8th Lighting the Community Summit Participants
Rev. Won Jik Cho was born and raised in Seoul, Korea, until he and his wife moved to Boston in 2008. He has been invited to perform in various venues including the Blue House of South Korea, Ministry of culture-world cultural exchange performer. He has also performed and conducted concerts in 20 countries performance competitions. He has also been featured in various TV shows. He received his Th.M degree at Gordon-Conwell Theology Seminary in Boston. He currently also serve as Senior Pastor at Ramnent Methodist Church in Fullerton, California.
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Dr. Russell Jeung is Professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University. Author of Sustaining Faith Traditions (2012) and Faithful Generations (2005), he has written extensively on the Asian American religious experience. His latest work-in-progress is a spiritual memoir based on his twenty years of urban ministry in East Oakland, CA.
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I am a PhD student in the Ethnic Studies department at UC Berkeley. After receiving a BA from the University of Virginia, I spent two years living in South Korea as a Fulbright grantee. My research considers the formation of pan-ethnic Asian American Christian identities and the transnational dimensions of Asian American Christianity.
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Pastor at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Northern California and the President of National Association of Korean American United Methodist Clergywomen.
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Rev. Dr. David Lin, the president of WENSIU Foundation, has been a full time serving coworker more than 20 years, who served 1/3 in the local churches, 1/3 in some international Christian organizations, and the rest 1/3 to serve several Chinese theological seminaries in many countries to edify the theological students. Dr. Lin led a group of students from Paris visiting Jerusalem at the end of 2013, the Lord renewed his vision and mission to devote his rest life and services to pursue the Oneness of the Kingdom of God, and the Oneness of the churches of God, and propagate such a vision and mission to the world. He followed the calling from God since the beginning of 2014 and operated the 5 E strategic works for the Kingdom of God: focusing on the E-Generation, forming the E-Groups, providing the E-Services, conveying the E-Value and builing up the E-Kingdom.
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I am a mother who lost a son tragically in 2014 February.Fighting for justice for him now as a family.Trying to make our voice heard and bring some attention to the injustice in the legal system and to create awareness about this growing problem.We feel like God has given as a mission to carry on and use our experience to shed light into the problems we are facing.
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Dr. Young Chung serves as the Senior Pastor of the Wilshire United Methodist Church in Los Angeles. Since 1994, when he was ordained in the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist , he has served three different churches which have all had multi-ethnic and multi-racial congregations for the last 21 years. As a Korean-American first generation pastor, he has been very actively involved in various community service activities in Los Angeles and Hawaii including serving on several committees of his annual conference. He has received degrees from both Seoul Methodist Graduate Theological School and the Claremont School of Theology.
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Dr. David Sohn is the founder, president and CEO of IGlobal University, that is accredited by ACICS, recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education and certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. IGlobal University, located near Washington is certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to issue Form I-20 to admit international students. IGlobal University offers MBA, Bachelor’s degrees, and English as a Second Language Programs through residential and distance education. Dr. Sohn was the founder and CEO of International Computers and Telecom, Inc. (ICT) that was a prime contractor to develop and construct Korea Incheon International Airport from inception to delivery. ICT was the prime contractor to develop and install the U.S. Theater Army Command, Control, Intelligence Systems. Dr. Sohn is a deacon at Global Mission Church in Silver Spring, MD.
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The Reverend. Dr. Chakravarthy Zadda is a Baptist pastor from India. As Danker Foundation Scholar and The Grover Wright Scholar at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, he got a PhD degree in World Christianity and Mission, researching on Dalit Christian rights of India. As an ordained minister from ABC Metro Chicago, Rev. Dr. Zadda is involved in empowering the ethnic Churches for the issues of Peace and justice in the Chicago land area. He has lectured and taught courses in the area of missiology at several Baptist and Lutheran regional and national conferences organized by American Baptist Churches (ABC) and Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America (ELCA). Rev. Dr. Zadda brings a lot of enthusiasm and personal experience to his workshops because of his active involvement with the National Council of Churches of India (NCCI) for the advocacy of Indian Christian rights. He also served on the Board of Directors as the Chair for World Peace Networks of Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America. Rev. Dr. Zadda is married to Chosen Glory and blessed with Richie (17yr) and Reshma (15yr). He is presently serving as the Associate Regional Minister for Asian Churches at American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago.
