September 22, 2009
NAKASEC and its Chicago affiliate, the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center, are proud to announce Kent Chaegu Lee’s recent honor bestowed by the City of Chicago and Mayor Richard M. Daley of a “Certificate of Appreciation” for his service, dedication and commitment to the Korean American community in the Chicago area. At this annual event, which coincides with the marking of Ch’usok or the Korean Mid-Autumn/Harvest Festival, Mayor Daley presents these certificates to community leaders who have demonstrated leadership and volunteer work.
At the age of 17, Kent Chaegu Lee was one of the founding members of the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center. As social service organizations already existed in the community, Mr. Lee saw the need for an organization that would empower community members to participate civically, such as through the electoral process, census participation and forming relationships with their legislators. Mr. Lee worked tirelessly, sometimes 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, to ensure that Korean Americans in greater Chicago began to have an organized voice. Among his many accomplishments, one example is that during his tenure, over 3,000 Korean Americans were registered to vote and over 8,000 regularly were turned out to the polls during election years.
For more information, contact Becky Belcore, executive director of KRCC at 773-588-9158 or becky@chicagokrcc.org.
