About KAFGW

Establishment

The Korean American Foundation‒Greater Washington was formed on October 30, 2001 as a Virginia non-profit organization to provide programs relating to the history and future of Korean immigration to the United States, and to engage in other educational and cultural activities. The foundation is actively supporting and organizing special events on January 13, designated by Congress as Korean American Day.

On October 20, 2005, the Senate of the United States passed Senate Resolution 283 of the 109th Congress. It states that the Senate –

(1) supports the goals and ideals of a ‘Korean American Day’;

(2) commemorates the 103rd anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States; and

(3) encourages the people of the United States to –

(A) share in such commemoration in order to greater appreciate the valuable contributions Korean Americans have made to the United States; and

(B) to observe ‘Korean American Day’ with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

On December 13, 2005, the House of Representatives of the United States passed House Resolution 487 of the 109th Congress. It states that the House of Representatives –

(1) supports the goals and ideals of a Korean American Day;

(2) urges all Americans to observe Korean American Day so as to have a greater appreciation of the invaluable contributions Korean Americans have made to the United States; and

(3) honors and recognizes the 103rd anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States.

Our Mission

• We strive to honor and increase awareness of the accomplishments and contributions of the Korean American community since January 13, 1903, when Korean immigrants first arrived in the United States.

• We aspire to cultivate an appreciation among present and future generations of Korean Americans for the efforts of our pioneering predecessors in establishing our roots within the American homeland and its culture.

• We endeavor to build and strengthen relationships between the Korean American community and the diverse communities of the United States while maintaining strong bonds with the people and the rich and ancient traditions of Korea.

• A major part of our effort to realize these goals shall include organizing a public event on Korean American Day, January 13, in Washington, D.C., that invites distinguished Korean Americans and friends of the community to gather together in celebration of this day.

As a first generation Korean immigrant arriving in the U.S. in 1988, I had to restart my career by enrolling in various training programs. I eventually enrolled in an accounting program for college graduates of other majors (Art at Duksung Women’s University in Korea in my case). This led me to eventually obtain a position at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) as a senior accountant before recently retiring. During my tenure at MICA, I was able to organize many community engagement and artistic performance events held in the community and at MICA. I was the first recipient of MICA’s Riley Hawkins Award for community service to Baltimore.

I was also able to co- establish the Baltimore Changwon Sister City Committee (BCSCC) in 2017 under Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc. I currently continue as co-Chair of BCSCC. Mayor Huh of Changwon City and his delegation were invited by BCSCC to visit Baltimore in 2019, during which he signed an agreement with Baltimore Mayor Jack Young. Last year, I joined the Korean American Foundation-Greater Washington (KAF-GW) as co-Chair of the steering committee.

I see my role as President of KAF-GW as transitional, during which I and colleagues will prepare the organization for a next generation President. We will do our best to preserve the legacy of our past organizational leaders, to continue to build awareness and respect for the accomplishments of our predecessor Korean immigrants, and to increase and strengthen relationships between the Korean-American community and American society.

We welcome all to join us for the hybrid (in person and live streamed) celebration of Korean American Day on or about January 13, 2021 (exact date to be determined) at the U.S. House of Representatives Rayburn Office building. More details and updates will be available on this website as our preparations progress.

Please be safe as we fight our way through this Pandemic.

Best Wishes,

Myung Hee Lee

October, 2020

Community Activity Highlights

While at MICA, I have been able to work with graduate and undergraduate students in a variety of ways. I organized 3 Korean Film Festivals (2016-2018) at the MICA Brown Center, with support from Hoi grants each year awarded to a MICA student I mentored. I worked with KISA (Korean International Student Association) undergraduate and graduate students, as well as MICA alumni and faculty, and Peabody Institute musicians. I have reached out to Maryland Film Festival and the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. for a Korean movie series at Parkway Theater in Baltimore. I have worked for the annual Korean Society of Maryland outdoor Festival, and organized an artistic event at R-House in Baltimore which included Clayworks (Ceramics) and MICA graduate artists and filmmakers.