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Steve Cho and his wife Joy are 2nd Generation Korean Americans from Miami, FL. They are proud parents of two boys, Isaiah (6) and Isaac (5). Before being Lead Pastor at Ocean City Church in Seoul, South Korea, he was ordained as a Reverend at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, TN. He was the Student Pastor at the Korean Presbyterian Church of Miami for 6 years. He studied Christian Ministry at Trinity International University. Steve is an Iraq war veteran and served 6 years as an US Army Interrogator which he finds very useful as a Pastor. He has a burning passion to connect and unite the international church community to one sole purpose of expanding God’s Kingdom into the most unreached and unengaged parts of the world.
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Sekwon Kenneth Chong was born in Seoul, Korea, has received his B.A. in the law from the College of Law and Economics, Konkuk University in Seoul and studied Educational Administration, Graduate School of Education, at the Korea University in Seoul, Korea. He came to the United States in 1978. He worked for the Coca-Cola Company as the Marketing Manager for the Asian Markets in the Mid-Atlantic region (1883-2006). President of Korean American Foundation (KAF)-Greater Washington (2004-2009), President of the U.S.-Korea National Prayer Breakfast-Washington, DC (2009-2010), National President of Korean American Foundation of U.S.A. (2009-2010), Honorary National President of Korean American National Foundation of U.S.A. (2013-present) and serving as Senior Advisor of Korean American Association of Washington Metropolitan Area (2011-present), Vice President of the Council of Korean Churches of Greater Washington (CKCGW) (2012-2013) and Chairman of the Board of Finance Directors of CKCGW (2013-2014).
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Ken Kong serves the Southeast Asian and Asian American community as Director of The Southeast Asian-Catalyst and Southeast Asian Ministries of The Navigators. As director, he teaches and speaks at conferences through the United States and Southeast Asia. Not only does he teach and speak, he also consults, trains, mentors and disciples the future leaders of the world. Once a year, he takes Asian Americans into Southeast Asia, so that they can share the love of Jesus with the people there. When he is in the mood, he loves to write poetry and share it with a selected audience of listeners. He is also on FB (Ken Kong) and Twitter (@seacken). So follow him; as you follow him, you will see that he travels a lot and he loves to eat good food.
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Jinha Park is Director of MRI and Radiology Research at the City of Hope Medical Center. He is active in the American College of Radiology working to improve access to imaging screening tests and increase the role of diagnostic and interventional radiology in improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. He is also a Board Member of the Korean American Coalition and the Korean American Medical Association. Dr. Park obtained his B.A. degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. He then completed both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Southern California studying a specific tumor associated protein called HER-2 in breast cancer and developing an antibody against this cancer protein for future diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. He then completed a Residency in Diagnostic Radiology at UCLA Medical Center and a Fellowship in Abdominal Cancer Imaging at Stanford University Medical Center.
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Leanne Nakanishi is a Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. She also has a part-time job as an Office Administration and Bookkeeper. Leanne Nakanishi is a member of Westwood UMC since 1994. She was elected as Conference Secretary of the California-Pacific Annual Conference, the first Asian-American woman and the first Lay Person to hold this position. She also serves as the Western Jurisdiction Conference Secretary for the United Methodist Church, and is the first Asian American Lay Person to be elected to this position. She served 4 years as the California-Pacific Conference United Methodist Women’s President and 4 years as the Cal-Pac UMW Secretary, this first Japanese-American and youngest to be elected to this position. She is currently engaged to Gary, a Deputy State Attorney General and has two rescue dogs, a 6-year old Golden Retriever named Simba and a 5-year old Maltese-Poodle mix named Princess. As a proud young women’s breast cancer survivor, she also donates time for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and was the 2012 volunteer of the year for the Los Angeles Affiliate Office of Susan G. Komen.
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My name is Richard Kim (김 진 동 권 사) National President of Korean American UMM, and am a Member of the DREAM CHURCH of the HOLLISTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH I (담 임 이 성 현. 목 사 님) ever since time of 1989 to currently serving as; UMM Conference President ( Year 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and part of 2013) of the California Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
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Rev. Jong Jin Pee was a former senior pastor of Nam Seoul Chungang Presbyterian Church in South Korea and still actively involved with the church as Chairman of General Association. He is also General Chairman of World Missionary Association and Vice President of Henderson Christian University. He had a remarkable impact on the evangelization movement in South Korea and travel around the world to lead revival meetings and seminars. Received awards include the World Peace Award and The Holy Spirit Man Medallion.
