DECEMBER 2016

KAC's New Executive Director

Dear friends and colleagues,
​
Eight years ago on the 16th floor of an ivory brick building on Hudson Street near downtown New York City, I began my first day at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), the organization President Obama called, "...simply the best civil rights law firm in American history." My workspace and desk were far from modern. I was inheriting an antique desk covered with water markings from mugs and distressed from old age. I sat, unappreciative until the general counsel knocked on my door to welcome me to the organization. Before walking out, he casually remarked that the desk belonged to Thurgood Marshall before he became the first African American and minority Supreme Court Justice. He added that the O shaped water markings were formed by Marshall and his colleagues as they sat around the desk to brainstorm strategies to desegregate the South and litigate in the courts during the Civil Rights Movement.

Marshall argued the historic Brown v. Board of Education case before the Supreme Court, which allowed all minorities equal access to education in the United States. It was a case that changed the country. I sat stunned, fully appreciating the moment because I recognized that the work done on the desk represented the access created for minorities today, including me.

As the new Executive Director of the Korean American Coalition (KAC), my hope and vision is for KAC to become the platform of access for our Korean American community. Our mission is to bring the marginalized, under-served, as well as the visible and established from across our multi-generational community together at one table to become one voice. I'd like to invite you to come and build the new coalition with us. Join us on Thursday, January 12 to hear more about what we're planning in 2017.  

Yours sincerely,

Joon Young Bang
Executive Director
Korean American Coalition

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Collaborations and Partnerships

Asian Jewish Initiative

On December 14, KAC hosted a successful meeting of the Asian Jewish Initiative, which was led by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). KAC met with representatives from ADL, OCA-Greater Los Angeles (OCA-GLA), Filipino American Services Group, Inc. (FASGI), Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD), Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP), South Asian Bar Association SABA), Wells Fargo, Loyola Marymount University, Congressman Ted Lieu's office, Councilmember David Ryu's office, the Israeli Consulate, and the Japanese Consulate to discuss future collaborative projects.

Thank You

Youngbum Song Foundation

KAC would like to thank the Youngbum Song Foundation for contributing a $10,000 grant to our MUN program. We appreciate your efforts to promote growth, skill development, and leadership in our youth. 

The Kim Yong Hwan Foundation

KAC would like to thank the Kim Yong Hwan Foundation for supporting KAC's activities, services, and programs with a generous $20,000 grant.