6E Initiatives
In 2019, CKA launched six critical initiatives entitled, “Empower, Engage, Elevate, Enrich, Enlighten, and Envision” (6Es) to achieve our mission and carry out our ABCD priorities. These are simply a few of the innovative tools and programs that CKA hosts to amplify the voice, advance the interest, and strengthen the unity of the Korean American community.
Since 2015, CKA has organized annual national convenings to assemble top Korean American leading experts and professionals across the country to discuss important issues that shape the Korean American community. CKA’s inaugural 2019 Empower Summit was held in November 2019 in Washington, D.C., where we provided practical leadership skills and career insights, and also explored key ideas and issues affecting both Korean Americans and Asian Americans as a whole.
CKA strives to connect and mobilize Korean American leaders to promote mentorship, collaboration, and volunteerism across different regions. To mobilize the Korean American community, two ingredients are essential: Communication and Organization. CKA’s Engage initiative addresses these two underlying needs by creating ConnectKA, an exclusive digital community platform for our members, and organizing various affinity groups.
At CKA, we believe in the importance of lifelong education and growth. We strive to provide learning opportunities that refine the leadership skills of our members and the broader Korean American community. Through the Elevate initiative, CKA will host professional leadership development training weekends to provide both tactical and soft skills that are essential for effective management, networking, and communication.
One of CKA’s unique assets is the experience and wisdom of our diverse membership community. Connecting members to one another and to outside leaders through meaningful engagement is an important value add for being a part of this community. To facilitate these interactions, CKA will organize two types of programs: enrichment dinners, and executive forums. These serve to deepen ties among CKA members and with senior leaders outside the Korean American community through civic meal forums and meaningful conversations.
To promote greater awareness of CKA’s mission and the concerns of the Korean American community, CKA needs strong media channels to connect with the broader public. To achieve this goal, we will develop two important communication platforms: a new national CKA podcast entitled, “Korean American Perspectives” and an enhanced dynamic website.
The Envision Retreat is a three-day retreat where we welcome 20 to 25 key senior stakeholders and donors to discuss how to elevate our national community. We will convene in locations such as Yellowstone National Park and Oahu, Hawaii, and gather stakeholders to inspire one another, build relationships, and learn about the long-term vision of CKA. The retreat will present exclusive networking opportunities with the movers and shakers of the Korean American community, as well as opportunities to engage in discussion about the future of CKA.