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Danielle Johnson-Kutch is the Director of Policy for the Making Home Affordable (MHA) program at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. At Treasury, she has identified policies, housing related processes, and other strategies for programs within the federal government’s MHA Program. Before working at Treasury, Danielle served as the Director of Community and Economic Development for the National Association for County Community and Economic Development, where she dealt with affordable housing and HUD grant programs for large urban counties. Danielle previously worked for Bank of America as Vice President of Mortgage Policy where she worked on issues related to housing finance reform and mortgage servicing. She began her career working on housing and financial services issues for the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. She has an M.A. in political science from American University.
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I have been working with CKA for almost three years, enjoying the opportunity to work with interesting and accomplished Korean Americans (like Hyepin Im) from around the country. I served in the Obama administration for almost a year at the Labor Department. I live in the DC area now but spent most of my adult life in Boston. I was a Boston city councilor for four years, was the first Asian American to run for office there, then ran for mayor in 2009. I belong to a 2nd-generation Korean United Methodist church in Northern Virginia.
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Jimmy Chae is a pastor, teacher, itinerary speaker with a passion for Jesus Christ. Ordained as a minister in 2007, he has been planting churches and doing missions for over 20 years. Educated in the worst part of Corona and Flushing, New York, Jimmy Chase has managed to graduate college and start a women’s garment factory for over twenty years. Chae’s father served in the City of New York as the President of the Korean Garment Association and also the President and Vice-President of the Korean Association of Greater NY. Jimmy Chase attended Bible school in Florida, trained in YWAM, finished his education in New Zealand, and married in 1999. He has 3 beautiful kids, live and work in Kona at the University of the Nations as a school leader and a co-founder of ‘Tribe’. He watches late sunsets and drink cool lemonade by the pool as the Lord excites him for the future of America and the Nations.
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Alan J. Inman serves as President of the Global Peace Foundation USA headquartered in Washington, D.C. Mr. Inman previously served as National Director for the Institute for Responsible Fatherhood, where he led the development of programs in eight U.S cities. He also served as Chairman of a New York City Community Planning Board and as a consultant for the city. In response to the infamous Los Angeles Rodney King incident in 1991, he was appointed to a White House Domestic Advisory Council to consider how the country could address this level of police/community challenge. He is widely storied for his leadership in bringing about successful outcomes with numerous federal, state & local grants. Inman is the author of the popular book – “The Colors of Love.”
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Sam is of Asian Indian descent and have lived in Singapore, Hong Kong and Liverpool (UK). He has lived in the US for nearly twenty-five years and have served as youth pastor, community leader and scholar. Sam holds degrees in engineering and business, and worked in the corporate world for nearly ten years before going to Fuller and Princeton seminaries. Over the last fifteen years, he has served South Asian American churches and communities in different capacities. In 2014, he completed a PhD on diaspora missiology from the UK and is an expert on family, migration and South Asian issues. Sam is a frequent speaker in Asian American churches and conferences, and is the author of several books, including Understanding the Coconut Generation and Malayali Diaspora. He lives in the northern suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two boys.
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Priscilla Baek is an international government affairs specialist with experience crafting, managing, and implementing multi-faceted policy initiatives in partnership with U.S. and foreign governments, corporations, industry associations, and non-profit organizations. She is currently senior manager of public affairs at Mitsui & Co., where she specializes in political risk mitigation, policy analysis, and relationship management. Prior to Mitsui, she was a policy manager at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and anadviser at the US Department of Treasury's Office of Financial Research. As a fellow in the Network of Korean American Leaders, she is also passionate about capacity building and leadership development in the Asian Pacific American community. Priscilla has served on the board of directors of the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership, and was elected Chair in 2012. She has a BA from Duke University and an MA from the University of Hawaii-Manoa.
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Jay currently serves as a Board Member to Ocean City Church, based in Seoul, South Korea. The aim of the Church is to bring message of hope and function as a catalyst to introduce and facilitate international ventures into the Far East region. Jay also is the VP/CFO of Mana Wynwood, a part of muti-billion dollar international business consortium. Jay has over 20-years in business leadership, including: corporate consulting, investment banking, compliance and finance. Jay received a Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from UCLA, and he obtained a law degree (J.D.) and Masters in International Law (LL.M.) with Honors. He was a former Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission in Austin, Texas and taught Social Science and Business courses as an Adjunct Professor at Trinity International University-Florida.
