Gaylon Alcaraz (born October 26, 1966) is an American community organizer and human rights activist in Chicago, Illinois.[1] She is the former executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund.[2] Her autobiography, Tales of a Woojiehead, was published by Blackgurl Press in 2002.[3][4][5]

Education

Alcaraz earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from DePaul University. She completed one year of coursework at Roosevelt University towards a Doctorate of Education. She is currently attending National Louis University to earn Ph.D. in community psychology.[4][6]

Career

In 1997, Alcaraz became a founding board member of Affinity Community Services, an organization dedicated to developing leadership skills for black lesbian and bisexual women.[7] In 2011, she joined the board of directors of the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health and the Midwest Access Project. Alcaraz was Executive Director of Chicago Abortion Fund[8] from 2005 - 2014.

Awards

  • The Chicago Reader Newspaper - The People Issue - "The Activist" - December 2014
  • SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective - Women Warrior - November 2014
  • City of Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame - Inductee - 2013
  • NYU Wagner Research Center for Leadership in Action - IGNITE Fellowship - Women of Color in the Social Sector - 2013
  • National Organization for Women - Women Who Dared - 2012
  • Chicago Foundation for Women - Impact Awards - 2010[8]
  • Choice USA - Generational Award - 2009
  • National Organization for Women (Chicago Suburban Chapter) - Fay Clayton Award - 2008

References

  1. ^ Turner, Dawn (19 August 2015). "Making the battleground the black woman's body". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  2. ^ Alcaraz, Gaylon. "Executive Director Report". Chicago Abortion Fund. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  3. ^ Turner, Dawn M. (25 August 2015). "The job of an abortion doula". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b Stevens, Heidi (7 October 2016). "From 320 pounds to the Chicago Marathon, activist 'will stop at nothing'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  5. ^ Balde, Lisa (29 March 2011). "Anti-Abortion Billboards Arrive in Chicago". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Woman Made Gallery names Alcaraz as new executive director - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. 2020-01-23. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  7. ^ "Gaylon B. Alcaraz". Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b Leventhal, Micki (March 17, 2010). "Gaylon Alcaraz: The Personal Becomes the Political". Windy City Times. Windy City Media Group. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
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