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From the LA Riots to COVID-19, FACE Addresses Ongoing Racial Dis crimination Against Asian Americans
From the LA Riots to COVID-19, FACE Addresses Ongoing Racial Discrimination Against Asian Americans
They say It’s too late to make friends when you need them. During this current Covid-19 and racial environment, the truth of this statement is even more evident. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been over 2200 reported hate incidents and attacks on Asian Americans. Closures of businesses and unemployment in our communities have been disproportionate with extreme hikes.
In key communities including LA County, Asian Americans have had the highest death rates of any group. Yet such struggles of the Asian American community are rarely highlighted, if not marginalized or demonized. It is such times as these, when we need friends who see us and can hear us.
In 2001, with many miracles, I started FACE, a national, award winning, faith-based organizations that has garnered over 700 partners from White House to Fortune 500 companies since 2001 and has implemented numerous initiatives that have helped numerous families with homeownership, affordable housing, financial literacy, employment, mental health, leadership development, at-risk youth programs and more.
For the Korean American community, the importance of friendships was a lesson they learned the hard way during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots when over almost 50 percent of the billion dollar property damage were incurred by Koreans. Yet, they were left alone, with no friends to defend them or cry with them. Instead of being treated as victims, the community was demonized and revictimized. As a Korean American, knowing our community was so much more than the negative soundbites of politicians and the news headlines was painful and a burden that I carried with me. Why didn't we have friends or allies to come along us in these moments of struggle? How can we change these false labels and narratives that are told of us? Why aren’t we recognized and valued and welcomed for our contributions? Why are we consistently missing at the decision-making tables?
Few years later, I came to work for the prominent African American mega church, First AME Church, as a venture capitalist. Here I saw an extraordinary model that seemed to provide a solution to the burden I had carried from the LA Riots but also as a pastor’s daughter. Growing up, I saw my parents struggling to help respond to basic needs of my immigrant congregants such as for housing, jobs, healthcare in addition to their ministry of providing spiritual care. I wondered if there could be a better way.
At First AME Church, I witnessed how churches can create partnerships with government and corporate entities by creating an affiliated nonprofit. Using this structure, the church’s offering was $3 million, but through our partnerships, we raised an additional $12 million! As a result, the church was able to increase their impact by leveraging the resources, expertise and network of their partners, hire experts and pay their workers, increase their influence and welcome, honor God, and be invited to decision making tables.
More importantly, I saw that because of the partnerships, the partners had a vested interest in seeing the church’s success and were lauding the work of the church in rooms and places where God or minority communities are ever mentioned. The model of mutuality through partnerships was a winning model that I've incorporated into all the work I have done.
As a former U.S. Presidential Appointee, I have had the privilege of being in numerous rooms with influential leaders, whether it is the Oval Office or United Nations conferences or corporate board rooms. Yet, more times than not, I have found myself to be the only one in the room. Just as during the LA Riots, I have seen too many times where others have defined for the Asian American community who they are and what they need or more likely, what they don’t need. “
The model minority myth of Asians - that we are successful and enjoy white privilege, masks the suffering that Asians face from discrimination and/racial injustice, and the related economic and health challenges whether it is in housing, employment, mental health, criminal justice systems, education, promotion and leadership opportunities, and funding, amongst others.
With the goal of changing the narrative told by decision makers or by other minority communities, I sought to shine the strength and contributions of the Korean and Asian community. Since starting FACE in 2001, I have trained over 5000 faith and community leaders to foster partnerships and to advocate for the faceless and voiceless members that they serve through numerous initiatives and trainings, including the National Lighting the Community Summits I hosted with White House and other federal agencies as well as my C2 Leadership Institute.
By highlighting to elected officials and corporate leaders the power of the numbers in my faith community in congregation size and offering as well as commitment to service, I have garnered the attention of the White House, government agencies, elected officials and corporations who have sought partnerships with my agency for their initiatives.
Such relationships have come in handy. During the recent protests against police brutality, I was able to call upon the LAPD Deputy Chief to successfully advocate for the curfew to not just cover downtown Los Angeles as originally intended but also to cover Koreatown to prevent any chance of the LA ‘92 Riots. By also highlighting the common struggles that Asian American communities face with other minority communities, I have gained the friendship and trust of other communities of color as well as other religious communities who have sought to work in solidarity to advocate for greater needed resources.
I am grateful to First AME, where I was able to see a model, where you can shine your God given light and not hide who you are – whether it is your faith, ethnicity or whatever it may be, but be able to set such a table where others feel welcome and seek to have a seat. I think we can all learn from this model especially now during this racially charged environment. Hyepin Im President of Faith and Community Empowerment (FACE -formerly Korean Churches for Community Development)
NDILC’s Ten Women Leadership Principles
NAWRB's Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Council (NDILC) Ten Women Leadership Principles help women in the workforce become more effective leaders at any stage of their careers, and empower other women to reach their full potential. This is a universal guide for all levels of leadership, and any woman can benefit from applying them to her everyday life.
Acknowledge Trailblazers: Know and learn from the women who came before you. We are all standing on the shoulders of giants.
Keep Achieving: Effective leaders always keep learning. There is always something to learn and improve upon.
Believe: Whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve.
Pass the Torch: Give opportunities to future generations of women. Your legacy will be the people you help along the journey.
Know Yourself: Be authentic and lead in a way that is true to you. Own your unique talents and strengths, and empower those around you.
Speak Out: Unconscious bias is present, but ignoring it only perpetuates it. Take a stand and speak out.
Listen: Never assume anything about anyone. Everyone has their own story that makes them who they are.
Be Present: Sharing your time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give. Do it with intention by truly being present.
Prepare for the Future: Women with advanced skills today will be ready for tomorrow’s challenges.
Lead by Example: Inclusion isn't enough. Press for parity & strive for excellence in everything.
