Mission Statement

The Korea Academy for Educators is a private, non profit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to informing educators about Korean history and culture and the Korean American experience in order to promote cross-cultural understanding. The Korea Academy provides opportunities for educators to learn about Korean history and culture and the Korean American experience in order to promote cross-cultural understanding.

Vision

The Korean population has increased rapidly in the United States, especially in the Los Angeles area, but opportunities for educators to be informed about Korean history and culture have not kept pace with changing demographics. China and Japan continue to be emphasized in schools and teacher education programs, but Korea is rarely mentioned.

Our five-day seminars and weekend workshops aim to remedy this deficiency. Public and private school teachers will become more knowledgeable about Korea and its rich heritage. They can then see the complete picture of East Asia. Furthermore the role that the United States must play in supporting peace and stability throughout East Asia will come into focus. Understandably Korean American students too will profit from learning about their heritage

In order to accomplish these objectives, prominent scholars, writers, artists, musicians and others are hired to present varied aspects of Korean history and culture. Educators also receive extensive handouts that include valuable resources and helpful lessons to bring the country into the classrooms. Teachers and school administrators learn about the Korean American experience and become more effective in meeting the needs of these students and their families.

Racial tension does exist in Los Angeles and other major cities. Immigration and family mobility have increased the problem. Public schools have serious financial constraints that limit their ability to meet the challenges of racial and ethnic diversity, to say nothing of the poverty and stress that have become an unfortunate reality of urban life.

Since 2006, KAFE and the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles have provided educational programs for over 1,000 educators from approximately 52 school districts and 35 independent schools from 18 states and Washington, D.C. Our outreach has also included at least 600 more educators from schools throughout California and numerous universities, such as the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Colorado, and the University of Washington. KAFE continues to collaborate with existing foundations, such as The Korea Society, the National Consortium for Teaching Asia, and the Foundation for Korean Language and Culture. Programs have been made possible through generous contributions provided by the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, the Academy of Korean Studies, the Korean Foundation, the Overseas Koreans Foundation, the Los Angeles Forerunners Lions Club, and individual donations from Korean Americans from coast to coast.