The Korean American Coalition – Los Angeles (KAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1983 to promote the civic and civil rights interests of the Korean American community. KAC endeavors to achieve these goals through education, community organizing, leadership development, and coalition-building with diverse communities.
Bilingual Advocacy
To be an effective bilingual advocate for the Korean American community by articulating community concerns and interests, and establishing channels of communication with elected officials, private and public agencies, other community organizations, media, and the general public.
Civil Rights Promotion
To promote and advocate for the civil and civic right’s interests of Korean Americans, increasing civic and legislative awareness and the general social consciousness of the Korean American community.
Networking and Cooperation
To maintain networks of communication and cooperation between KAC and other organizations in the Korean American community as well as with organizations representing other racial and ethnic communities.
Leadership Development
To organize and implement leadership development programs encouraging Korean American students to become capable leaders in the community and civic affairs.
Multi-Generational Organization
To maintain a viable working organization composed of first, second, and third generation Korean Americans.
Information Resource
To be an informational resource and referral for and about the Korean American community.
Low-Moderate Income Support
To serve those in the low to moderate income brackets.
HISTORY
Early Roots
Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1983, KACLA advocates for the interests of the 1.9 million strong Korean American community. As recent immigrants and members of an ethnic minority group, Korean Americans face many barriers in their pursuit of full and meaningful participation in American society. KAC was established to serve as the vehicle through which to overcome those obstacles. KAC’s priorities have remained untouched since its inception: advocacy, empowerment, organizing and outreach, education, and multi-generational collaboration. As a bilingual and non-partisan membership organization, KAC has been bridging the inter-generational gap and galvanizing multi-generations of Korean Americans into taking civic action.
Organizational Growth
One of the major turning points in KAC’s history was during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots when KAC emerged as the voice of the Korean American community. KAC represented the concerns of a community that had been devastated by inner-city violence to mainstream media, elected officials, and government agencies.
Milestones
Throughout the years, KAC has developed various programs aimed at empowering and educating the community. Over the course of 39 years, KAC has assisted over 40,500 immigrants to become U.S. citizens and registered voters; co-founded the Black Korean Alliance in 1988, and launched the 4.29 Center in 1997 to provide dispute resolution and inter-ethnic outreach; coordinated victim relief efforts after the 1992 Los Angeles Riots; successfully lobbied for erroneous bilingual voter registration forms and sample ballots in California; conducted redistricting outreach campaign to unify Koreatown into a single city council district by organizing community town halls, and forming coalitions with other diverse Los Angeles-Based organizations; conducted various community outreach and education campaigns to raised awareness of COVID-19 and vaccines; trained more than 850 college students in leadership development and community organizing, and sponsored over 210 college internships. KAC has continued to work closely with government agencies and elected officials to promote more responsive governance and policymaking that impact the community. KAC also developed broad coalitions with other ethnic communities around shared concerns. In 2017, KAC was recognized as a Non-Profit of the Year honoree, becoming the first Korean American organization to receive this honor in California.
HISTORY
Early Roots
Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1983, KACLA advocates for the interests of the 1.9 million strong Korean American community. As recent immigrants and members of an ethnic minority group, Korean Americans face many barriers in their pursuit of full and meaningful participation in American society. KAC was established to serve as the vehicle through which to overcome those obstacles. KAC’s priorities have remained untouched since its inception: advocacy, empowerment, organizing and outreach, education, and multi-generational collaboration. As a bilingual and non-partisan membership organization, KAC has been bridging the inter-generational gap and galvanizing multi-generations of Korean Americans into taking civic action.
Organizational Growth
One of the major turning points in KAC’s history was during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots when KAC emerged as the voice of the Korean American community. KAC represented the concerns of a community that had been devastated by inner-city violence to mainstream media, elected officials, and government agencies.
Milestones
Throughout the years, KAC has developed various programs aimed at empowering and educating the community. Over the course of 39 years, KAC has assisted over 40,500 immigrants to become U.S. citizens and registered voters; co-founded the Black Korean Alliance in 1988, and launched the 4.29 Center in 1997 to provide dispute resolution and inter-ethnic outreach; coordinated victim relief efforts after the 1992 Los Angeles Riots; successfully lobbied for erroneous bilingual voter registration forms and sample ballots in California; conducted redistricting outreach campaign to unify Koreatown into a single city council district by organizing community town halls, and forming coalitions with other diverse Los Angeles-Based organizations; conducted various community outreach and education campaigns to raised awareness of COVID-19 and vaccines; trained more than 850 college students in leadership development and community organizing, and sponsored over 210 college internships. KAC has continued to work closely with government agencies and elected officials to promote more responsive governance and policymaking that impact the community. KAC also developed broad coalitions with other ethnic communities around shared concerns. In 2017, KAC was recognized as a Non-Profit of the Year honoree, becoming the first Korean American organization to receive this honor in California.
LUMINARY AWARD
2023 marks the third year of the KAC Luminary Awards, which celebrates one Individual and one Corporate recipient for their overall betterment of our Korean American community. Award recipients will be announced in our 40th KAC National Convention to be held on November 11, 2023.
The KAC Luminaries recognize and highlight the Leadership, Impact, Generosity, Hope, and Tenacity of recipients as they LIGHT the way forward for our community. The 2018 KAC Luminary Award recipients were Min Kim, CEO of Open Bank for the Individual award, and Akin Gump Strauss and Hauer & Feld LLP for the Corporate award.
LUMINARY AWARD
2023 marks the third year of the KAC Luminary Awards, which celebrates one Individual and one Corporate recipient for their overall betterment of our Korean American community. Award recipients will be announced in our 40th KAC National Convention to be held on November 11, 2023.
The KAC Luminaries recognize and highlight the Leadership, Impact, Generosity, Hope, and Tenacity of recipients as they LIGHT the way forward for our community. The 2018 KAC Luminary Award recipients were Min Kim, CEO of Open Bank for the Individual award, and Akin Gump Strauss and Hauer & Feld LLP for the Corporate award.