OUR HISTORY

KIWA was created in 1992 just two months before the Los Angeles Civil Unrest. In a city torn with racism, poverty, and inequality, KIWA started with the goal of addressing worker exploitation amongst Korean and Latino workers in Koreatown, and to struggle in solidarity with other communities for a more just Los Angeles.

Faced with a wave of development in Koreatown that has brought expensive businesses and luxury housing to the area, KIWA has expanded its reach to housing and neighborhood rights, equitable development policies, and participatory community planning. Through a combination of grassroots organizing and strategic partnerships, KIWA seeks to empower workers and residents in Koreatown to contribute to the social, cultural, and economic development of their neighborhood.

Today, KIWA combines organizing, leadership development, services, and policy advocacy in order to improve the lives of immigrant workers in low-wage industries in Koreatown and build a foundation for social change.