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Deborah Kwak is the President and CEO of Good-Sam Corp. Deborah has a diversified experience within the bank and financing industry, previously working as the Chairperson of Finance Department at Bell Memorial UMC, Executive VP at Hana Small Business Lending, Inc., Senior VP at Small Business Loan Source, Inc., and Chase Manhattan Bank. Deborah holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance and Accounting.
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Kara Carlisle is director of New Mexico programs at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. Prior to joining the foundation, Carlisle was associate director at Zócalo Public Square Lecture Series and a development consultant. Earlier, while at Korean American Coalition-Los Angeles, she was director of public relations and director of the 4.29 dispute resolution center. She also held the positions of personnel officer and development officer at Koreatown Youth and Community Center, Inc., Los Angeles.
An active participant in civic engagement, Carlisle served as president of the City of Los Angeles’ Human Relations Commission in 2007 and 2008, and recent past chair of the 26th Senate District Empowerment Congress which largely serves the city of Los Angeles. She has also served as a board member for the National Association for Community Mediation, Washington, D.C. Carlisle has received numerous honors, including the Millennium Momentum Foundation’s 2007 President’s Award and was the subject of a documentary film about her emergence as a community leader. Carlisle holds her bachelor’s degree in religious studies, political science and philosophy from Anderson University, Anderson, Ind. She earned her Master of Divinity in urban studies and education from Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, California and her Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. |
Ms. Hyepin Im is a U.S. Presidential Appointee on the Board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. She is the President and Founder of Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD), a national nonprofit empowering churches and nonprofits to leverage their resources by building capacity, leadership, and partnerships in economic development and serving as a bridge between the Asian American community and the greater community. Since 2001, KCCD has had over 300 partners, ranging from the White House to Fortune 500 companies. She has been featured on CNN, NPR, LATimes and the Washington Post and presented at numerous conferences including the White House, U.S. Department of Labor, and Christian Community Development Association. She serves on the U.S. Army Advisory Board, the Pacific Council on International Policy, the Western Partner for the Council on Foreign Relations. In 2013, she was recently honored by Los Angeles Magazine as “Ten Inspirational Women of Los Angeles .She was honored as 2012 Woman of Action by California Speaker of the Assembly John Perez and also as Pioneer Woman of the Year by Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Tom Labonge. She was also recognized by LAUSD School Boardmember as a Trailblazer for her work and advocacy for students. She has a B.S. from U.C. Berkeley, M.B.A. from University of Southern California, and M.Div., summa cum laude, from Wesley Theological Seminary.
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Ministering to a multi-ethnic community as the lead pastor of Hillside church in East Los Angeles, Sam Koh is a graduate of BIOLA University. He went on to receive his M.Div. at Talbot Seminary and his Th.M at Fuller Theological Seminary where he studied under Ralph Martin. He now currently resides in Orange, California, with his wife Shanie and their adorable son Benji! In addition to pastoring, he is also the founder of NexGen Pastor’s Fellowship, a network and organization of Asian American pastors in Southern California. He is also a board member of ISAAC, The Institute for the study of Asian American Christianity and is a speaker for Living Life, a daily television devotional program that airs on CGNTV. Last but not least, in his free time you can find him somewhere in the Pacific Ocean fishing or surfing some waves.
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Kathleen Davis-Siudut is a Strategic Initiative Director at Polaris, an organization dedicated to eradicating human trafficking. She has over 12 years working on this human rights issue, ranging from training and technical assistance, coalition and taskforce building, policy advocacy, and direct victim assistance. Through her work, she has liaised with and advised diverse stakeholders such as federal and state government, law enforcement and prosecutors, military, private industry, faith-based and nongovernmental organizations, and social service providers. Kathleen earned a Master of Arts in International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Wright State University.
