EunSook Lee
EunSook Lee
Executive DirectorNational Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
EunSook Lee knows firsthand the many difficulties facing immigrants in the United States. As a young girl, EunSook emigrated from South Korea to Toronto; she later moved to the United States where, for a time, she experienced the same fears as other immigrants in the face of routine activities such as driving, renting a video, or opening a bank account. Her personal experiences have led her to become a leader in the immigrant rights movement, particularly among fellow Asian Americans. Though the movement for immigrant rights is typically associated with Latinos, EunSookâs dedication to Korean Americans, a "minority within a minority," ensures their valuable perspective will be heard: "As Korean Americans, we speak, understand, and work directly with our communities at a local level; we are, therefore, the most effective organizers." Through her organization, the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, EunSook has built relationships with labor unions, Latino groups, faith-based groups, and others to create space for Korean American constituents to participate in decision making within the movement. She believes the immigration problem is hurting all Americans and the necessary first step is to enable immigrants to compellingly share their stories. This will create the conditions for immigration reform laws that are embraced by all of America. Despite the challenges facing her movement, EunSook says she is "motivated by the belief that change is always possible."
Since 2003, EunSook has been the executive director of NAKASEC, which aims to promote the full participation of Korean Americans in American society, including the immigrant rights debate. Since its founding in 1994, NAKASEC has worked to ensure that Korean Americans and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders of all generations are represented at immigrant rights campaigns. In June 2007, EunSook and NAKASEC served on the organizing committee for Dreams Across America, a ten-city train trip during which 100 diverse individuals shared their stories on immigration. EunSook has been a social justice organizer for more than 20 years and since 1993, she has worked with Korean American communities in Los Angeles through NAKASEC and in Chicago through Korean American Women in Need, a service and prevention organization for victims of domestic violence.
For more on EunSook Lee:
Who Is the Asian American Voter?
By Rex Feng, Asian Week
October 24, 2008
New Citizens Get Ready to Cast Their Votes
By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times
October 17, 2008
LPGA Policy Draws Heat
By Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle
August 29, 2008
LPGA Hopes Language Policy Makes Players More Accessible
By Steve DiMeglio, USA Today
August 27, 2008
