Executive orders are big on everyone’s minds, and rightly so. These were issued intentionally to cause confusion and chaos. Despite the havoc this has wreaked on our communities, we remember to anchor ourselves in our values, our communities of focus, and the work of advocating for our rights and mobilizing to action.

"We learn with each other." I am holding this simple and small phrase tightly these days as I settle into my place on staff at AFIRE.

In these increasingly polarizing times, it is not uncommon for conversations to quickly become heated. This can be seen within our diasporic, often multi-generational family structures in the Filipinx/a/o community, and it can be difficult to understand why.

As a non-profit organization that advocates for the rights of historically underserved communities and commits to freedom from oppression, we are deeply concerned about the president’s actions and monitoring the decisions emerging from the White House.

The reality is we are at a time when a change in presidential administration will have a long-standing impact on our communities, our organizations, and our efforts. 

On behalf of the board of directors of AFIRE Chicago, we share the news that after 8 years of leadership in multiple roles, Ryan Viloria ended his tenure as Executive Director in November 2024 to place focus and care on personal matters.

We cannot thank our donors and supporters enough for this generosity. Our work builds connections between our community and the issues directly affecting us.

The Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empower (AFIRE) is excited to announce it is collaborating on the first Pride of its kind for the Filipinx/a/o community.

We stand together for the liberation of Palestine and demand a ceasefire now.