This January, AIDS Foundation Chicago was excited to welcome its new board members, officers, and Chair of the Board of Directors.  This year’s Board is comprised of a diverse slate of leaders from across the corporate, health care, public health, academic, and non-profit sectors.  AFC continues to diversify the Board, and the 2026 Board of Directors is among the most diverse in AFC history in terms of race, gender identity, and expertise. 

Meet AFC’s new Board Chair, Yusef Garcia 

The new Chair of the AFC Board of Directors is lifelong Chicagoan and longtime AFC supporter and Board member Yusef Garcia.  A leader in Chicago’s non-profit sector for 20 years, Yusef has worked with WTTW, United Way of Metro Chicago, Forefront, and now at the helm of his own leadership consultancy for nonprofits, Monarq Advisors. Yusef first connected with AFC through an affinity group at United Way called United In Pride.  There, he met Edward Wagner, AFC’s Chief External Relations Officer, and soon became a supporter after learning about the organization and its work.  Of his first impressions of AFC, Yusef said, “I was immediately in admiration of how effective the different lanes of work operated at AFC.  Policy, programs, health, housing… all of those elements were so seamlessly braided into this amazing organization that helps folks thrive while they’re living with HIV.”  

As Yusef’s understanding of AFC’s work grew, so did his admiration of the organization’s staff. “From a staff and leadership perspective, I thought, who are these brilliant minds, these committed people, who transcend the LGBTQ+ community… part of a tapestry of people who are combatting the HIV AIDS epidemic and homelessness?” he said. 

Not long after connecting with AFC, Yusef was recruited by the Morton Group to join the AFC Board, and he has served in various Board roles since 2019.  During his years of service, Yusef has observed AFC’s progress and its resilience in the face of challenges.  Among his proudest achievements with his colleagues on the Board is the implementation of AFC’s Racial Equity Action Plan, which he noted was created with staff members working alongside AFC leadership and Board members to be truly inclusive.  

Yusef is passionate about the Board’s role to provide structured governance, observing that a well-organized Board can provide strength to the organization at this pivotal time, where AFC must fight against the federal government to safeguard the work of the HIV movement and keep pushing forward.  He mentions AFC being strong enough to file suit against the Trump administration as a point of pride.  Yusef’s goals for the three-year term as Chair include building connections and consensus to help the organization meet this moment, and to ensure that AFC is set up for success in the future.  He said he wants to help people not be afraid of this moment, and to draw attention to AFC’s and the HIV movement’s many strengths. 

“We are strong, and we have many partners and collaborators,” Yusef said. “We have the right board members in this cadre of 27 to figure out our lanes of power and influence, so that we can safeguard AFC and what it does and who we do it for.” 

Building solidarity, connection, and action are the best parts of leadership for Yusef, because that is often where joy happens. “Joy is the through line for why I do this,” he said. “There is so much joy in building the relationships that we need for this work.”  For an opportunity to connect with Yusef, you can meet him in person at the upcoming World of Chocolate event, benefiting AFC. 

New Board Officers 

AFC is proud to welcome a new slate of Board Officers representing a broad cross-section of the HIV sector and its allies.   

Vice Chair & Fund Development Committee Co-Chair – Cecil Dearborne 

Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair – Patrick D. Strieck, BMO 

Secretary – Terri Wilkerson, Chicago House and Social Services Agency 

Past Chair – Geoffrey Brown, Illinois CPA Society 

Board members serving in leadership roles include Cecil Dearborne and Julie Scott as Fund Development Committee Co-Chairs, Nnenna Okeke as Governance Committee Chair,  Mary Pounder as Policy & Advocacy Committee Chair, Kara Eastman leading Racial Equity Action Plan Implementation, and Tom Sondergeld leading the Strategy Planning Committee.  

New Board Members 

Seven new members are joining the AFC Board for the first time this year.  AFC looks forward to the impact of their leadership and ideas and hopes they will serve the organization and the HIV movement for years to come. 

New members are: attorney Greg Fosheim, Jason Rubin, of ARC Strategies; Jeramy Kaiman, of Grant Thornton Advisors, Nana Ama Aya Erzuah-Amenuvo, of the University of Illinois School of Public Health; Philip Quick, of UChicago Medicine; Stephanie Townsell, of the MIGMIR Fund; and Dr. Terrance Weeden, a pediatrician. 

Saying Thanks to Departing Board Members 

Finally, AFC also said goodbye to some incredible leaders this year.  Nan Silva, who last year was named a Notable Leader in Philanthropy by Crain’s Chicago Business, has retired from the AFC Board after 10 years of service.  AFC has benefited greatly from Silva’s vision.  Other valued Board members Jorge Cabrera, Lance Glass, Tim Mullet, and Markus Pitchford are departing as well, and AFC is grateful for their service and leadership. 

Explore information on AFC’s website about the organization’s leaders, including leadership staff and the full list of members of the Board of Directors.