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Steven Park immigrated from South Korean with his two sisters and parents to Houston, Texas in 1978 at the age of 7. After a life-changing spiritual conversion to Christianity after college, Steven founded Little Lights Urban Ministries in 1995 after meeting underserved children and youth near his parents’ business in NW, DC. Starting with no funds or experience in the non-profit sector, he has grown the organization to 10 full-time, 40 part-time staff, and over 700 volunteers per year giving more than 10,000 volunteer hours annually. Little Lights currently serves families at two public housing complexes where the annual family income is approximately $9,000 per year. He has made a life-long commitment to underserved DC residents and in 2002 moved into the historic African-American neighborhood in DC called Anacostia. He has two children, Dylan and Kayla, ages 9 and 11. He has been married for 13 years to Mary Park who also works full-time at the organization.
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Young is originally from Dallas, Texas, and he graduated with a BBA from Southern Methodist University. He began working for the US DOL/OSHA in 2003. He has worked on projects including managing employee and labor relations, OSHA’s Susan Harwood Training Grants program, and consultation and state program work. Most of his work has been in emergency management during Hurricane’s Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Isaac, various wildfires, and Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. In 2013, Young and his family moved to the DC area. He was a Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. He continues his work on emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities. He is the agency representative on Asian American and Pacific Islander issues. Young is a Christian, has served as board member for the Korean Central United Methodist Church, and has owned a restaurant. Young and his wife, Goun, are joyfully expecting another baby in December.
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Sandra grew up in Korea and Paraguay amid poverty, inequality, dictatorship, coup d’état and financial crisis. She is fully aware that she is standing here solely due to God’s grace and her parents’ sacrificial hard work leading an immigrant family in unknown territories. She got a scholarship to attend University of Southern California and came to the United States. She has a BA in Political Science/International Relations and an MBA from USC. She had 10-year-long career at Enterprise Rent-A-Car (a place she still calls her home) where she learned to how to build a successful business by truly taking the customers and employees. She is currently the Director of Workplace Operations (Development) at United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Her job is to raise resources and advocates to “End Homelessness in Los Angeles, ensure all our kids graduate high school and make sure all our veterans have a job.” She is also the Co-Chair of the Board of KCCD. In both places, she loves seeing the impact that is possible when people come together. Her life goal is to serve God and to never lose the joy He has granted in our lives. She is passionate about her family, being grateful every moment and serving those around her.
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Daniel Lee’s passion for justice and community activism led him to steer and manage various community and grassroots projects including the affordable housing campaign, equitable community development and civil rights. In 2007, Mr. Lee served as one of the national coordinators who spearheaded the passage of H.Res. 121, the United States House of Representatives Resolution that demanded the Japanese government to acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility for forcing “comfort women,” young Korean women into sexual slavery during World War II. He is currently serving as a board member to several non-profit community organizations including Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD), My One Vote, Love In Music, and Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles. In addition, Mr. Lee is a member of the Host Committee of Fundraising of Koreatown Immigrant Workers Advocates (KIWA). He also served as commissioner of the Centennial Commission of the City of Torrance, CA. Daniel S. H. Lee is a partner of Lee & Oh, APLC, a law firm based in Los Angeles, California which specializes in litigation and real estate transaction.
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Born chunan; south Korea 1952. Kookmin univ. Bs in political science and international relations 1980.came to America for study life-long education. Ma candidate at coppin state university graduate school Baltimore. Dr.Of hunane letters from Eastern Theological Seminary ; Lynchburg. VA 2015. Baltimore bureau chief of koreatimes. President of Maryland korean broadcastlng co. Commissioner of Baltimore community relations commission which discrimination prevention agency. Deputy clerk of Baltimore city circuit court.30th President of korean society of Maryland.
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I came to the U.S in 1980 to study fashion design at FIDM and Oits Parson. Currently i am V.P of a import export company that specializes in home appliances kitchen appliances and specialty gifts. i also publish a christian magazine called lifebasics. magazine that is feared towards food, message, travel, economy,health, relationship,life& faith,culture.
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GAIL HAMBLETON is the Vice President of the Global Peace Foundation-USA. She works specifically as the Director of Interfaith Partnerships, and the National Director of the Safe Haven Campaign, Interfaith Alliance to Abolish Human Trafficking. Ms. Hambleton has worked for decades in various International NGOs, many of which were involved in interfaith peace efforts. She lived and worked in Africa for eight years serving in the mission and humanitarian aid fields. Her passion for peace is rooted in her difficult experiences during the war in Zimbabwe, the military coup in Kenya, and the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda. Ms. Hambleton was instrumental in establishing the humanitarian aid organization “Women for Women” in Rwanda, in 1997. In 2010, she assisted in establishing content and programming for the International GPF Interfaith Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. Ms. Hambleton has subsequently coordinated interfaith sessions at the annual Global Peace Conventions in Philippines, Kenya, Atlanta, Malaysia, and Paraguay. Gail is the mother of three beautiful children, and lives with her husband in Virginia.
