Summer of Strength. This July, CKA continued to build strength across our community. We welcomed our new team member Alpin Hong as Community Engagement Manager, expanded our reach, and created more opportunities for connection and leadership.
We wrapped our first-ever Emerging Leaders Mentorship Series with a powerful in-person event focused on nonprofit resilience. We also hosted a Health & Life Sciences Affinity Group webinar exploring innovation in elder care, partnered with AAPI Lead for media trainings at their national summit in Atlanta, and co-hosted the 18th Annual 727 Armistice Day Commemoration on Capitol Hill to honor Korean War veterans and stand together in support of peace on the Korean Peninsula.
We celebrate the accomplishments of our members, including Jihee and Peter Huh, recognized for their civic leadership by the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles. Their story, along with other highlights from our network, reminds us of the strength that comes when we empower not only ourselves, but the community around us.
Read on to see how CKA and our members are leading with purpose and power this summer.
Join Us for TEDxLogan Circle: Rethink Courage
The Council of Korean Americans is proud to sponsor TEDxLogan Circle again this year, supporting a powerful platform that brings together visionary speakers and bold ideas that inspire change. Join us on August 14 at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C., for a day of connection, insight, and meaningful dialogue.
This year’s theme, “Rethink Courage,” explores bravery and resilience through thought-provoking talks from nine carefully selected speakers. After reviewing over 570 applicants from 44 U.S. states and 20 countries, TEDxLogan Circle has curated a lineup that challenges traditional views on courage and invites us to consider it in new and unexpected ways.
“Courage comes in many shapes and sizes. We’re excited for these stories to not only redefine what courage means to you, but also to ignite the bravery within many of you,” said CKA Member Monica H. Kang, Executive Director of TEDxLogan Circle.
We hope to see you there!
Jihee and Peter Huh Honored with KAFLA’s
2025 Civic Empowerment Award
CKA Members Jihee Huh and Peter Huh were honored with the 2025 Civic Empowerment Award by the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA) at its 63rd Anniversary Heritage Night Gala. The award recognizes their longtime commitment to civic leadership and community empowerment in Los Angeles and beyond.
As founders of the Los Angeles Coalition foundation Embrace Unity, the Huhs have carried forward a legacy of activism and service rooted in their family’s immigrant journey.
“Our parents’ activism was embedded in our DNA,” Jihee shared on social media. “Our biggest hope for the future is to retain our heritage and our Korean culture, so that our grandchildren will have the best of both worlds.”
Peter Huh, a former Board Chair of CKA, and CKA Member Jihee Huh continue to be powerful advocates for cultural preservation, political participation, and intergenerational empowerment in the Korean American community.
Chang Lim Elected as President of OCKABA Foundation
Chang Lim was recently elected as President of the OCKABA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves the Orange County community through pro bono legal clinics and law student scholarships. To learn more about the organization and its upcoming annual fundraiser on August 27, please visit https://www.ockabaf.org
Star Kimm joins Field AI, a Robotics AI Company
Star Kimm has recently joined a Robotics AI company in Mission Viejo, CA to head up the recruitment for Field AI which was funded $100 Million dollars by Bill Gates, NVIDIA, Samsung and Intel.
James Pak Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in U.S. Army
Major James Pak was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the Korean War Memorial on July 12, 2025. He was joined by his close family and friends at the Korean War Memorial for the ceremony. The location represented the lineage of leaders before him and the deep roots that binds the US-Korean relationship.
CKA Wraps Inaugural Emerging Leaders Mentorship Series with Powerful In-Person Finale
This month, CKA concluded its first-ever Emerging Leaders Mentorship Series. This newly expanded program was designed to equip the next generation of changemakers with the tools, insights, and networks they need to thrive. Unlike previous years, the 2025 program was open to all participants and welcomed students, early career professionals, and lifelong learners alike in both virtual and in-person settings. By broadening access, we were able to grow our community of purpose-driven leaders like never before.
The series concluded on July 21 with Building Resilience Among Nonprofit Leaders Today in Washington, D.C., featuring a conversation with CKA Member Eugene Cho, President & CEO of Bread for the World, and CKA Member Peter Hyun, Founder of Rainfall Strategies and former DOJ and FCC official. Attendees left inspired to lead with courage and compassion, particularly during times of burnout and uncertainty.
Throughout the summer, participants also heard from a remarkable group of speakers including Sam Cho (Commissioner, Port of Seattle), Jerry Won (Founder & CEO, Just Like Media & World Class Speakers), Johanna Yi (Founder & CEO, For People), Esther Kim (Head of Strategy & Operations for Trust & Safety, Pinterest), Erica Lee (Chief of Staff, Nitra), Asher Keam (Legal Counsel, Office of Naval Research), Jessica Lee (Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP), Margaret Shin (Associate, Covington & Burling LLP), Joshua Yang (Enforcement Attorney, Western Electricity Coordinating Council), and Peter Lee Hamilton (Associate, The Torridon Group).
Thank you to our partner organizations who joined us throughout the series: Korea Economic Institute of America and KABA-DC.
CKA leadership was busy across the country this July, from hosting mentorship events, to expanding our team, to building partnerships that uplift Korean American leaders across industries.
We began the month welcoming new Community Engagement Manager Alpin Hong, strengthening our national engagement and membership efforts. After years of successful collaboration, we’re thrilled to officially welcome our longtime partner to the team as a full-time employee.
In Washington, D.C., CKA hosted two in-person Emerging Leaders Mentorship Series events focused on legal leadership and nonprofit resilience. The programs were coordinated in partnership with the Korea Economic Institute of America and the Korean-American Bar Association of Washington, D.C., along with CKA staff: Membership & Program Manager Angela Cho and Managing Director Linda Butcher. We were honored to host the 18th Annual 727 Armistice Day Commemoration on July 23 in the historic Cannon Caucus Room on Capitol Hill. The event included remarks from CKA Member Hannah Y. Kim members of Congress, and veterans, traditional performances, and a moving candle-lighting ceremony.
In Atlanta, Angela attended the 2nd Annual AAPI Lead National Summit, where CKA partnered with AAPI Lead to host three media trainings supported through a grant provided by Heinz und Liselotte Nehring Foundation. With CKA Members in town for the Summit, CKA Member Sunny Park graciously hosted a lunch gathering for fellow Members and friends to connect and discuss the November 2025 Envision Gala & Summit.
Virtually, Linda, Angela, and Alpin joined our Health & Life Sciences Affinity Group (HLAG)’s webinar—Elderly Care Series: Part II—featuring a conversation on innovation in senior care.
Linda and Alpin are closing out the month in Seattle at the AAJA25 Annual Convention. Stay tuned for highlights on the gathering in next month’s newsletter!