CHAIRMAN’S GREETING

Welcome to Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington’s website!

Nearly 50 years ago, a few community members gathered and started to help newly arriving immigrants settle in this area. When they first arrived, they needed everything: transportation from the airport, help with finding apartments, job referrals, English translations, and childcare, among others. Mainly these newcomers needed some support and assistance as they became empowered to take care of themselves, their families, and the larger community.

What started out as a family-like community of volunteers has grown into the organization we know today. KCSC was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1974 and, over the last five decades, our beneficial programs and services have expanded steadily, meeting the evolving needs of the Korean American community, and keeping pace with a growing community of Asian Americans residing in the metro DC area. I wonder if, in 1974, those few founding members ever imagined KCSC’s phenomenal growth, not only in its size and budget but, more importantly, in the huge impact our organization has had for Asian American residents in the Greater Washington area. In addition to serving the Korean community, we are also able to serve other Asian-American residents of Northern Virginia, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Howard County.

Over the years, KCSC and its many programs have been described by the community with words like “safety net”, “sharing love”, “family enrichment”, “happy marriages”, “free health fairs”, “senior empowerment”, “job training”, “assistance to victims of domestic violence”, “mental health counseling” and “youth education”. All KCSC’s programs and services promote socio-economic empowerment and support all those we serve to be healthy and contributing members of US society.

As the thirteenth Chair of the Board and on behalf of KCSC, I want to invite you to join our team of board members, staff, volunteers and community partners to grow with us so that together, we can help support and empower healthy and happy individuals, families and communities!