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Vera Kong has appeared in chamber and solo recitals throughout the United States, Russia, China, and South Korea. She has served as a staff pianist at the Manhattan School of Music in New York and various international music festivals. Vera has received countless awards, including the first prize for the John E. Profant Foundation and a Stern fellowship to study with eminent pianist Martin Kat. Vera's education includes a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music, as a merit scholarship recipient under the tutelage of distinguished pianist Kenneth Merrill and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she was recruited with an Excellent Audition Scholarship as the first undergraduate student accepted to study both in collaborative piano and solo piano. In great demand as a pedagogue, Vera is an active piano faculty member at Westmont College in Santa Barbara and she maintains a full schedule at her studio at the Music Academy of the West, and her students consistently receive top honors in
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Dr. Tanmay Pramanik currently serves as the Vice-President of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) a National accrediting agency which accredits Christian Colleges and Universities in the United States and across the globe. TRACS is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and The Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). He has been involved in Christian higher education for over 14 years. Dr. Pramanik also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Hope India Foundation. Dr. Pramanik is widely traveled and has spoken at several national and international academic and religious conferences, most notably the National Conference of The Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Dr. Pramanik and his wife Mrs. Dina Pramanik make their home in Lynchburg, Virginia.
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Born and raised in Taiwan, Rev. Ingrid Wang brings a blend of Eastern and Western culture to her ministry. She has a Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC and is one of the co-authors of “Reclaiming the Wesleyan Tradition-John Wesley’s Sermons for Today” and a contributor to “Breaking Through the Stained Glass Ceiling.” Rev. Wang currently serves as the Senior Pastor of the Wesley Grove United Methodist Church in Hanover, MD and on the advisory board of the Asian American and Pacific Islander United Methodist Clergywomen Association (AAPIC), which represents seven Asian countries and the various Pacific Islands. Rev. Wang is also a Life Coach and a Chinese/English translator/interpreter. She coaches people of all ages for leadership, achieving goals for life, and relationship building. She has done academic translation work for the Chinese Pastors who study at the Wesley Theological Seminary and interpreting work for the US immigration purpose. She enjoys traveling, skiing, reading, theater, singing, dancing, and cooking.
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Rev. John Jongdai Park is an ordained pastor and advocate for Korean immigrants. He is originally from South Korea and came to the States in 1982, where he attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Rev. Park served as the past President for The Council of Korean Churches in Southern California. He also currently the Chairman of KCCD and of the Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation of America as well as Co-Chair of the Board of Korean Churches for Community Development. Rev. John Park is currently in Los Angeles California where he continues to serve as Head Pastor of Joong-Ang Presbyterian Church in Hollywood.
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I am an Indian American & a US Citizen. I live and work in Silicon Valley, CA. I am a CPA and am Self Employed. Seven Year ago I founded my own Corporation. I have over 25 years of global professional experience in various capacities. I graduated from Delhi University (India) & majored in Accounting, Finance and Taxation. Prior to establishing my own Corporation I worked with two of the “Big 4” Global Accounting firms as well as Fortune 1000 entities in the United States and abroad. I hold several professional certifications & Licenses and speaks over seven languages. I have taught accounting and managerial economics at colleges abroad. Through my professional practice, I represent small business, non-profits and individuals. My firm offers services that include tax, business advisory and retirement distribution planning. Apart from my Professional work life, I enjoy Reading, Different kinds of Cuisine, Wines & Cooking for friends and family, Travelling, Music and spending time with My Lovely Wife: Sheeba, Daughter: Abigail and our Dog: Jewel.
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Kimihira Miyake is the director of the youth division of the Global Peace Foundation in the United States. He has experience organizing numerous leadership opportunities for youth across the country including a character development project for inner city public schools, an overseas exchange program, nationwide service campaigns, youth summits and workshops, and outdoor adventure training programs. From 2010 to 2013, Mr. Miyake has played an essential role in the development of the Leadership Academy with Atlanta Public Schools, where in 2013, the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation identified the project as a model urban innovation program. The Leadership Academy was also recognized as a Promising Practice by Character.Org. During his three years in Atlanta, Mr. Miyake was commended by the Georgia State Senate as well as the Administration for Children and Families in Region IV.
