Brave Space Alliance (BSA) today announced that CEO Channyn Lynne Parker will departing her role as its President and CEO later this fall to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer at Equality Illinois. Parker will remain at Brave Space Alliance through November 17, 2025 to help ensure a smooth transition for the organization.
“Leading Brave Space Alliance has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said CEO Channyn Lynne Parker. “This isn’t just a job — it’s been a calling. Together, we restored BSA’s foundation, expanded life-saving services, and re-centered the needs of our community. I’m proud of all we’ve built and confident that Brave Space will continue to thrive, lead, and serve with purpose. I remain committed to supporting this organization as it enters its next chapter and beyond.”
Parker joined Brave Space Alliance during a critical moment for the organization, stepping into leadership with a clear vision for stability, restoration, and growth. Under her leadership, BSA rebuilt its infrastructure, regained trust among staff and community members, and launched vital new services — including behavioral health programming, transitional housing, and onsite access to third-party healthcare services. She also re-established strong relationships with funders, partners, and South Side communities, restoring BSA as a trusted anchor in Chicago’s LGBTQ+ landscape.
“On behalf of Brave Space Alliance and our Board of Directors, I am thrilled to congratulate Channyn on her appointment as Executive Director of Equality Illinois,” said Brave Space Alliance Board Chair, Maliyah Arnold. “Brave Space has deeply benefited from Channyn’s leadership and vision, especially as she guided us through a critical period of rebuilding, solidifying our foundation for long-term strength and impact. We are proud to see her step into this role. As the first Black trans woman to lead Equality Illinois, we are also proud to have been a part of her professional journey. Brave Space looks forward to continued collaboration between our organizations in advancing justice for our communities.“
This leadership transition does not mark an ending, but the continuation of a larger mission. Parker will remain fully engaged in her role as CEO during the coming months, working closely with the Board of Directors to identify and support the new era of leadership at Brave Space Alliance. Her focus will be on ensuring a smooth and thoughtful transition — and she remains deeply committed to BSA’s continued strength, sustainability, and service to Black and trans communities.
The Board at Brave Space Alliance looks forward to supporting Channyn as she enters this next chapter as CEO of Equality Illinois. BSA has deeply benefited from Channyn’s leadership and vision, especially as she guided the organization through a critical period of rebuilding, solidifying our foundation for long-term strength and impact. As the first Black trans woman to lead Equality Illinois, Brave Space Alliance is proud to have been a part of her professional journey and looks forward to continued collaboration between our organizations in advancing justice for our communities.
The Board will soon launch a search for a new President and CEO to search for a leader who will continue to guide Brave Space Alliance in its mission to uplift, empower, and provide life-affirming resources for Black, trans, and LGBTQ+ communities across Chicago’s South Side.
About Brave Space Alliance
Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-Trans led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ+ individuals on the South side of the city. We strive to empower, embolden, and educate each other through mutual aid, knowledge-sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as we build toward the liberation of all oppressed peoples.
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Equality Illinois announces Channyn Lynne Parker as new CEO
Veteran LGBTQ+ advocate and executive becomes first Black transgender woman to lead the organization in its 34-year history
CHICAGO, IL – Equality Illinois, the state’s leading LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced today that Channyn Lynne Parker has been named the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer following an extensive national search. A nationally recognized human rights advocate, movement builder, and executive leader,
Parker brings more than two decades of experience advancing LGBTQ+ justice, racial equity, and community- based solutions across Illinois.
Parker currently serves as CEO of Brave Space Alliance (BSA), where she led a powerful organizational turnaround—restoring stability, rebuilding trust, and launching new services including behavioral health programming, transitional housing, and expanded access to gender-affirming care to extend the organization’s reach and impact. Her commitment to health equity and community-centered policy leadership is rooted in her earliest professional work at The University of Chicago, where she worked directly with youth living with HIV.
That experience deepened her understanding of the intersection between lived experience, public health, and systemic policy change — an approach that continues to inform her leadership today.
Following her tenure at The University of Chicago, Parker went on to serve in nearly a decade of community leadership roles at Howard Brown Health, Broadway Youth Center, and Chicago House, where she advanced youth housing, healthcare access, and reentry services for LGBTQ+ communities. She is a longtime board member of Equality Illinois and currently serves on several statewide commissions, including those focused on poverty elimination, addressing hate crimes, and protecting reproductive rights. She was previously honored with Equality Illinois’ Humanitarian Freedom Award for her advocacy.
“Equality Illinois has long been a beacon for justice, and I am honored to step into this role at such a critical time for our communities,” said incoming CEO, Channyn Lynne Parker. “This is more than a professional transition for me—it’s deeply personal. I’m committed to leading with courage, compassion, and collaboration as we build a future where every LGBTQ+ person in Illinois is seen, valued, and protected.”
Her selection follows a thorough and competitive process led by McCormack + Kristel Executive Search Consultants. All candidates were evaluated equitably through the same fair and transparent process, and Parker emerged as the clear choice based on her experience, leadership, deep ties to Illinois’ most impacted communities, and vision for the future of LGBTQ+ advocacy in Illinois.
“Channyn is a visionary leader whose career has been dedicated to building power and advancing LGBTQ+ people and communities in our state,” said Equality Illinois Board Chair Justin DeJong and Equality Illinois Institute Board Chair Kelly Emery. “Her depth of experience, her authentic connection to the work, and her ability to lead through our current political environment made her the clear choice to guide Equality
Illinois into its next chapter.”
Parker is the first Black transgender woman to lead Equality Illinois in its 34-year history. Her appointment comes at a pivotal time for LGBTQ+ rights in Illinois and across the country. As a transformational leader with an unwavering commitment to equity and justice, she is uniquely prepared to guide the organization forward and expand its reach, impact, and visibility in the years to come. Parker will begin her role as full time CEO on
November 17, 2025.
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