Who we are
AforAce is the first and only nonprofit in the state of Illinois to focus on asexual advocacy and education. We have a two-tiered mission: first, to serve the Chicagoland asexual community; second, to educate and provide resources to the greater queer and non-queer community.
At AforAce, our mission is simple yet transformative: to serve our community through accessible education on asexual and aromantic identities, dispel harmful myths and arm allies, healthcare providers and educators with the tools they need to foster truly inclusive spaces. Whether through in-person seminars, virtual webinars, book swaps, or festival tablings, we are building a vibrant, supportive ecosystem across Chicagoland.
We want to create a world that is not only tolerant of, but accepting of, aspec folks from all walks of life. We seek to foster community and engagement between asexuals, the greater queer community and the non-queer community alike. We want a world that not only understands what being aspec means, but is also respectful and nondiscriminatory toward the aspec community.
Need help? Resources? Someone to talk to? Reach out. We’re here for ya.
Meet the AforAce Board
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Kate Farley (she/her)
FOUNDER, PRESIDENT
Kate founded AforAce as a social club during Ace Week 2024 in Chicago’s Andersonville area. Since then, it’s blossomed into a vibrant nonprofit. For her day job, she works as an executive editor at a digital media company. She hosts webinars, seminars and other events for AforAce. Whenever possible, she brings her dog and unofficial AforAce mascot, Vesper, along for the ride.
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Kristen Kocourek (she/her)
VICE PRESIDENT
Kristen Kocourek Is a proud Demisexual and rare disease survivor. In the past she’s been able to travel to give speeches, and volunteer to help others with disabilities. A for Ace will be her first experience helping others in the asexual community. She is very ready to not only help others potentially learn about them selves,but what the A is really for.
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Frannie Sprouls (she/they)
TREASURER
Frannie Sprouls is the treasurer for AforAce and leads the organization’s Ace Book Club, in partnership with Gerber/Hart Library and Archives. They are a content strategy leader, editor, and writer, with more than ten years in the B2B media space. Frannie graduated with their bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and is an active member of ACES: The Society for Editing. You can often find them going on Chicago book adventures, at the yoga studio, or introverting with their two cats.
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M’Jean Mason (he/they)
SECRETARY
Hailing from Lombard, Illinois (just a 30-minute train ride from the West Loop on a good day), M’Jean joined A for Ace in 2025 after discovery among the local, Chicagoland area asexual and aromantic community. When not working as an assistant audio and digital media producer at Classical music station WFMT, he is writing and illustrating for the independent webcomic, “The Clownarounds”, under the pen name, “Stoned Mason”. MJean has also written for ace-themed online magazine AZE journal. In his spare time, he enjoys watching and over-analyzing musical theatre, vintage films, and nostalgic television, especially animation.
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Jen Baj (she/her)
FUNDRAISING CHAIR
Jen Baj joined the AforAce team in 2026. She brings experience in marketing, fundraising, and public relations to the team. She works with past and present fundraising partners and helps foster new connections to further AforAce's mission. In her free time, she loves attending fan conventions like Dragon-con, watching anime, and spoiling her cat, Bebe.