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Timothy Kwan-Ung Park ( Dec. 2, 1959 – current) is a first Korean-American pastor and missionary who started the Hope Street church on April, 5, 2015, Easter Sunday ,130 years after the first American missionary Appenzeller and Underwood in Korea on Easter Sunday. He graduated Fuller Seminary and served the church as Sunday school teacher and pastor for 30 years. He is currently a pastor of Glory Church of Jesus Christ. He is third son of elder E Hahn Park and mother Soon Kyu Park. Pastor Timothy Park has a nick name, “Timodeo” “Ye Bo Nam pastor.” He is a follower of Jesus Christ and a grand-grand son of pastor Yi Meong Jik, the father of Holiness church of Korea.
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Christina is the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Advisor for the Secretary's Office of Religion and Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Prior to joining RGA, Christina served as a Senior Program Manager with the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. In this capacity, Christina managed $50 million in human rights and democracy programs throughout Asia. Her extensive engagement with civil society and government representatives across the globe, as both a government representative and microfinance practitioner, has given her many examples that illustrate the importance of incorporating religious stakeholder perspectives in formulating effective and robust policies. Before her microfinance work and government service, Christina specialized in marketing and risk analysis for start-up and Fortune 500 companies. Christina holds degrees from Stanford University and the International Relations and Pacific Studies program at UCSD.
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Sunhea Kim is the president of The Korean American Association of Long Island since 2013. In addition, Sunhea is the Secretary General of The Federation of the Korean Association of USA and the VP of the Northeastern Federation of the Korean Association. She is also the director of the New York Association of Korean-American Business Inc. An ordained deacon, she is a member of Arundaum Church in Bethpage, NY. She is furthering her career by attending Nyack College for a dual Business Administration and Biblical degree. She has three children and a loving husband. Her daughter has graduated from MCPHS University with a Doctor of Pharmacy and her oldest son has graduated from Babson College with a degree in Finance and IT. Her youngest son is attending Cornell University studying Bio-medical Engineering.
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Steve Suh
President Mission & Service Inc. Miami, FL Steve Suh is the President of Mission & Service Inc., a Florida 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to provide housing for missionaries especially in Central and South America as well as Carribean islands. As a faith-based organization, Mission & Service Inc. has successful developed fellowships with churches and we are proud to contribute our facility for church events and activities. Besides being an outstanding attorney and a professional in the business world, Mr. Suh has performed excellent work over the years to ensure the highest possible quality of programs and services of Mission & Service Inc. serving as the President and is very passionate about the value and mission of the organization. It is Mission & Service Inc.’s objective and Mr. Suh’s goal to empower the community by offering a helping hand to those in need and spreading positive message.
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Madeleine Kong
Public Relations Director/Pastor,M21K Upland, CA Madeleine Kong is an executive publicist in M21K and currently pursuing a PhD at Claremont Graduate University, concentrating on Political Philosophy and International Relations. Miss Kong worked for Congressman Mong-joon Chung in the 2002 presidential election and helped current President Park as a special political aid during the 2012 presidential campaign. Miss Kong has served as an associate pastor and a pianist in several churches and helped with numerous organizations’ broadcasting and public relations including the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Miss Kong received her bachelor’s degree from Yonsei University in Seoul and her master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.
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Breana Van Velzen
Student Duke University Divinity School As a former teacher, current Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill graduate student, and community volunteer, I am working toward working in refugee resettlement, anti-trafficking, and advocacy full time. I am from Durham, NC via Wilmington, NC. I have worked in rural poverty, urban community development, developmental disabilities, and immigration reform. I come from a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural family and currently live in a multi-cultural community in which advocacy work is incredibly important for the flourishing of the community. Those experiences have led me to examine the intersections of ministry, theology, sexuality, race, privilege, and socio-economics in communities dealing with trauma and oppression.
