Dear CKA Supporters and Friends,
With April in full swing, we look forward to CKA’s biggest event this spring. Today, April 29th, 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the SAIGU (4-29) or the LA Riots/Uprising, an important turning point for the Korean American community. To commemorate this event, CKA will co-host the SAIGU@30 Leadership Conference with Korean American Coalition – Los Angeles (KAC) in Koreatown (Los Angeles). Along with our National Membership Breakfast, this significant event will be our first major national event post-COVID. We hope to see you there!
We also invite you to join us on May 5th at 5 PM PT | 8 PM ET for an exclusive fireside chat with Eun Sun Kim, the first woman to hold the music director post at an American opera company of major size and stature.
Please register for the online webinar here.
And, we are delighted to extend a warm welcome to Linda Butcher, who joins our team as the Senior Director of Programming and Initiatives this month. We can’t wait to introduce her at our upcoming CKA programs and events.
As always, we are proud to share the work of our CKA Members. Please read about our members’ accomplishments in advocacy, policy, science, technology, healthcare, and business.
Thank you all, and take care.
Warm Regards,
Abraham Kim, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Council of Korean Americans
Kang, a veteran Korean American diplomat, was one of President Biden’s 11 nominees for national security and law enforcement jobs.
Welcome to the CKA Team, Linda!
Linda Butcher is the Senior Director of Programming and Initiatives at the Council of Korean Americans (CKA). She has spent the majority of her career in the nonprofit and public affairs industries, gaining experience in areas that include: external relations, strategic planning, program & project management, operations, and communications. A proactive and vision-driven team player who loves to collaborate, Linda thrives on developing engaging and creative solutions to further the mission of establishments.
Edward was referenced in the KCRW Features podcast on Korean American identity and community. He was also quoted in the Los Angeles Times on Black-Korean relations.
Jeanie’s work in Cultural Confidence and intersectionality was featured in EIN Presswire. Her advice is also featured in Asian Women Trailblazers Who Boss Up, and she is currently on its book tour.
Eugene shares his concerns about an impending global food crisis that will result from Russia’s violence against Ukraine.
Equilar launched its CHRO Navigator program, a strategic toolkit for C-suite leaders which provides governance data and insights for the modern CHRO and will be accessible from the Equilar Insight platform.
Congratulations to Anne and Krishna for the healthy birth of their daughter Ava Kim Kant! We welcome Ava to the CKA family!
Congratulations to David for his appointment as Senior Vice President and Principal of National Transportation Policy and Multimodal Strategy for WSP USA!
Dow’s inspiring journey in banking and philanthropic work was featured in Best of Korea.
Congratulations Dr. Kim for his recognition in this year’s Celebration of Heroes event! Thank you for all the work you’ve done in developing COVID-19 treatments. Cosmos Health Solutions was the COVID consultant and test provider for the 94th Oscars.
Congratulations to Jennifer for winning the Grammy for Classical Instrumental Solo for her recording Alone Together! In addition, she received wide acclaim for her debut performances of Everything Rises with opera giant, Davone Tines, in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. As Forbes describes the performances, Everything Rises is “a musical declaration of self, an acknowledgement of past and present racism, and hope for a better future.” Finally, click here to listen to a recent CKA podcast interview with Jennifer Koh, titled “Everything that Rises Must Converge”.
Congratulations to Jean’s BBC podcast Lazarus Heist on its nomination for a Peabody Award!
Council member Linda has been officially inaugurated as the District 23 representative. She was sworn in by Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and Congresswoman Grace Meng.
Congratulations to Dr. Lee for his inauguration into Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences as the Bae Family Professor of Government!
Youngwon was recently interviewed by KBS regarding Dokkabier’s work in breaking into the U.S. craft beer market with a brand concept promoting Korean-inspired flavors.
Congratulations to Andreas for his appointment as Partner of I Squared Capital!
Dr. Park was consulted for his opinion regarding North Korea’s strategy to vaccinate their population against COVID-19 in The Washington Post.
Margaret was a speaker for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice – Why it Matters, a training event for the US Consulate in Busan. She also facilitated EARCOS’s Implicit Bias Training for Education Leaders and Educators in the East Asia Region and Creating Space for Women in International School Leadership events.
VGXI has been selected as The Institute for Molecular Medicine’s manufacturing partner in supporting the clinical supply for IMM’s vaccine for the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Dr. Shin co-wrote an article for The Diplomat calling on K-Pop stars to speak out on human rights issues. In May, the Korea Program of Stanford’s Asia-Pacific Research Center will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a conference focusing on North Korea’s geopolitics and the Hallyu wave.
William was a featured panelist at the Pensions & Investment Conference in New York City. The discussion focused on “Measuring Investment Performance in ESG Investing,” addressing questions on using frameworks, measuring success, use of standard benchmarks/analytics, and “greenwashing.” He has also recently joined Ceres in Boston as a Director of Shareholder Engagement in its Investor Network.