From May 18 through May 20, 2015,  Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD) held its  8th National Lighting the Community Summit in Washington, D.C. at the Hilton Garden Inn. 

Under the theme of  "Shining Our Light: Building Our Leadership and Future Together" ,  over 125 influential AAPI Christian leaders, from business, education, nonprofit,entertainment and other fields, attended ,  raising the visibility and profile of the AAPI Christian community to our nation's leaders. 

Over the three day conference, participants  were able to network in various opportunities from plenary sessions, workshops, Awards Gala, National AAPI Prayer Breakfast, visits with congressional members and to the Capitol as well as to the White House. Participants had the opportunity to engage with elected officials, White House officials, thought leaders and policy makers in advocating for and bringing awareness to needs and challenges in the AAPI community, while fostering partnership opportunities between the AAPI community and government and  other entities as they learned of resources they had to offer. 

Building on last year's historic invitation for AAPI Christian leaders to a White House Briefing through KCCD's leadership,  AAPI Christian leaders were able to participate in the White House Briefing for the second time.

This year, KCCD highlighted and advocated various key issues that affect the AAPI and greater community, including racial inequality and justice involving 'Black Lives Matter, Asian Lives Matter' , peace and security on the Asian Peninsula including North Korea,   human trafficking , mental health , and immigration, affordable housing .

Please see below for highlights of the conference by each day! 

We invite you join us for this year's conference, June 6-8, 2016 in Washington DC. www.aapifaithalliance.org
We invite you to join the movement to raise the AAPI Christian voice in the public sphere and stay connected on relevant news, opportunities and invitations by joining our 1000 Initiative!
Day 1 - Opening Night & Reception

 
The 8th National 'Lighting the Community Summit' Opening Reception Dinner, held on May 18,2015 opened with Hyepin Im, KCCD President and CEO, welcoming all the participants with KCCD Board Co-Chairs Sandra Ko and  Rev. John Jongdai Park after some special performances by Da Deulin Praise Dancing Association all the way from South Korea, AMP  and  Rev. Won Jik Cho.
 
Hyepin Im, KCCD President/CEO and Rev. John Jongdai Park, KCCD Board Co-Chair
Sandra Ko, KCCD Board Co-Chair
Dr. Tanmay Pramanik, Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools with others leading worship
Opening remarks were given  by  Acacia Salatti , Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and  Mark Keam , Delegate of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 35th District. Delegate Keam stated, "You are here to talk about some very important issues facing our nation. You are going to be talking about racial inequality issues. Asian American aspect of that, sometimes the AA become the unfortunate victims of it-societal inequalities, education inequalities, mental health and at-risk youth. I'm glad you're here because we need your voice in every one of these conversations. These are public policies as well as social issues and they need peoples' voices especially today when we're lacking leadership. To have conversation is the first step but the second step is faith in action. Words alone makes great sound but is empty and hollow. So what you're doing here the next two days is understanding one another, especially those who are not as familiar with the Asian culture and the issues they're facing. Understand that these issues are your issues. That we are all our brothers' keepers."

From left to right: Tim Haahs, Dr. Carroll Baltimore, David Beckmann, Rev. Mitchell Hescox,  Katleen Davis-Siudut, Jim Wallis, and Abraham Hernandez

Afterward the opening remarks, a special panel of influential faith leaders shared their insight on the subject of Power of Churches and Society. Speakers included Jim Wallis, Founder/President of Sojourners, Abraham Hernandez, Vice President of Northeast U.S. of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World, Dr. Carroll Baltimore,President, Global Alliance Interfaith Networks, Rev. Mitchell Hescox, President and CEO,Evangelical Environmental Network, and Katleen Davis-Siudut, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Polaris. The panel was co-moderated by Hyepin Im, KCCD President and Tim Haahs, President of Tim Haahs & Associates and a U.S. Presidential Appointee and KCCD Donor Advisory Board.

Some notable quotes included:
 
Jim Wallis of Sojourners- "God is personal but never private. He wants a relationship with us intimately. He knows everything about us but wants a relationship anyway. But why? To change the world. To take our faith in our world and change it. How do we as a people of faith make sure the image of God, which is in all of us, is respected and protected and saying whose lives need to matter. It's a wonderful thing to be in this conversation, how we can make all lives matter."
 
