LibGuides: Black History Month : Local and National Organizations

Black-Owned Businesses in Chicago

The Delta

1745 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Frontier

1072 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Mr. Brown’s Lounge

2301 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Ja’ Grill Hyde Park

1510 East Harper Court, Chicago, IL 60615

Norman’s Bistro

1001 E 43rd St, Chicago, IL 60653

Notable Charities and Organizations

African American Roundtable
The African American Roundtable at CLGS (AART) seeks the full inclusion of black lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender people in communities of faith and the mobilization of black communities of faith in support of social justice for LGBTQ people by fostering dialogue about the intersections between faith, gender and sexuality among black church and faith leaders (including scholars of religion), among black church congregations, among black LGBTQ persons and between each of these constituencies.
Association for the Study of African American Life and History
The mission of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®) is to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community.
Black Lives Matter
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
National Black Women’s Justice Institute (NBWJI)
The National Black Women’s Justice Institute (NBWJI) aims to eliminate racial and gender disparities in the U.S. criminal legal system that are responsible for its disproportionate impact on Black women, girls, and gender nonconforming people.
National Congress of Black Women
Encourage Black women to engage in non-partisan leadership activities within the educational, economic, social and political arenas; take leadership in telling our stories that are powerful stories.
Vision - To build a network of women of color in leadership, sustainable entrepreneurship and civic engagement while increasing access to technology and building social enterprises that eliminate gender and racial bias.
African American Leadership Forum
The African American Leadership Forum (AALF) is comprised of over 1,500 African Americans who self-identify as Thought Leaders, Influencers, Builders, and Ambassadors. Collaboratively, these leaders volunteer their time, talents and treasure to build a just society that works well for everyone.

Government Research Resources

National Archives & Records Administration-Black History
Provides a pathfinder to historical resources related to African American history.
Facts for Features: National African-American (Black) History Month: February 2018
US Census provides updated statistics on the African American population.
African American History Month--Law Library of Congress
National African American History Month had its origins in 1915 when historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. This guide provides links to executive branch, legislative branch, and web-related documents on the event.
Black History Month - Office of Minority Health - HHS.gov
During the month, OMH will also raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, and sickle cell disease and the effects of these diseases on the African American community.

Local Organizations

Brave Space Alliance
Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, and designed to create and provide affirming and culturally competent services for the entire LGBTQ+ community of Chicago.
My Block, My Hood, My City
My Block, My Hood, My City provides underprivileged youth with an awareness of the world and opportunities beyond their neighborhood. We take students on explorations focused on STEM, Arts & Culture, Citizenry & Volunteerism, Health, Community Development, Culinary Arts, and Entrepreneurism.
Chicago Alliance Against Racist And Political Repression
Since 1973, when it was born from the movement to free Angela Davis and all political prisoners, the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression has defended the rights of oppressed people in Illinois and around the world.
We defend the civil liberties of workers, activists, and prisoners. We struggle against white supremacy, the prison-industrial complex, and state violence. We demand community control of the police and full representation for Black people and other poor and oppressed people at all levels of government.
#LetUsBreathe Collective
The #LetUsBreathe Collective is an alliance of artists and activists organizing through a creative lens to imagine a world without prisons and police. The Collective operates the Breathing Room space, a Black-led liberation headquarters for arts, organizing, and healing on Chicago's South Side.
GoodKids MadCity
Our goal is to bring young community members together to build unity, nurture healing, and create a thriving community. Throughout the process, GKMC-E will collect data that will document real change and growth in the fight against violence in the Englewood community. In addition, GKMC-E will shift and frame the narrative on urban violence by amplifying the voices of those directly impacted.
Westside Justice Center
The Westside Justice Center is a community-centered organization that promotes a holistic approach to justice by: 1) Facilitating legal literacy to reduce recidivism; 2) Providing legal and quasi- legal assistance to individuals; and 3) Establishing and nurturing community trust through participatory deliberations and restorative justice practices, to collaboratively mitigate the consequences of incarceration on criminalized communities.
The Chicago Community Trust's African American Legacy
African American Legacy (AAL) is a philanthropic and educational initiative led by African American civic and community leaders who share the common goal of improving the quality of life among African Americans throughout metropolitan Chicago. AAL engages African Americans in philanthropy, collectively and individually, and provides support to grassroots and nonprofit organizations working on the ground to solve community problems.
Chicago Birthworks Collective
The Chicago Birthworks Collective was launched in 2018 by Toni and Tayo, a mom and daughter doula duo as the first collective of birthworkers, healers, and wellness practitioners uniquely serving Black birthing families across Chicago! The collective comprises of more than a dozen birth workers who are committed to centering Black mamas and birthing people in their own reproductive experiences through radical attention, culturally affirming and centered education and a village centered model of care.