Imani Rupert-Gordon
Executive Director
Affinity Community Services
Chicago
For 15 years Imani Rupert-Gordon has worked to advance social justice efforts in higher education and local communities.
Currently, Imani Rupert-Gordon serves as the Executive Director of Affinity Community Services. Affinity is a social justice organization that works to support and provide resources for all people, with a particular emphasis on LGBTQ women of color. In addition, Imani serves on both the governing board of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago’s United Pride Executive committee, and the Illinois State Treasurer’s LGBT Advisory Council.
Previously, Imani served as the Director of the Broadway Youth Center (BYC), part of Howard Brown Health in Chicago. Under her leadership, BYC was successful in its efforts to obtain a special use permit that allowed the program to continue services uninterrupted in a temporary location. She also improved relationships with the community and local government, established a more sustainable budget through increased donor participation, oversaw the expansion of services at BYC, and lead a BYC advisory board to make recommendations for a new permanent location for the BYC.
Prior to coming to Chicago, Imani worked for 8 years at the University of California, Santa Cruz. There, she served as a lecturer and developed campus wide programming. She was also a founder of the incredibly popular Social Fiction Conference that helped students dismantle biases and examine issues of social justice through science fiction, gaming and fantasy.
When she is not working, Imani enjoys reading science fiction, watching science fiction and playing guitar.
Imani holds a Bachelors degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Masters degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.