Abraham Hernandez of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference - "We want to bring heaven here on earth. We can't just think about John 3:16 but also have to think about Matthew 25. When is the Hispanic churches going to rise and spearhead a movement which will transform inner cities? The cross is the universal symbol - has the vertical and the horizontal - Churches started saying why can't we do both, why do we have to do either/or. And while we're here let's go and impact society. It's time for us to leave the four walls and start impacting society."
 
After the panel,  Sam George , Executive Director for Parivar International, presented on The State of the Asian American Community. He shared, "Some data to note are that Asian Americans are the fastest growing group in the United States. Asian Americans are more diverse than you think within the United States. Issues within the Asian American community include high rate of suicides, mental health stigma of shame, rising poverty levels, race violence, and being uninsured, unemployed, and homeless."
 
The opening night concluded with a Vision Networking Session and Closing Worship.
Opening Remarks by Mark Keam Delegate for Virginia House of Delegates, 35th District
S pecial Performance by Rev. Won Jik Cho, Pastor/ Saxophonist, Ramnent Methodist Church  
Special Performance by Da Deulim Praise Dancing Association from South Korea
Special Remarks by Acacia Salatti, Director, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Special Performance by AMP
Vision Networking Session

Day 2 - Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) National Prayer Breakfast

Moderators Dr. Jinha Park, KCCD Board Member and Hyepin Im, KCCD President/CEO
The second day of  the Summit opened with the National AAPI
 Prayer Breakfast during which officials from the White House
Bo Choi, Worship leader at HOPE Church leading worship and praise
 and federal agencies shared about their work and their faith journey. The participants also had chance to pray for our nation's leaders including the government officials as well as  pray for the next generation of leadership. There was also time to pray and reflected on current issues faced by AAPI  communities. Some prayer topics included, Prayers for the  nation, for President Obama and other  government leaders, Prayers for Color of Justice and Race Relations, for Black Lives Matter, Asian Lives Matter, and Prayers for Peace and Security on Asian Peninsula and the World, among 
others. 


Message from Kenneth Bae after Release from North Korea
One highlight of the prayer breakfast was a special video message sent by Kenneth Bae who expressed his appreciation for those who prayed and advocated for his release along with an update on his current situation. At the 2014 conference, the conference attendees prayed for and advocated for Kenneth Bae's release from North Korea to the White House. His sister, Terri Chung, attended the 2014 conference as a speaker to update and advocate for her brother.

Prayer for the Nation - Left to right: Mark Brinkmoeller, Director of Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, USAID; Jay Chung, KCCD Donor Advisory Board Member, Dr. Jannah Scott, Deputy Director, Center for Faith Based Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and James Yu, Lead Pastor at Community Christian Center of Los Angeles
Priscilla Baek speaking on Prayer for Color of Justice & Race Relations and her personal story of her parents owning a convenience store
Prayer for Color of Justice & Race Relations led by Lovely Varughese, Community Activist, whose son Praveen was killed with questionable police follow up.
Prayer for Peace and Security on Asian Peninsula and the World led by Dr. Jai Poong Ryu, Co-Chairman, One Korea Coalition

Christina Li, State Department, speaking on Peace and Security on the Asian Peninsula and the World
Timothy Haahs, Summit Honorary Co-Chair/President, Tim Haahs and Associates, Inc. giving a special message on the Power of Prayer
Jimmy Chae, Minister at Tribe/NT2 and Steve Sun Cho, Lead Pastor,Ocean City Church praying for Peace and Security on the Asian Peninsula
Prayer for Human Trafficking led by  Christopher Ljungquist, National Outreach and Education Coordinator, Anti-Trafficking, U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops
Prayer for Mental Health led by Richard Kim, KA UMM National President, General Commission on United Methodist Men, United Methodist Church
Prayer for Immigration led by KCCD President Hyepin Im; Rev. John Jongdai Park, Summit Honorary Co-Chair/ KCCD Board Co-Chair/ Senior Pastor at Joong-Ang Korean Church
Woogie Kim, KCCD Board Member leading prayer for leaders.
Stephen Lewis, President, Forum for Theological Exploration (left) and Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations at the National Association of Evangelicals (right) leading prayer on race relations.
Sunny Ahn, Pastor at San Ramon Valley UMC and Ingrid Wang, Pastor at Wesley Grove UMC praying for human trafficking
Prayer for the Next Generation 
From left to right: Rev. Young-hee Chung, Senior Pastor of the Wilshire United Methodist Church, Grace Choi, Advisor for Secretary's Office on Global Women Issues, U.S. Department of State, Sekwon Chong, Honorary National President of the Korean American National Foundation, and Ken Kong, Director of Southeast Asian Catalyst sharing their heart and praying for the next generation.
Plenary Panel:
Navigating Government, Corporate, and Media Resources
Speaker Introductions & Overview by Hyepin Im, KCCD President and CEO - Various government agencies, foundations and corporations sharing their one minute overview before breaking out into workshops!
Workshop 1
Housing & Homelessness
Workshop 2
Business,  Community Development, 
Environment, and International
Workshop 3
Youth & Workforce

