What’s It Like to Intern at AFIRE?
by Ana Klein
Intro About Me
My name is Ana Klein, I am currently a graduate student at Adler University enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. I have been in Chicago for about 3 years now and have been interning with AFIRE since this previous October. I am an aspiring clinician and am particularly interested in future work with immigrants and first/second-generation individuals.
Why AFIRE?
As a metro-Detroit native, I grew up integrated with my FilAm communities through familial ties and found myself craving that same involvement. When I found AFIRE I was inspired by the root in social justice and advocacy for marginalized groups. I know that as a future clinician I want part of my work to focus on helping immigrant families and the following generations, so working with AFIRE felt like the right place for me to gain advocacy-oriented exposure in these communities.
AFIRE was unique compared to the other FilAm organizations I have been a part of. It was my first experience being part of an organization that prioritized social justice and the development of advocacy within the FilAm community. It was really motivating to belong to an organization that emphasized the pursuit of equality and I valued the involvement and passion for justice within the members.
What Was Your Experience with Staff and Volunteers?
My experience with staff was wonderful. In conversations I felt like my opinion mattered and that I was contributing to the growth of the organization as a whole. I could tell that the staff members value their work significantly and truly believe in the movement that they are working towards within both empowering the FilAm community and supporting other marginalized groups. There was an overall motivation to continue growing and prioritization of self-reflection, which I found to be really inspiring and a really valuable component as an organizational practice.
It is clear that the volunteers at AFIRE also share the same passion for creating change in individual’s lives. I was moved by the strength in the volunteer base and shared motivation to consistently show up for members of the Chicagoland community. I found that I learned a lot from my fellow volunteer members and really valued the opportunity to connect on a personal level over this shared passion for advocacy and social justice.
Personal Impact
Interning at AFIRE was a humbling and inspiring experience. Being able to work one on one with Filipinos in the Chicagoland area was immensely fulfilling and allowed me to give back to my community while gaining experience in my desired field. I feel greatly moved by my time at AFIRE and am grateful to have been part of a space that is actively contributing towards the empowerment of its members and surrounding community. While we are living in a time where it feels difficult to maintain hope, it is reassuring to know that there are organizations who are advocating for change and are providing visibility to the Filipino-American experience.
- A. Klein, Intern
