AF3IRM announces new collective leadership body, upcoming activities in preparation for 30th anniversary year

NATIONAL–The AF3IRM National Leadership Institute was recently held in the West Coast in preparation for the 2019 organizational elections. The Institute is held annually for AF3IRM officers, coordinators, and core members, as an intensive training and opportunity to expand  ideological, political and organizational preparedness, ability and capacity. This year’s Institute held added significance in the context of the now former National Chair, Ivy Quicho, and former National Programme Coordinator, Myra Duran, stepping down from their positions earlier this year.  We send them both well wishes on their respective journeys.

The AF3IRM National Executive Committee (NEC), in consultation and with the approval of the coordinators, core members and founders of the organization, has constituted itself into a collective leadership body until the organization’s elections in October 2019.

The collective leadership body includes:

Angel Bartolome, the National Financial Officer of AF3IRM. She has over 13 years of dedicated work with the organization and practices as a community-conscious clinical social worker in the greater Los Angeles community.

Sylvia Cabrera, Co-Coordinator of the AF3IRM LA chapter and a middle school special education teacher actively involved with organizing a union at the LA charter school network where she teaches.

Olivia Canlas, the National Education Director of AF3IRM, a community radio producer, and lawyer. She started with AF3IRM 16 years ago and has worked in public interest and feminist related work ever since.

Valeria Espinosa, Co-Coordinator of the AF3IRM LA chapter, an ESL teacher, granddaughter of a Purépecha activist, and a survivor.

Connie Huynh,a mother, campaigner and researcher with two decades of experience in community, labor and electoral organizing. She has been organizing with AF3IRM LA for five years.

Nayoung Kim, a feminist activist, writer, and attorney from South Korea. She is part of AF3IRM Chicago Organizing Committee.

Princess Manuel, National Organizing Director and Co-Founder of the South Bay chapter — mobilizing women for a decade.  She is a clinical, social justice worker, herbalism apprentice and artist.

Barbra Ramos, National Communications Director, with 13 years of organizing across three different chapters. She is a writer, communications professional, and designer, who has worked in arts non-profits, publishing, and higher education.

The leadership and members of AF3IRM are actively working towards some key events and activities in the next year, as we prepare to celebrate our 30 year history of activism and women’s organizing in October 2019. This November/December, AF3IRM chapters will once again be participating in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, including Que Vivan Las Mariposas! An Exhibition of Revolutionary Resistance to State Violence Against Women, on view November 29th to December 2nd in Los Angeles, and the yearly altar/vigil in New York City for the Missing, Murdered and Trafficked Women. Other upcoming events/activities include International Women’s Day and the Schools of Women’s and Youth Activism.

As AF3IRM moves forward to a feminist future, we encourage those interested in the fight for women’s liberation to join our local chapters and organizing committees. For more information, visit our website (af3irm.org) or contact [email protected]. Any national inquiries, including speaking engagements or workshop requests, should continue to be directed to [email protected] or [email protected].

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