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Christopher S. Ljungquist
Coordinator United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Christopher S. Ljungquist is the Anti-Human Trafficking National Outreach and Education Coordinator for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, based here in Washington, DC. As head of the bishops’ AMISTAD Movement, Christopher is helping to build a nation-wide coalition of faith-based organizations and churches in order that human trafficking awareness can reach the most vulnerable recent immigrant communities. His interest in human trafficking began during his previous work as a Latin America Analyst for the Geopolitical Monitor, an international consulting firm specializing in security and political risk assessment, where he mapped the operations of transnational organized crime groups in Latin America. Christopher holds a BA in Latin America Area Studies from The American University and an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics.
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Sang Koo Kang
Vice President Patriot National Inc. |
Stephen Na
Pastor, Community Church of Great Neck Great Neck, NY |
Creator of the TNT martial arts form, celebrity trainer, actor and now Vice President (Emerging Markets) of Patriot National, Inc., Head Officer of The Mariano Foundatio. Although he is happily married with three lovely children and is a successful businessman with multiple martial arts schools in Florida, his life growing up was not an easy one. motivated to transform his life and circumstances. After creating his Martial Arts schools, this same drive for achievement and making a difference led to him having a fateful meeting with one of his private students, Steven Mariano - a leading financial services entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of The Mariano Foundation, to discuss how they could work together to further the aims of the foundation. Sang was recently appointed Head Officer of The Mariano Foundation and working together with Mr. Mariano he has begun to put into practice what he calls one of the most satisfying things in his life; giving support and hope to children at the most critical and formative time in their lives.
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My family immigrated from Korea to US and settled in Augusta, Georgia in 1975. Being the only handful of Asians in the deep South I quickly adapted to the Southern culture. I've experienced the joys of the South as well as the sting of racism marginalized within the mainstream Black and White communities. I received a calling into the Gospel ministry after college. The experiences of being raised in the South shaped my vision of bridging cultures of race and ethnicities in the church. I've worked within the Korean American church since ordination in 1999. Currently I am in a multiethnic church in Great Neck, NY that is predominately Chinese leading an English ministry supporting over 17 language groups.
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Sam Ock
Co-Founder/Executive Producer/Artist Good Fruit Co. Ellicott City, MD Growing up as an introverted, introspective individual, much of Sam Ock's music reflects the subtleties of his personal experiences. He began his music career in 2011 and in 4 short years, Sam Ock has established himself as a jazz-hip hop artist and has received recognition worldwide. In 2011, Simple Steps was released in the U.S, Japan, and Korea. He topped iTunes Hip Hop Charts in Japan landing a #1 spot on release date for his next release Stages which was a combination of (2) EP's. Sam Ock’s music can be described as having bright and jazzy instrumentation laced with soulful singing and smooth rap vocals.
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Tonga Hopoi
Administrative Assistant National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Washington, DC Ms. Tonga Hopoi was the 2014 Spring Policy Intern in the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama, where she supported the Policy office in preparations for the First Lady's China Trip, the launch of the First Lady's Reach Higher initiative and research for the First Lady's Let Girl's Learn initiative. She is a former Student Body President 2011-2012 and Oregon State University alum; having completed major studies in Philosophy and English. Her previous work experience includes policy and liaising for the Kingdom of Tonga and Oregon State University to develop climate change research, exchange, and resilience programs.
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Ms. Ohnsoon Kim
Peace Corps Volunteer Global Peace Foundation Mukilteo, WA Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Ethiopia), NYU graduate, Korean-American, tri-lingual
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Jae Yun
Student, LACC A Student, curious to learn about the world
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Sung Chang
Pastor Charis Mission Church Los Angeles, CA |
Celis Lee
Student Ridgecrest Palos Verdes, PA |
Lidoo Kwon
Senior Pastor Full Gospel First Church of Washington Annandale, VA |
Jina Kwon
Senior Pastors Wife Full Gospel First Church of Washington Annandale, VA |
Randolph Palada
Minister First Baptist Church Gilbertsville, NY |
Judy Majors
Senior Manager US Department of the Treasury |
Sangsoon Han
Pastor D.W.M (Dadream World Mission) DaeJeon |
Kwanung Park
Pastor Glory Church of Jesus Christ Porter Ranch, CA |
Monda Webb
Project Manager US Department of the Treasury |
Sue Ohe
Fellow/Strategic Initiatives Polaris |
Jina Kim
Internal CPA |
Elizabeth Kim
IT Project Manager Global Link Solutions, INC Mc Lean, VA |

Maria Oakey
Staff
KCCD
Los Angeles, CA
Staff
KCCD
Los Angeles, CA