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As Korean women, we have heard many stories of our fellow sisters who have been subjected to physical, emotional and sexual violence and have not had any place to go for safety and support.  We knew that these painful stories could not be ignored because they could be our mother's, our sister's, our friends', our daughter's or our own.

 

As Korean folk wisdom tells us, the more happiness we share, the bigger it gets and the more pain we share, the smaller it gets.  We wanted to be friends and sisters who could hear the pain and share the struggle of those women suffering from violence.

 

In the late 1980s women's advocates and social service providers came together in response to the growing demand for services in the Korean American community. Women seeking assistance were knocking at the doors of their local community centers in the middle of the night. Out of these discussions came the formation of KAN-WIN.

 

KAN-WIN was officially founded on August 15, 1990, on the 45th anniversary of Korean's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. By choosing this historic date, KAN-WIN sent a clear message of its mission: freedom from violence.

 

KAN-WIN is the first independent organization in the nation established solely to address violence against women and children in the Korean American community and continues to be the only comprehensive domestic violence service agency for Korean Americans in the Midwest.

 

 

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May 1989

Concerned community members in the Korean American community meet to address the crises needs of women and children affected by domestic violence victims in the Korean American community.  

 

 

 

 

June 1990

In preparation for operations, KAN-WIN’s founders hosts its first fundraiser with the Kimchi Jar fundraising campaign.  Kimchi Jars advertising KAN-WIN’s programs are placed in Korean businesses to raise money and gain support.    

 

 

August 15, 1990

KAN-WIN officially launches on the 45th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule by opening a Korean/English bilingual hotline.

 

 

 

1992

KAN-WIN hires 1st full-time staff, and hosts its first 20-hour domestic violence training program

 

 

 

1994

KAN-WIN co-hosts the STEP OUT STOP ABUSE walkathon with local domestic violence agencies to raise money and awareness for women and children affected by domestic violence.  

 

 

 

1995

KAN-WIN hires 2nd full time staff and expands hotline to a comprehensive advocacy program, including legal and social service advocacy.

 

 

 

 

1999

Local Asian American artists host a benefit concert, KAN-WIN is named as the sole beneficiary.

 

 

 

2000

In honor of KAN-WIN's 10th anniversary, KAN-WIN hosts a special forum for "comfort women" (military sex slaves in Japanese military camps during World War II) with the "Quest for Justice" art exhibition.  The exhibition features paintings and sketches by former Korean comfort women, displayed at the Daley Civic Center in Chicago.

 

 

 

2001

KAN-WIN hosts a community garage sale with volunteers at Korean American Community Service.

 

 

 

2002

The crisis hotline is expanded to a 24 hour bilingual crisis hotline, and a new Transitional Housing Program begins.

 

 

 

 

2003

Children's Program, targeting the needs of child witnesses to domestic violence is launched.  KAN-WIN is recognized as an Unsung Hero by WGN-TV and Harris Bank. In honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2nd generation Asian artists held a benefit concert at Music Institute of Chicago.

 

 

 

2004

KAN-WIN launches the Empowering Women programs including a mentoring program for children and computer classes.  KAN-WIN collaborates with the Cambodian Association of Illinois and opens computer classes to Asian American women in Chicago.  In June, KAN-WIN launches its Strategic Planning.

 

 

 

 

2005

In February, KAN-WIN hosts a press conference to mobilize the Asian American community around the brutal murder of Koo Eunju to take an active stance against domestic violence.  

In November, KAN-WIN celebrates its 15th anniversary with the Generations of Women Making Change benefit dinner.  KAN-WIN presents the Change Maker Awards to Rev. Haeran Kim, Korean American Nurses Association, and the Chicago Foundation for Women for their commitments to building safe and healthy communities.