuring dazzling performances, three rounds of drag bingo, and heartfelt reflections from community leaders.
On Saturday, June 22, Lighthouse Foundation hosted 400 people at the inaugural Black LGBTQ+ Beach Day at 63rd Street Beach. Black LGBTQ+ Beach Day culminated LF’s Summer of Pride event series and allowed attendees to reclaim spaces where our Black identities and Queer identities could flourish together.
Lighthouse Foundation is thrilled to announce that we have received a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to support our Coalition of Accomplices for Racial Equity (CARE) initiative.
Chicago’s Black LGBTQ+ Pride event of the summer is back! On Saturday, June 8, Lighthouse Foundation proudly hosted our highly anticipated 3rd Annual Pride Skate Party at the Martin Luther King Jr. Skate Rink on the South Side of Chicago. Once again, the event was a tremendous success, selling out and bringing together over 200 people for a night of free roller skating, bowling, food, and fun.
Learn how Lighthouse Foundation addresses inequities and fosters empowerment within the Black LGBTQ+ community through inclusive programming and advocacy. Hannah Pewee, Communications Manager, shares insights into their impactful initiatives and upcoming events.
Last month, we wrapped up our second annual BQEI Soul Food Brunch, and what a soul-stirring event it was! Set against the vibrant backdrop of Uptown, Chicago, at Wilson Abbey on May 11, this gathering brought together nearly 100 attendees, including community leaders, state representatives, and activists.
Whether you’re looking for legal services, housing help or just fun social events, these LGBTQ+ organizations are equipped to meet your needs.
On Saturday, May 18, Bronzeville, Chicago was transformed into an enchanting, brave space for nearly 200 attendees through Lighthouse Foundation’s (LF) Black LGBTQ+ Prom. This wasn't just any prom—it was a celebration of resilience, empowerment, and unity within the Black LGBTQ+ community, a space where everyone was welcomed, cherished, and free to express themselves authentically.
In our ongoing commitment to holistic wellness and community empowerment, Lighthouse Foundation recently hosted our sixth Self-Care Recharge event on Saturday, April 20. The event showcased a diverse range of healing modalities and wellness practices, all aimed at nurturing participants' minds, bodies, and spirits.
