Transitions at AFIRE

A Message from the AFIRE Board:

We want to inform you about upcoming transitions at AFIRE in terms of staffing and administrative support. Since December 2024, Rachel Lyons has been AFIRE’s Interim Executive Director. This interim role is coming to a close at the end of February. Rachel’s last day at AFIRE will be Friday, February 27, 2026. AFIRE is not hiring a new Executive Director at this time; rather, we are partnering with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) to provide administrative and back office support in this period of transition. The staff will continue current programming for both citizenship and organizing, and we remain committed to fighting for immigrant rights and liberation.

The AFIRE Board of Directors has been working with staff to implement the administrative transition plan in collaboration with ICIRR. We are committed to fortifying AFIRE’s mission and leadership to continue our work now and for the long haul, and we are grateful to our extended community, partners, and donors who believe in the mission and make this work possible. “On behalf of the AFIRE board, we are grateful for the time Rachel has spent with us during this period of restructuring,” said AFIRE board chair Mark Calaguas. “Her expertise in values-aligned organizational governance has ensured that AFIRE is on the right footing as we continue to navigate the shifting nonprofit landscape.” 

Past board chair Abbey Eusebio also joins Calaguas in expressing their gratitude to Tina Ramirez Moon on winding down almost a decade of board service, including recent terms as secretary and treasurer. “Since 2016, Tina has been an invaluable part of the AFIRE team, leading with utmost care, empathy, and a wealth of technical expertise. It has been an immense honor and privilege to work with Tina, and we wish them all the best as they embark on the next chapter.” During this time, current board members Jess Jose and Ria Arcangel will step into the treasurer and secretary positions, respectively.

Please direct any questions about this transition period to Mark Calaguas at board@afirechicago.org. Please keep reading to hear directly from Rachel and Tina on time at AFIRE.

Sincerely, 

The AFIRE Board of Directors

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A Message From Rachel Lyons (Interim Executive Director):

I am leaving AFIRE with deep gratitude for this community. Over the past 15 months, I was able to meet so many of you through Mabuhay! Meetings, Seeding AFIRE discussions, Tagalog 101 classes, AAA Day in Springfield, Baklaan movie night, and many citizenship workshops. Thank you to the incredible volunteers that bring AFIRE to life, and thank you to the generous foundations and donors who fund the organization. The Citizenship Program and Organizing Program are going strong, and I know they will continue to positively impact the greater Filipinx/a/o community in Chicago. I send a special thank you to the staff and board members of AFIRE. I have learned so much from each of you, and I value our relationships. Thank you for supporting my own growth and development this past year.

I will continue to stay in touch with AFIRE and hope our paths cross in the near future. May we continue fighting in the collective struggle for freedom and liberation.

In solidarity,

Rachel Lyons

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A Message From Tina Ramirez Moon (AFIRE Board Secretary/Treasurer):

I have been grateful to serve on AFIRE’s board of directors through many seasons of growth and change. I have been, and continue to be, so inspired by the leadership, tenacity, and commitment of the board, staff, core leaders and volunteers who truly embody the spirit of community care. AFIRE carries a strong legacy of grassroots organizing through intergenerational relationships. It has been a home away from home for so many - a space to learn about collective struggles, to demand and win policy changes that impact everyday lives, and to find resources and connections that support individual and collective well-being. 

My time with the AFIRE board of directors has been transformational, and I know the organization and community remain in good hands. I will continue to support AFIRE as the work towards collective freedom and liberation continues.

With deep gratitude and care,
Tina Ramirez Moon