ICIRR Announces First African, Muslim Board President

New board officers and members to carry on mission of empowering and integrating Illinois immigrants and refugees

Chicago, Illinois - The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) is proud to announce that Alie Kabba, executive director of the United African Organization will be our new president, replacing Juan Salgado. Alie, who had served as ICIRR’s vice president for 3 years, is the first African and Muslim president at ICIRR.

“I am ecstatic to pass the baton to my good friend and a remarkable leader with whom I have worked closely,” said Juan Salgado, ICIRR’s outgoing president.  “Alie recognizes that our diverse communities share common needs and strengths, and must work together to achieve our goals of fair immigration laws and humane treatment of immigrants and refugees. I am sure that Alie will bring in strong leadership and even more diversity and support to our efforts.”

“I am honored by the board’s decision,” said Alie Kabba, incoming ICIRR board president. “I will work hard to continue the fantastic work that Juan Salgado, the board, our member organizations, our executive director Joshua Hoyt, and ICIRR’s staff have done throughout the years to empower the immigrant community.”

The new Board will have 2 vice-presidents Maria Socorro Pesqueira, executive director of Mujeres Latinas en Acción and Tuyet Le, Executive Director of the Asian American Institute.  Maria has been an ICIRR board member since 2009. Tuyet has been part of the board since 2001.

 “Maria and Tuyet are highly respected and recognized for their tireless work with the Latino and Asian communities,” said Joshua Hoyt, ICIRR Executive Director. “Their ideas and leadership as ICIRR vice-presidents will bring tremendous recognition to the contributions of Latinos and Asians in and outside of our state.”

As of today the following are members of the Executive Board:

President Alie Kabba, United African Organization; Vice President Tuyet Le, Asian American Institute; Vice President Maria Pesqueira, Mujeres Latinas en Acción; Treasurer Raul Raymundo, The Resurrection Project; Secretary Rosa Carrasco Latino Organization of the Southwest; Executive Committee Member at Large Daysi Funes, Centro Romero.

Board members also include: Gonzalo Arroyo Family Focus, Aurora; Graciela Contreras Archdiocese of Chicago;   Laura Garza S.E.I.U. – Local 1; Jose Luis Gutierrez FEDECMI; Fr. Claudio Holzer St. Charles Borromeo;  Billy Lawless Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform;  Rudy Lopez Center for Community Change; Jane Ramsey, Jewish Council for Urban Affairs; Ahmed Rehab, Council on American Islamic Relations; Dr. Zaher Salhoul, Council of Islamic Organizations Greater Chicago; Juan Salgado, Instituto del Progreso Latino; Yesenia Sanchez P.A.S.O.; Sik Son, Korean American Resource and Cultural Center; Sergio Suarez, FEDEJAL and Bernarda Wong, Chinese American Service League.