The Albanian-American Community of Illinois (AACI) is proud to introduce its leadership team for the 2026–2028 term, a group that combines institutional experience, professional expertise and a strong record of service to the Albanian-American community in Illinois.
Leading the organization for the new term are Edon Shaqiri, Chairman of the Board; Adelsa Hoti, Vice Chair; Liridona Hoti, Treasurer; and Arlind Rojba, Secretary. They are joined on the Board by Saranda Asanoski, Fiorela Pazolli, Klemens Kuqi, Samir Xhurreta and Lum Budrika.
The broader team also includes Emiliano Abedini, Media Director; Sihana Kasmi and Aleks Abedini of the Media Team and key volunteers Elton Ademi, Ani Murati, Bjondi Dervishi, Besmir Salaj, Petrit Hoti, Alban Hoti, and Genta Hoti.
An Experienced Team With a Record of Building
This is a relatively experienced AACI leadership group, with many members having already worked together through some of the organization's most important years of growth.
Rather than beginning with a blank slate, the 2026–2028 team inherits and in many cases helped build, a growing portfolio of programs that have become part of Albanian-American community life in Illinois. Among the most visible is Byrek Fest, founded during the tenure of members of this leadership team and now established as one of AACI's signature traditions. Byrek Fest, as a competitive festival, was founded here in Chicago by AACI and has grown into a unique celebration that brings together bakers, families and community members around one of the most recognizable traditions of Albanian culture. As this new mandate begins, AACI is now preparing to enter its fourth annual Byrek Fest, marking the continued growth of an event that has quickly become one of the organization's most anticipated traditions. What began as an idea to bring the community together around one of the most recognizable parts of Albanian culture has grown into a celebration of food, music, family, heritage and community.
The organization has also expanded the visibility of Albanian culture through Albanian-American Heritage Night in partnership with the Chicago Bulls, bringing thousands of people together around Albanian identity on one of Chicago's largest sporting stages.
At the same time, AACI has worked to make culture about more than large events. The organization brought back literature and cultural evenings, including its Freedom Day program featuring acclaimed Albanian poet and writer Visar Zhiti. Programs such as these have created space for conversation about Albanian literature, history, memory, freedom and the experiences that connect generations of Albanians at home and abroad.
Another major cultural initiative has been the establishment of the Kosova Media Gallery, created to preserve and present important visual and historical material connected to Kosova and the Albanian experience. The gallery reflects AACI's growing emphasis on creating institutions and cultural resources that can endure beyond a single event or generation.
Networking events have also become a routine part of AACI's calendar and an increasingly important community staple, creating consistent opportunities for Albanian-American professionals, entrepreneurs, young leaders and community members to connect, exchange ideas and build relationships. These gatherings have helped expand AACI's role beyond cultural programming by creating a regular space for professional connection and community-building.
Representation From Across the Albanian Lands
The new Board also reflects AACI's commitment to representing the diversity of the Albanian community.
Chairman Edon Shaqiri represents Presheva Valley, Vice Chair Adelsa Hoti represents Çamëria, Treasurer Liridona Hoti represents Kosova and Secretary Arlind Rojba represents Çamëria. They are joined by Saranda Asanoski of North Macedonia, Lum Budrika of Kosova, Fiorela Pazolli and Klemens Kuqi of Albania, and Samir Xhurreta of Montenegro.
That regional diversity is central to AACI's mission: building a common Albanian-American home in Illinois while recognizing the different regions, histories and experiences represented within the community. Edon Shaqiri, enters his second term as Board Chair while Adelsa Hoti enters her ninth year of service on the AACI Board, making her the organization's longest-tenured current board member. Liridona Hoti begins her second term as Treasurer, providing continuity in the organization's financial leadership. Arlind Rojba begins his first term on the Board, bringing a professional background in technology sales and a new perspective to AACI's leadership team.
From Events to Institution Building
As AACI enters its next chapter, the objective is not simply to organize more events. It is to continue developing the organization itself.
A major part of that vision remains the establishment of a permanent Albanian-American Community Center in Illinois - a long-term home for cultural programming, education, youth activities, meetings, community services and future generations.
Today, AACI operates from a modest office space in Orland Park, an important first step toward creating a more permanent physical presence. While humble in size, the space represents progress: a place from which the organization can coordinate its work, strengthen its operations and continue building toward the larger goal of a true community center.
The 2026–2028 leadership team will continue working toward that objective while also strengthening AACI's internal structure, expanding opportunities for volunteers and younger community members, developing sustainable cultural programming, building stronger partnerships with civic and community institutions and ensuring that successful programs can continue from one generation of leadership to the next.
The foundation already exists.
Byrek Fest, Albanian-American Heritage Night, renewed literary programming, the Kosova Media Gallery, cultural celebrations, educational initiatives, community service efforts, and now AACI's growing physical presence demonstrate what can happen when volunteers from different parts of the Albanian community work toward a shared purpose.
The next two years will be about building on that foundation from programs, to infrastructure and ultimately toward a permanent home for the Albanian-American community in Illinois.
AACI invites every member of the community to join this journey, bringing their time, ideas, talents and support to help build something lasting for generations to come.
