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NAKASEC’s “Together We Vote” and Campaign Fellows Launch

By September 25, 2012No Comments

Press Conference for “Together We Vote” Campaign held September 18, 2012

The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers, two years after the 1992 LA unrest, to project a national progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans as a part of a greater goal of building a national movement for social change. NAKASEC is based Washington, D.C. & Los Angeles. NAKASEC has affiliates in Chicago (Korean American Resource & Cultural Center) and Los Angeles (Korean Resource Center). We are a non-profit 501(c)3 non-partisan organization that works with the Korean American community on these issues: immigrant rights, youth leadership and training, civic engagement and voter empowerment, economic security, health reform, and cultural programs.

NAKASEC and our affiliates in Chicago (Korean American Resource & Cultural Center) and Los Angeles (Korean Resource Center) have been organizing around voting rights, voter mobilization, and voter research in the Korean community since 1996. We have done extensive work in LA and Chicago by having produced bilingual voter education materials, voter education workshops, and more. In 2008, we introduced Power Vote! Introduction to Civic Engagement and distributed 30,000 copies to the following states: California, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Washington, Georgia,    New York, Texas and more.

Overall Voters, Asian American Voters and Korean American Figures for Fairfax County, VA

Fairfax County Registered Voters Breakdown: From Voter File

Korean American

Asian American Voters

Total Voters

15,000 +

63,083

627,328

Korean American Voters and non-voters: From Voter File and 2010 Census

Total Population

Korean American Citizens

Korean American registered Voters

Non-registered Korean American Voters

% of Low English Propensity

40,152

25,852

15,000 +

Less than 10,000

49 %

Based on a Sample of 5,967 with Korean surnames Cha, Cho, Chun, Chung, Lee, Kim, and Yun out of a total of 15,000 + Korean American voters

Comparison of Women to Men Voters

Most registered age group of Korean American voters

Highest Age Group Turnout

Men= 47 % Women= 53 %

Age: 35-49 total: 1,405 or 23 %

Age: 65 +    Turnout: 80%

Voter Participation Rates from 2006 to Present

Voters

% of Voting at least in one election since 2006

% of Voting in all three elections since 2006

% of Voting not at all since 1996

Sample  of 5,976 from 15,000+ Korean American Voters

59%

13%

41%

Total Asian American Voters: 63,083

64.1 %

16.4 %

35.9%

Total Overall Voters: 627,328

 

73.9%

 

33.2%

 

26%

Together We Vote: 2012

In 2008, NAKASEC introduced Power Vote! For 2012 we are launching our Together We Vote, to reach 5,000 Korean Americans in Fairfax County to vote in the upcoming elections. Our affiliates in LA and Chicago, have also launched Together We Vote as well, to reach 30,000 Korean American voters in LA and 11,000 voters in Chicago.

Virginia has a high overall Korean American population of 80,000, with about 70,000 Korean Americans residing in the Northern Virginia Counties. For 2012, we have three major races, the Presidential, Senatorial, and Congressional districts 8, 10, and 11 that Korean Americans, depending on where you live in Fairfax County, can be a factor by having a higher voter turnout. Korean Americans have a huge portion of undecided voters and a huge portion that has not participated in the elections. This November, Korean Americans can raise our voice to say what is important for our community.

We are seeking volunteers to work in the Korean American community to mobilize Korean American voters and potential voters. This will be our first Campaign Fellows Program in Virginia. For those that are able to dedicate their time and are bilingual in Korean and English, we are able to compensate for their work, $10 per hour, provided that they meet certain requirements below.

  • Complete between 10 to 20 voter registrations within two weeks at Korean American churches on Sundays, Korean Grocery markets in Fairfax County on Saturdays and on weekdays, and at events and with Korean American organizations from now on till October 15th.
  • Help us make 1,500 phone calls to Korean American voters and send 5,000 voter education mailers sometime in mid to late October.
  • Recruit 2 or more volunteers.
  • Volunteer for a minimum of 5 hours within one week.
  • Help conduct exit poll surveys in three different sites after voting on November 6th

To apply for the Campaign Fellows Program: NAKASEC Campaign Fellows Program Application 2012

Email or mail applications to Dong Yoon Kim at: dkim@nakasec.org or:

1628 16th Street, NW, Suite 306

Washington, DC 20009

For more information, please email Dong Yoon Kim at: dkim@nakasec.org or call: 202-299-9540.

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