Workshop 1: Navigating Housing and Homelessness Resources
Moderators: Russell Jeung, Professor at San Francisco State University and Sandra Ko, KCCD Board Co-Chair

Speakers:

Rev. E Terri LaVelle, Director, Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs
Danielle Johnson-Kutch, Director of Policy, Homeownership Preservation Office, Office of Financial Stability, U.S. Dept. of the Treasury  
Francey Youngberg, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Public Engagement, U.S. Dept Of Housing and Urban Development
Marcia Griffin, President / CEO, Homefree-USA
Norah Deluhery, Acting Director, Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, USDA
Moses Kim, HCA Housing Supervisor, KCCD

Workshop 2: Navigating Business, Community Development, Environment and International Resources
Moderators: Yuna Kwon, President, KOWIN International Los Angeles and Deborah Kwak, President/CEO, Sam Corp

Speakers: 
Joshua Dickson,Director, Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships,U.S. Dept of Commerce
Sarah Bard, Director, Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, U.S Small Business Administration
Dr. Jannah Scott, Deputy Director, Center for Faith- based & Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S Dept of Homeland Security
Piyachat Terrell, Pathways Programs Officer, AAPI Special Emphasis Program Manager, National Recruitment and Outreach Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mark Brinkmoeller, Director, Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, U.S. Agency for International Development

Workshop 3: Navigating Youth and Workforce Resources
Moderators: Sam Koh, Pastor / Leader of Hillside EM at LACPC and Founder of NexGen Pastors Fellowship and  Woogie Kim, KCCD Board Member / Director of Development on International Relations, Biola University

Speakers:
Eugene Schneeberg, Director, Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Dept of Justice
Stephen Lewis, President, Forum for Theological Exploration
Kenneth Liu,Director, Legal Aid Ministries, Christian Legal Society
Young Wheeler, Former Special Assistant To the Assistant Secretary for OSHA, U.S Dept of Labor
Grace Choi, Policy Advisor, Secretary's Office on Global Women Issues , U.S Dept of State
Mobilizing the Faith Community for Civic Engagement
at the U.S. Capitol's Visitor Center
Moderator: Sam Yoon, President, Council of Korean Americans
Speakers from left to right: Diana Yu, Advisor at White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders; David Kim, Associate Administrator, U.S. Dept of Transportation; Mee Moua, Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice; Nissim B. Reuben, Assistant Director, Asia Pacific Institute, American Jewish Committee; Deepa Iyer, Former Executive Director, South Asian Americans Leading Together
Vision Networking Session

Annika Yeo, KCCD Donor Advisory Board Member, leading prayer
Great networking and visioning together led by So Young Kang

Great discussions for future collaborations
Speed Networking Competition 
Moderated by Hyepin Im, KCCD President and Kara Inae Carlisle, Director of New Mexico Programs, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Participants were trained how to present 1 minute introduction and advocacy for their cause to potential funders. Through series of eliminations determined by audience vote and input from judges, the ultimate winner received a cash prize!
Sam Koh, Lead Pastor of Hillside EM at LACPC
Speed Networking Competition
Judging Panelists
Speed Networking Winner & Judges
So Young Kang (winner)

Special thanks to our Judging Panelists
  • Piyachat Terrell, Pathways Program Officer, AAPI Special Emphasis Program Manager, National Recruitment And Outreach Specialist U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Dr. Jannah Scott, Deputy Director, Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Dept of Homeland Security
  • Kara Inae Carlisle, Director of New Mexico Programs, W.K Kellogg Foundation
  • Mark Brinkmoeller, Director of Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, U.S. Agency for International Development
  • Stephen Lewis, President of Forum for Theological Exploration
Congratulations to our Speed Networking Winner  So-Young Kang!

