ESCAPE

Empowering Women in the Asian American Community

Our Story KAN-WIN Family Careers Board Supporters Contact
Mission + Vision + Values Our Story KAN-WIN Family Careers Board of Directors Our Supporters Contact Us



Mission + Vision + Values

KAN-WIN’S mission is to eradicate gender-based violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault, especially for women and children across Asian American communities and beyond through culturally competent services, community engagement, and advocacy.



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OUR VISION is of a healthy and safe community free from violence and oppression in which everyone, including historically marginalized groups such as women and children, has the opportunity to reach their full potential.



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We believe that all women have the right to live free from violence and oppression. These are OUR VALUES.

We believe that women can best act on the interests of women.


We believe that violence against women is one symptom of the subordination of women in society. Until women are recognized as equals, violence against women will be tolerated and perpetuated.


We believe that our objective as a woman-centered feminist organization is to create social change.


We believe that abusive situations can be changed and that women can be empowered through education, advocacy, and intervention.


We recognize that immigrant women and women with disabilities are especially vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual assault.


We work collectively to promote the philosophy of equality without regard to race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.


We operate through a consensual decision-making process.

Our Story

As Asian immigrant women, we have heard many stories from our fellow sisters who have been subject to physical, emotional, and sexual violence with no place to go for safety and support. These painful stories cannot be ignored because these women could be our mothers, sisters, friends, daughters, and even ourselves.

In the late 1980s women's advocates and social service providers came together in response to the growing demand for domestic violence services in the Korean American community. Out of these discussions came the formation of KAN-WIN. KAN-WIN was officially founded on August 15, 1990 on the 45th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. This historical date signifies KAN-WIN’S vision of a world free from oppression and violence.

Over the next two decades, we have grown to become one of the premier agencies in the U.S. with the expertise in serving Asian American & immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. Through a set of intensive wrap-around services, including a multilingual 24-hour hotline, legal advocacy, transitional housing program, etc., we help address complex and unique barriers that many immigrant survivors face as they seek to escape from abuse. All of our services are free and confidential, and we strive to provide them in the survivor’s own language.

Previously, KAN-WIN went by the name of “Korean American Women In Need.” In 2013, we decided to go solely by “KAN-WIN” because our clientele became much more diverse since it opened its doors. With the name change, we want to show our commitment to meeting the great diversity of cultural and linguistic needs in the greater Chicagoland area.

There is a folk wisdom from Asia that says: Happiness increases as we share it with others; pain decreases as we share it with others. We at KAN-WIN want to be sisters and a listening ear to share the pain and walk with survivors of violence through their journey toward freedom and healing.

The KAN-WIN Family

Executive Director

Director of Services and Operations

Advocate Counselor

Case Manager

Children's Program Coordinator

Housing Program Coordinator

Legal Advocate

Program Operations Coordinator

Peer Advocate Leadership Program Coordinator

Sexual Assault Services Program Specialist

Youth and Young Adult Organizer

Marketing Coordinator

Development Associate

Faith-Based Field Advocate

Executive Director

Ji Hye Kim received Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 2008 and has worked with low-income individuals and families, as well as immigrants and refugees, in various capacities. Prior to law school, Ji Hye worked at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, where she managed a community economic development program and facilitated train-the-trainer workshops on a financial literacy curriculum for social service agencies. As a law student, Ji Hye clerked at the Northwest Justice Center in Seattle, Washington, assisting low-income immigrants and refugees with public benefits issues. With passion for serving the immigrant communities, Ji Hye joined KAN-WIN in 2010. She served as the Associate Director for 7 years prior to becoming the Executive Director in 2020.

Join the Team - Internships and Job Positions

Thank you for your interest in KAN-WIN! Please see below for open positions and click on the postings to learn more about them and how to apply!



People & Culture Coordinator

Caseworker for Survivor Advocacy Program

Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) Coordinator

Community Engagement Internship (Summer 2023)



FY23 Board of Directors

Sophia Kim, President

Community Leader

Naomi Frydman, Secretary

Clinical Study Manager, Medical & Development
Astellas Pharma

Chee-Young Kim, Treasurer

Co-Founder of NowSecure
Community Member

Kathy Chan

DIRECTOR OF POLICY
COOK COUNTY HEALTH

Sung Yeon Choimorrow

Executive Director
The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)

Grace Hong Duffin

President & CEO
Kenneth Young Center

Christine Lee

Attorney
Law Office of Christne S. Lee

Grace K. Pai

Executive Director
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago

Our Supporters

We express our sincere thanks to our supporters! Here is a list of corporate, foundational, and government supporters from 2016.

Corporations & Foundations


Blowitz Ridgeway Foundation

Chicago Foundation for Women

CNA International

Crown Family Philanthropies

#HATEISAVIRUS

Panda CommUnity Fund

Polk Bros. Foundation

Swedish Covenant Hospital Foundation

Local, State and Federal Government


City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services

City of Des Plaines

Cook County CDBG

Elk Grove Township

Illinois Attorney General

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

Illinois Department of Human Services

Northfield Township Human Services

U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women

Contact Us

Need immediate assistance? Call our 24-hour hotline at: 773.583.0880.
For all other inquiries, please contact us at our office phone numbers or at info@kanwin.org.

Chicago Office

Address of Chicago office is confidential.
Please call the hotline or Chicago office telephone number to make an appointment to come in.

773.583.1392 • 9am to 5pm
Suburban Office
Park Ridge Illinois • 60068
847.299.1392 • 9am to 5pm