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Korean Churches for Community
Development
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KCCD Co-Sponsors Koreatown Development Town Hall Meeting where over 250 Gather to Discuss the Future of our Community
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On Thursday, January 20, 2011, KCCD co-sponsored the Town Hall meeting with Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council, and Korean American Chamber of Commerce, LA. LA City Council President Eric Garcetti, L.A. City Councilmember Ed Reyes, L.A. City Councilmember Tom LaBonge, CRA Representatives, and over 25 organizations gathered to discuss concerns, ideas, and plans for the future development of Koreatown. Many of the key leaders were impressed with the turnout of over 250 people at the Town Hall meeting and to see how passionate leaders, residents, and organizations were about collaborating for change.
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Participating Guest Panelists
L.A. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti
L.A. City Councilmember Ed Reyes
L.A. City Councilmember Tom LaBonge
Michael Bai, Office of L.A. City Councilmember Herb J. Wesson
Renee Weitzer, Chief of Land Use Planning, Office of L.A. City Councilmember Tom LaBonge
Leslie Lambert, CRA Hollywood & Central Region Administrator
Dwayne Gathers, CRA Commissioner
Michelle Banks-Ordone, CRA Projects Manager
Ryan Carpio, Field Deputy, Office of L.A. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti
Representative, Field Deputy, Office of L.A. City Councilmember Ed Reyes
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Hyepin Im, President & CEO of KCCD (right), Emceed the Event packed with over 250 attendees at the Korean Education Center of Los Angeles
KCCD President & CEO stated: "The goal of this meeting was to show our commitment to working with our elected officials and policy makers on making a better future for Koreatown and the whole city of Los Angeles. This is a great beginning and a new page in our history for our community." Community leaders, pastors, and residents came to support the Koreatown community by describing the current needs of the area. Many shared the hope and vision to build more green space, community centers for kids and youth, support for small businesses, more affordable housing units, building a cultural center, and additional care for seniors.
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LA City Council President Eric Garcetti
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L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti and L.A. Councilmembers Ed Reyes and Tom LaBonge came to support this event and voiced their interest and excitement to work together with these leaders and organizations to further improve Koreatown. This was a successful catalyst to the ongoing conversation between city council, community leaders, and residents on how to develop and maintain a better future for Koreatown.
Garcetti stated: "I want to thank both the Korean American community as well as all residents of Koreatown...I know that this agenda: to bring green space to Koreatown, to bring more funds locally, to bring jobs and small businesses for workers, to see capital invested from stimulus money to reinvesting funds, I will defend this and look forward to working toward this with you all."
 
Ed Reyes, L.A. City Councilmember Tom LaBonge, L.A. City Councilmember
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(L-R) Rev. Kyu Su Um from Wilshire Christian Church, Rev. John Park the former President of the Council of Korean Churches of Southern California and KCCD Senior Advisor, and Samuel Kwak from KCCD were some of the many representatives that shared their concerns and vision for the future of Koreatown.
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(L-R) Young Ik Byeon, President-Elect, Council of Korean Churches in Southern California; Michael Bai, representing L.A. City Councilmember Herb J. Wesson; Kee Whan Ha, Koreatown Neighborhood Council.
   (L-R) John Park, Korean-American Association of Greater L.A.; Grace Yoo, Korean-American Coalition L.A.; Frank Kim, President, Korean-American Chamber of Commerce L.A.    (L-R) Danny Park, Executive Director, KIWA; Christine Lee, Korean-American Chamber of Commerce L.A.; Byron Shinyana, KYCC.    (L-R) Biho Cha, Korean-American Chamber of Commerce L.A.; Benjamin Koo, Korean-American Chamber of Commerce L.A.; Senior Citizen    (L-R) Representative from KIWA; Julio Santizo, Eco Maya Festival; Chang Lee, Korean-American Chamber of Commerce L.A.
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Koreatown Development Action Items
The following is a list that leaders, residents, and organizations identified as needs for Koreatown:
1. Commit a higher percentage of CRA funding to affordable housing in Wilshire Ctr/Ktown Project area to meet the need in Koreatown.
2. Commit CRA funding to purchase property for green space, particularly the site at Hobart and 7th where state funding has already been committed.
3. Develop an arts and community center.
4. Capacity building to businesses, churches & nonprofits for development.
5. Develop a new senior housing project.
6. Develop a youth/recreation center.
7. Develop new community-oriented streetscape projects that promote use by community and residents.
8. Create more bike lanes and bike facilities.
To further the collaboration for future development, the Koreatown community created a
Statement of Unity
The Koreatown community is united behind the demand for economic development in Koreatown that addresses needs of residents. We represent a wide range of community voices and we are united in support o equitable development in Koreatown that addresses the needs of all residents, workers and others who care about Koreatown.
Our priorities include:
-Koreatown needs more funding for public projects, including youth centers, community centers, senior housing, affordable housing, parks and green space.
-Funds for redevelopment in Wilshire Center Koreatown should stay in Koreatown
-Decision- and policy-makers should respect Koreatown community input on future development.
-Elected leaders should work closely with community members to lead efforts for equitable Koreatown development.
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Endorsing organizations:
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About Korean Churches for Community Development:
The mission of KCCD is to strengthen all communities by maximizing the resources of Korean and other Asian-American faith-based and partner organizations involved in economic development and neighborhood revitalization through educational and economic development programs, strategic public and private partnerships and building the capacity for Asian-American faith communities and community non-profits.
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