Day 3 - White House Briefing

On the final day of the 8th National 'Lighting the Community Summit, participants had the opportunity to visit the White House for a briefing from White House officials and representatives from federal agencies on key issues concerning civil rights, education, health care, domestic violence, and immigration. Participants were also active in raising awareness and advocating for issues impacting the AAPI community. Official presenters included Hyepin Im, KCCD President and CEO, Ashley Allison, Deputy Director of Public Engagement, The White House; Manar Waheed, Deputy Policy Director for Immigration, White House.
Prayer by Rev. Jong Jin Pee, Summit Honorary Co-Chair/Senior Pastor Emeritus, Namseoul Chunang Presbyterian Church
Prayer after the White House Briefing

Post White House Debriefing

After the white house briefing, a debriefing and organizing session was held with key leaders for lessons learned, highlights of the conference and next steps.

Faith and Community Impact Awards Gala Dinner

Musical group PLO 3:16 leading praise
The 8th National 'Lighting the Community Summit' closed with the Awards Gala Dinner in which five honorees were presented with Faith and Community Impact Awards  for their distinguished contributions and impact in society. The honorees shared their inspirational and compelling journeys of faith and service. This evening  was also  joined by many elected officials including U.S. Congressmembers Judy Chu, Ted Lieu, Charles B. Rangel, and Mike Honda as well as Councilmember Grace Han Wolf, Hernon Town Council, Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Faith and Community Impact Awards Gala with Honoree, U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu

Faith & Community Impact Award Honoree Steven Park, Founder/ Executive Director of Little Lights 
Faith & Community Impact Award Honoree W.K. Kellogg Foundation (Kara Inae Carlisle accepted the award on the Foundation's behalf)

Faith & Community Impact Award Honoree Dr. Dilip Joseph, Medical Director/ Author,  "Kidnapped by the Taliban- A Story of Terror, Hope, and Rescue by SEAL Team Six"
Faith & Community Impact Award Honoree   Congressman Ted Lieu, U.S. House of Representatives, California, 33rd District 
 
Faith & Community Impact Award Honoree  Congressman Charles B. Rangel, U.S. House of Representatives, New York, 13rd District
Special Remarks by Councilmember Grace Han Wolf, Hernon Town Council, Commonwealth of Virginia

Special Remarks by
Congresswoman Judy Chu, U.S. House of Representatives, 
California, 27th District

Special Remarks by
Congressman Mike Honda, U.S. House of Representatives,
California, 17th District

Young AmbassadorJae Yun, Student at Los Angeles City College
Dr. Russell Jeung, Professor at San Francisco State University introducing Honoree Steven Park
Honoree Profiles

Steven Park
founded Little lights Urban Ministries in 1995 after meeting underserved children and youth near his parents' business in NW, DC. Starting with no funds, nor any experience in the non-profit sector, he has grown the organization to 10 full-time, and 40 part-time staff members in addition to hosting over 10,000 hours of volunteer work annually. Little Lights currently serves families at two public housing complexes where the annual family income is 9,000 dollars or less per year.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation
founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create condition for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

Dr. Dilip Joseph 
medical work spans internationally  with  internships  and work experiences in both  public  health and clinical medicine. In  particular,  he is  responsible  for training the medical staff, evaluating and improving  medical  services, and expanding medical efforts  through  networking and fundraising so that he can help many more afghans who do not have access to health care. His book on his harrowing captivity and escape from the Talibans is an inspirational testament of faith and courage.

Congressmember Ted Lieu 
was elected to an open seat for the 33rd Congressional District in 2014. Congressmember Liu's legislative accomplishments include co-sponsoring landmark legislation regulating the subprime mortgage industry, state tax reform that saved reform that saved small businesses from billions in retroactive taxes, increasing planning for climate change, increasing tax incentive for film/TV production and banning the state from investing in or doing business with companies doing business with Iran.

