NAKASEC was founded by local Korean community-based organizations from across the United States. These organizations felt the need for a strong, progressive voice that could impact federal policy and build a national movement. NAKASEC remains strongly connected with and informed by the local groups that originally formed us. Our affiliates serve as our channel to learn more about the issues impacting our community members at the grassroots level. This local-to-national channel directly informs NAKASEC’s national campaigns, policy agenda, and other projects.
Our Network
1994
FOUNDED IN
+400
VOLUNTEERS
55,000
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
NAKASEC Network
the NAKASEC network is now composed of five grassroots community-based organizations:
Partner with NAKASEC
Currently, NAKASEC is exploring partnerships with community members in areas with a growing Asian and Pacific Islander population as well as a potential for organizing. Do you know of areas with Asian Americans who want to organize and fight for justice?
NAKASEC’s affiliates
HANA Center
Illinois
Launched in February 2017, the HANA Center of greater Chicago is a merger of Korean American Community Services (KACS, founded 1972) and Korean American Resource and Cultural Center (KRCC, founded 1995). Meaning “one” in Korean, HANA Center is the culmination of a vision held by key stakeholders of KRCC and KACS. These leaders recognized the potential of establishing a single, united organization that combined KACS’ rapid response to the critical needs of the Korean American and local resident communities and KRCC’s powerful community organizing, advocacy, and celebration of cultural heritage.
Location
Chicago Center and Main Office:
Phone: 773-583-5501
Fax: 773-583-7009
Location
Northwest Center:
Phone: 847-520-1999
Fax: 847-520-7178
The MinKwon Center
New York & New Jersey
Location
New York office:
Flushing, Queens
(718) 460-5600
Location
New Jersey office:
Palisades Park
(201) 416-4393
Woori Center
Pennsylvania
Founded in 2019, Woori Center’s mission is to organize multi-generational Korean and Asian Americans to provide access to services, promote discussion of diverse ideas, cultures and perspectives, and provide a voice for the immigrant and low-income community. Meaning “us” or “we” in Korean, Woori Center runs programs in five key areas: community organizing & advocacy, civic engagement, youth leadership, immigrant services, and arts & culture. We engage community members in the Greater Philadelphia area and will do our best to assist Korean and Asian American community requests statewide.
Location
Lansdale, PA
Phone: 267-481-5153
NAKASEC Texas
Texas
In October, Woori Juntos and NAKASEC ended our formal affiliation. Launched in the summer of 2021, Woori Juntos accomplished some important wins for the community. NAKASEC is proud to have helped seed Woori Juntos and we wish them the best.
To continue our work of building local and national power through a network of affiliates, we have launched NAKASEC Texas. The newest member of the NAKASEC Network, NAKASEC TX empowers Korean Americans through language access and immigrant justice advocacy, working to remove barriers and uplift community voices. 할 수 있다!
Location
Houston, TX
Phone: 281-861-3115
Hamkae Center
Virginia
Hamkae Center (formerly NAKASEC Virginia) began working with community members in Northern Virginia in 2012, soon after the announcement of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Through community organizing, public policy advocacy, civic engagement, youth leadership development, service provision, and community education, Hamkae Center works to build a future in which low- and middle-income, immigrant, people of color, and marginalized communities in Virginia can fully participate in U.S. society and work together as makers of lasting change.
Location
Northern Virginia
Phone: 703-256-2208
