HISTORY

HISTORY

The KAC Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter was officially established on August 30, 2004 and as the only English speaking Korean American civic organization in the Metroplex, it acts as the umbrella organization over all other Korean American organizations.
1983 - Founded out of the LA riots, KAC quickly found stature in the community and around the nation as an advocate for the Korean American community.

2001 - Marking the start of KAC's national expansion, we quickly saw chapters forming from coast to coast.

2004 - Korean American Coalition - Dallas / Fort Worth is established and quickly gains prominence in the Dallas / Fort Worth community.

2013 - The KAC National Convention is held in Dallas, Texas and brings hundreds of community leaders together, showing the incredible growth of the organization.


OUR FOUNDERS
From left: Peter Koo (Secretary), Chris Yi (Board Member), Chong Choe (President), Tom Park (Board Chair), John Jun (Vice President), Dong Chong (Board Member)


A SMALL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS FOUNDED KAC, BUT THEY WERE GIANT ADVOCATES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

We may have been small in number when we started, but our hearts were as large as the community we wanted to help. We are proud of everyone who has been a part of this great organization and know that it will remain a vital part of this community for years to come.
EARLY ROOTS

Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1983, KAC advocates for the interest of the 1.8 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 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 33 years, KAC has assisted over 40,000 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 victims relief efforts after the 1992 Los Angeles Riots; successfully lobbied for bilingual voter registration forums and sample ballots in many states, conducted forums, seminars and workshops on the American political process and pressing social issues; trained more than 800 college students in leadership development and community organizing; and sponsored over 200 college internships. KAC has continued to work closely with government agencies and elected officials to promote more responsive governance and policy making that impact the community. KAC also developed broad coalitions with other ethnic communities around hsared concerns.
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