Commencing A Journey Towards Justice: Lighthouse Foundation's 2024 CARE Retreat

On Saturday, January 13, Lighthouse Foundation hosted our second annual CARE Retreat. A day dedicated to shaping a brighter future, the event unfolded at St. Pauls UCC, offering attendees a rewarding experience in the heart of Lincoln Park.

CARE (Coalition of Accomplices for Racial Equity) is a coalition of accomplices and Black LGBTQ+ people who support Black LGBTQ+ liberation through inspiration, collaboration, and celebration. The retreat aimed to introduce new faces to the impactful work of our organization and to set the stage for a year of transformative initiatives. Participants delved into their individual stories, exploring the power each narrative holds in creating positive change. Together, we envisioned new CARE program heights, ensuring that every moment became a stride toward a future defined by equality and justice.

Gracing the retreat with their wisdom, Co-Pastor Rebecca Anderson of Gilead Chicago and Bethany UCC, along with Creola Kizart-Hampton of BLACHE, led enlightening sessions. Pastor Rebecca facilitated a storytelling workshop, guiding attendees on how to convey their experiences in a manner that is both engaging and informative. She emphasized the crucial role of allies in amplifying voices for social justice.

Reflecting on the responsibility of telling stories about racial equity, Pastor Rebecca noted, "It's very important that for white people, telling [stories about racial equity], I never want to tell the story where my learning, or my 'then I realized' moment, comes at the expense of a person of color."

Creola addressed healthcare inequities, shedding light on the disproportionate allocation of HIV/AIDS funding to Black-led organizations. In Illinois, despite comprising only 14% of the population, Black people make up 46% of those living with HIV and 51% of new diagnoses. Creola’s discussion underscored the vital importance of civic education and proactive protesting.

The retreat also served as a platform to outline the roadmap for CARE in 2024. Notable events on the horizon include the BQEI Soul Food Lunch in May and the highly anticipated 5th Anniversary Fundraiser in July. Attendees gained insights into how these events contribute to the overarching mission of Lighthouse Foundation and CARE.

As the event concluded, one participant shared, "I appreciate how people like me can come to this space respectfully to support the work of the organization without taking over, getting in the way, or taking too much space. I value the clarity with which that was presented and how we're all working together for the common goal of Black and Queer liberation."

Pastor Rebecca Anderson also noted that Lighthouse Foundation events are not only invitations but assurances of impactful use of time. “One thing I’ve experienced in organizing, occasionally, [is that] I’ll beat the bushes to get people to come out, and maybe it’s worth their time and maybe it’s not,” she said, “[But] I feel totally confident in inviting people to Lighthouse Foundation events because I think Lighthouse makes excellent use of time and sends people away excited and equipped for the work.”

The CARE Retreat was more than a meeting — it was a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to advancing equality, justice, and liberation for Black LGBTQ+ people in Chicagoland. Empowered by our newfound connections, we’re excited to move forward, inspired and united, into this incredible year of programming and social justice work.