Congressmember Charles B. Rangel
has spearheaded the passage of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (aka KORUS FTA) in 2007 and has championed numerous legislation important to the the community, such as a resolution Encouraging peace and reunification on the the Honorary Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Korean, and a proud member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

We would like to extend a special thanks!

Sponsors

 Diamond  
     Gold  
  Silver
 
Additional sponsors  
  • The Belasco Theater
  • Global Peace Foundation
  • Making Home Affordable
  • Nam Seoul Chungang Presbyterian Church
     
  • The Korean American Association of Washington Metropolitan Area
  • Yoido Full Gospel Church
Partners and Supporters
  • Cristina Alcala
  • Ashley Allison, Associate Director At The White House
  • Elisa Araiza
  • Rev. Hyunsoo Bae, Vision Presbyterian Church of Washington
  • Paul Chang, White House Initiative on AAPI
  • Sekwon Chong, Korean American National Foundation
  • Christianity Daily 
  • Christianview (CBS Washington)
  • Aditi Hadikar, The White House Director of the LGBT Leadership council at Democratic National Committee
  • David Han, Hans Travel 
  • Hilton Garden Inn Hotel Staff
  • James Huang, KCCD Board Member
  • John Huynh, KCCD Board Member
  • Krystal Ka'ai, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
  • Chang Soo Kang, Studio Pan
  • Sandra Ko, KCCD Board Co-Chair
  • Sam Koh, Lead EM Pastor at Hillside LACPC
  • Korea Daily
  • The Korea Times
  • KUP-TV
  • Chung Lee, Good Fruit Co.
  • Daniel Lee, KCCD Board Member
  • U.S. Congressman Ted W. Lieu
  • Sojung Lim, Korean American Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area
  • Aurora Paik, Office of U.S Congressman Ted Lieu
  • Dr. Jinha Park, KCCD Board Member
  • Radio Seoul
  • Melissa Ramoso, Office of U.S Congressman Ted Lieu
  • Julian Sham, Office of U.S Congressman Ted Lieu
  • Connie Yang
Prayer Partners 
  • Christine Lee, Korean Community Lawyers Association
  • Cristina Alcala
  • Hyepin Im, KCCD
  • Hyun Bae, Vision Presbyterian Church of Washington 
  • George Enriquez, Episkiazo Christian Church
  • Jay Chung, Ocean City Church
  • Jin Sung
  • Joan Fong, National Asian Presbyterian Women
  • Jodi Hicks
  • John Huynh, KCCD Board Member
  • Ken Kong, Southeast Asian Catalyst
  • Kirsten Oh, Azusa Pacific University 
  • Maria Luisa Oakey, KCCD
  • Mia Kim, Korean Reformed Presbyterian Church
  • Sammual Choi
  • Sekwon Chong, Korean American National Foundation, USA
  • Shela Jeong, Capitol Hill Baptist Church
  • Steve Kwon, LOLMC
  • Steve Park, Little Lights
  • Steve Sun Cho, Ocean City Church
  • Tom Steers, Ohana Partners, The Navigators
  • Margaret Yu
  • Rosio Gutierrez
Supporting Organizations
  • Community Christian Center
  • FLC Network (Overseas Korean Future Leader's Conference Network)
  • Fuller Asian American Initiative
  • Global Peace Foundation
  • New York Good Neighbors Coalition
  • Parivar International
  • Southeast Asian Catalyst (SEAC)
Community Ambassadors
  • Andrew Bittan
  • Steve Cho
  • Won Jik Cho
  • Sekwon Chong
  • Saras Chung
  • Shela Jeong
  • Russell Jeung
  • Richard Kim
  • Ken Kong
  • Chung Lee
  • Sojung Lim
  • Kenneth Liu
  • HiRho Park
  • Timothy Park
  • Misi Tagaloa
  • Diane Ujiiye
  • Patricia Ware
  • Jimmy Wilson
  • Kawen Young
  • James Yu

Please visit the website www.aapifaithalliance.org and sign up for our 1000 Initiatives to be the voice and representative for your sphere of influence and community.
www.kccd.org

Should you have further interest in learning how you can get involved, please email  [email protected]

Join us at this year's conference! June 6- 8, 2016

Korean Churches for Community Development
3550 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 736
Los Angeles, CA 90010

(213) 985-1500
KCCD's mission is to advance the Asian-American community's participation, contribution, and influence through faith-based and community partnerships.