Similarly in the U.S., Korean Americans came together to engage in decades of solidarity work that laid the seeds for the grassroots Korean American progressive movement today – specifically the formation of the Korean Resource Center in 1983 and later the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC).

For this reason, we will begin by looking back at our organizing history as the first step to charting the course of our work for the future.

This year we will also explore human rights issues from the perspective of different community members, Korean American adoptees, LGBTQ and immigrant students.

On February 27th, students, parents, seniors and workers will come together and walk the CA “Trail of Dreams” to recognize that immigrants are key to rebuilding America’s economy (downloadable flyer). To get involved or for more information, contact HyunJoo at hlee@nakasec.org/323-937-3703 x 202.

Please note that it may rain – we will walk even if it rains so wear rain gear and bring an umbrella. If we end up having thunderstorms or heavy rain and wind, we will fold the walk into a rally in the gym at the Seoul International Park, our Trail starting point. The gym is located in the southeastern corner of San Marino St and Ardmore Ave. We will make a call on Saturday at 7:00 AM on whether to have the walk as planned or to have the rally instead. Check the www.krcla.org/trail website after 7AM or text message “trail rain” to 213-973-3330.

Also, for a detailed look at the route, go here. See you this Saturday!

Here is the press advisory for the event: English & Korean

• On February 26th, KRCC will organize a movie night to educate and raise funds for the Trail of Dreams. Members of FYSH, KRCC’s youth group, will be collecting fast pledges and the money saved from fasting will be donated to the Trail of Dreams.

• On February 27th, students, parents, teachers, and workers will unite and walk 18 miles in Los Angeles in solidarity with the Florida to D.C. Trail of Dreams and urge the passage of comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act (downloadable flyer).

Contacts:
Olivia Park, NAKASEC, 213-605-1255
Junghee Lee, KRC, 661-607-6367
Younggi Lieu, KRCC, 224-616-1087

(Los Angeles, CA) – Today, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium and its affiliates, the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles and the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center in Chicago, kick-started a nationwide effort to tell Congress that America needs action on comprehensive immigration reform in 2010. At more than 100 major pro-reform events across the country, Americans stood up, marched, held prayer vigils, convened press conferences, targeted members of Congress, conducted town halls, or held huge rallies to demonstrate the strength of the immigration reform movement.

Coinciding from Jan 12 -20 is an Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Week of Action with national, state and local AAPI organizations and allies. Korean Americans and AAPIs are sending a strong message to decision makers and our allies that AAPI communities are serious about demanding reform this year that will promote prosperity and security for all Americans. During this period, AAPIS are urged to submit letters to news outlets, write or visit their members of Congress, and join actions taking place in their neighborhoods. An easy way to start is to text the word “AAPI” to “69866” to get connected to the Reform Immigration for America campaign to be part of an national action network that receives timely alerts and updates.

“Life as it is right now is unbearable for immigrant communities from working parents to families waiting to be reunited with their loved ones. In particular, young immigrant students lead uncertain futures. It is what our community members face that remind us why we must realize immigration reform this year,” stated EunSook Lee, NAKASEC’s executive director.

Below is a list of events open to the media that NAKASEC and its affiliates are organizing and/or participating this week.

Events

1. Los Angeles, CA (Contact: Junghee Lee / Olivia Park)

Kick off press conference to announce effort to conduct 55 individual actions targeting each member of the State’s House and Senate delegation and to announce results of a study by University of Southern California highlighting economic benefits in California of immigration reform.

Tuesday, January 12, 10:00 a.m.

USC Davidson Conference Center – Evans Room (downstairs)

3415 South Figueroa Street (near Jefferson Blvd), Los Angeles, CA 90007

* From January 12 – 20, immigrant rights organizations in California will engage in 55 actions – from legislative visits to rallies – for immigration reform.

2. Chicago, IL (Contact: Younggi Lieu)

“Get On the Bus” Tour for Immigration Reform going through 8 Congressional Districts,

followed by a Press Conference

Wednesday, January 13, All day. Press conference at 5 p.m.

Federal Plaza, Chicago, IL

Rally for Immigration Reform

Saturday, January 16, 1 p.m.

First Baptist Congressional Church

60 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612

3. Phoenix, AZ (Contact: Olivia Park)

Arpaio’s America IS NOT Our America March

Saturday, January 16, March starts at 11 a.m., Rally at 2 p.m.

March starting point: Falcon Park, 3420 W. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ

Rally: 2939 W. Durango Street, Phoenix, AZ

* Organized by the National Day Laborers’ Organizing Network (NDLON) and community groups in Arizona, this national mobilization seeks to spotlight the ongoing gross civil rights violations targeting immigrant communities by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and to demand a termination of controversial immigrant enforcement programs, such as the 287(g) program and Secure Communities.

The events organized by NAKASEC and its affiliates were part of a nationwide mobilization of Americans for comprehensive immigration reform. This week’s events represent a major escalation for the immigration reform movement, and come on the heels of a whirlwind of organizing activity in 2009. Pro-reform advocates have assembled an enormous and unprecedented bi-partisan coalition of people of faith, business, labor, civil rights, and elected officials. More than 700 organizations have joined the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign and the campaign is partnering with Americans in nearly every state to make 2010 the year that Congress finally delivers comprehensive immigration reform.