There is a good reason why the Filipino American Network (FAN) may seem familiar to many Filipino Americans.  FAN is actually an evolution of the Society of Filipino American Young Professionals (SFAYP), responding to the demands and needs of our members and community.

SFAYP was established in 1995 by Portia Guerin, Roxanne Volkmann, Michele Cacdac and Sheila Gonzalez  to create an organization for young Filipino American professionals.  Although many Fil-Am clubs and groups have served Chicago-area Filipinos for decades, none were really geared to the different experiences and needs of younger Filipino-American professionals.

SFAYP organized and hosted events ranging from networking opportunities, poetry readings and Learning Tagalog parties to Entrepreneurship workshops, fundraising for local charities and negotiation seminars.  The project proved to be an immediate success, attracting young Filipino Americans throughout the Chicago area.

From the very beginning, SFAYP?s leaders set an ambitious agenda, routinely holding at least two to three events each month as it tried to respond to the divergent interests of its members.

However, by late 1998, SFAYP faced a crossroad, as many of its leaders and most active members began to feel the exhaustion of the constant demand to present quality events and simply keep this large organization growing.

Rather than allowing SFAYP to slowly debilitate, SFAYP?s board decided to take a self-imposed hiatus.  The group continued to hold occasional events.  But it spent most of 1999 and all of 2000 in a self-analysis mode.  The core members surveyed Filipino Americans throughout the Midwest and began to formulate ideas for a revamp of the organization.

The feedback that SFAYP gathered reaffirmed the need for an organization serving and calling young Filipino American adults.  At the same time, survey results allowed SFAYP to clearly face critical comments and obstacles.  Some felt that SFAYP?s name presented an elitist tone, while others believed that SFAYP?s narrow focus was too exclusive.  Some felt that SFAYP was trying to do too much, while others felt that the group was not doing enough.  Some wanted SFAYP to focus primarily on professional and career development, while others wanted SFAYP to be more active with issues affecting the Philippines itself.

A final turning point came in late 2000, when members of SFAYP attended a conference of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations.  At that conference, SFAYP?s attending members received additional feedback from non-Midwestern Filipinos about SFAYP?s initiatives and values.  It was from that meeting that the initiative to revamp SFAYP into the Filipino American Network began.

FAN has tried to retain the best elements of SFAYP, while addressing its problems and obstacles.  FAN will continue SFAYP?s record of bringing together young Filipino American adults and providing them with opportunities to grow.  However, FAN will avoid expending its limited resources on divergent interests.  Instead, it will maintain a focus on providing resources and opportunities for its members to develop themselves and each other.

Its primary role will be to create a social and networking hub that brings together young Filipino American adults (21-45) to facilitate, encourage and nurture their cultural, personal and professional development.

After much preparation, FAN has now launched; and we hope that you will join us.