LOS ANGELES – The executive directors of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) and FilAm ARTS formally announced Wednesday, Aug. 19, that they will be transitioning out of their leadership roles to pursue separate professional and personal goals.
For more than 23 year years, Joel Jacinto has served as head of SIPA, while Jilly Canizares has led FilAm ARTS since its inception more than 15 years ago.
“We bid goodbye in some aspects to these two as they leave their positions, but … it’s not a real goodbye,” said FilAm ARTS founding board member Winston Emano, who moderated a joint press conference held at SIPA’s headquarters in Historic Filipinotown where the announcement was made.
Jacinto, who was recently confirmed as a commissioner on the Los Angeles board of Public Works, has taken an indefinite leave of absence as SIPA’s executive director to serve the greater public in his new role. However, he said he would continue being involved in the organization as an advisor and volunteer.
“This is, for me, all about thanks, because I’m not leaving. This is a transition. How can you leave community? How can you leave something that you’re a part of, that is a part of you?” he said.
Canizares, who was the first and only executive director FilAm ARTS has known, said she was stepping down to spend more time with her family.
“In terms of my direction, in terms of transitioning, I just feel I just need to take a break,” she said.
Similarly to Jacinto, Canizares said she would not depart FilAm ARTS altogether and will continue to do consulting for the organization, as well as for other communities.
“Like Joel, I’m not leaving because it’s like leaving family. I can’t do that. But it’s more like, I want to allow new leadership … to step up. It’s not easy to run a non-profit in these days,” she said.
New leadership for both organizations has already been determined, with Dorothy Gamoning, who has served as SIPA’s director of operations, taking on the role of the organization’s interim director. The interim leader for FilAm ARTS will be announced next week, Canizares said.
Canizares also announced at Wednesday’s press conference that the 24th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) is underway and will be held at El Pueblo Historical Monument in Downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 7.
While SIPA does not frequently hold press conferences and is used to just doing its work, Jacinto said the transition of leadership was significant.
“This was important because we had to honor our past and where we’re headed in the future,” he said
Despite the transition in leadership, both SIPA and FilAm ARTS are moving forward with projects lined up for the next few years.
A multi-story, mixed-use affordable housing project with 59 units for seniors at SIPA’s site on Temple Street is currently in the works. The plan incorporates a sari-sari store experience to help welcome and feed visitors of Historic Filipinotown, Jacinto said.
Construction is set to begin in June 2016, at which point SIPA will move to an alternate location. When the project is complete, the organization will move back to its Temple Street location and will occupy the second floor.
“After we do that, we’re going to figure out where our next big primary goal is,” Jacinto said.
Canizares said the FilAm ARTS board has been discussing for some time the need for a Filipino-American community arts center, something she hopes to see within the next 10 years.
“I feel that there’s a need for more public art in community spaces that are outside of Historic Filipinotown, in the Angeleno community that represents the Filipino-American experience, or to increase the visibility of this community,” she said.
Canizares added she sees FilAm ARTS continuing to push for visibility and equal access for communities of color.
Both outgoing leaders also thanked the board and individuals involved in their respective organizations.
“The staff have been the engine that has enabled us to do all of the work that we have with youth and family and businesses,” Jacinto said.
Canizares thanked the FilAm ARTS board for a number of reasons, including for helping FPAC push through this year.
“Thank you for staying, for your commitment and dedication to move the festival forward despite my transition. In spite of everything, you’re committed to raising the resources and to get the festival going, to help the tradition move forward maybe for another 25 years,” she said.
Nice article; is there an accompanying photo of both Joel and Jilly that could have been included? Winston was the moderator of the press con but it would have nice to see Joel and Jilly and the flowers that were given to them as gifts.