A Look Back on 2009 at yKAN

By Daniel Whang, Media Chair

 

As 2009 draws to a close, we present to you a recap of the year at yKAN. No doubt it was another very busy year for our organization - thanks to people like you - who come out and participate in our various events and also due to our very dedicated executive board, who work passionately to promote and keep yKAN active in our community.

 

yKAN aims to elevate Korean Americans by fostering educational programs, community service, and networking opportunities. In accordance to these goals, here is a breakdown of events held in 2009 to further these objectives.

 

Professional Development

 

In this challenging economic environment, yKAN hosted a resume and interview tips workshop in October, led by Edmund (Eddie) Song, who is yKAN’s 2009 Advancement Chair. Eddie has experience in career mentoring students through NYU’s mentoring program, as well as being a life coach to others in the both their personal and professional lives. In addition to Eddie’s invaluable advice, we had a recruiter from a MassMutual affiliated financial services firm come in to talk about career opportunities at his company. The overall feedback of the event was positive and yKAN looks forward to conducting another career workshop in the future.

 

Community Service

 

Members of yKAN volunteered their time to several community service events in 2009. In March, yKAN went to the Anna Erika Adult Home in Staten Island to pay a visit to the elderly residents there, where we served lunch, played games, and gave out gifts. In the following month, yKAN went to the Father Heart’s Soup Kitchen in Manhattan, where we helped serve meals and clean up afterwards. In December, yKAN collaborated with APEX - Asian Professional Exchange - in preparing a holiday party for inner city Asian youths. yKAN was in charge of decorating the location of the party. In addition to volunteering our time at the APEX party, yKAN donated $150 dollars to APEX to help sponsor the event.

 

Social & Networking

 

yKAN provided numerous events where Korean American professionals could network with others in the tri-state area. These events included a Chelsea gallery hop in April, happy hour at JZ Lounge in K-town in May where we brought in our own band, Central Park picnic in June, and a beer garden visit in October.

 

Our largest event of the year - by far, was in August, when we held yKAN's 20th Year Anniversary Celebration & Date Auction Fundraiser, exclusively at the Circle nightclub in Manhattan. At this event, yKAN celebrated its 20^th year of service in promoting the Korean American community and held a date auction fundraiser where we auctioned off 10 eligible Korean American bachelors and bachelorettes – the proceeds of which going to yKAN to help further the Korean and Asian American community.

 

Maintaining a presence in the Asian American community

 

yKAN’s executive board regularly took part at various Asian American events in 2009 to promote yKAN and we collaborated with other Korean American and Asian American organizations in the New York metropolitan area to advance our shared goals. Some of the events yKAN took part in included the 30^th Annual Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Festival in May and the 1^st Annual Asian MBA Career Expo in September at the Jacob K. Javits Center. yKAN’s efforts in the community did not go unnoticed, as yKAN was periodically featured in the Korean American media.

 

As we celebrate another successful year of yKAN, we thank our outgoing President JISUNG CHUN for her leadership on these events and dedicated service for the past two years. Going forward to 2010, yKAN is posed for another year of actively serving our community with the returning 2007 President JULIE CHO. Look for updates coming soon in the Year of the White Tiger.

 

Happy new year,

Young Korean American Network

 

2009 Executive Board

 

Officers:

 

President: Jisung Chun

General Secretary: Byul Cho, Steven Yoo

Treasurer: Andrew Park

Chairman, Board of Directors: Kay Lee

 

Committee Chairs:

 

Advancement: Edmund Song

Community Service: Julie Cho, Jane Kweon, Yong Kwon

Media: Daniel Whang

Membership: JayKay Kim

Social & Networking: Jin Lim