Grantee Partner
Innovative organizer amplifies the voices of Asian Americans in the pursuit of justice for all
The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) is a grassroots network that organizes Korean and Asian Americans to achieve social, racial, and economic justice. NAKASEC’s members represent a diverse cross-section of the Korean and Asian American community, including those who identify as low-income, recent immigrants, limited English proficient, undocumented, youth, women, and senior citizens.
Over the years, NAKASEC has established itself as a highly creative, innovative Asian American leader and organizer. NAKASEC has led impactful campaigns and collaborations that elevate the stories and leadership of undocumented Asian Americans in the national conversation over immigrant justice, as well as forming multi-racial alliances.
For example, in November 2019, NAKASEC completed an 18-day, 250-mile March for DACA & TPS, from New York City to the steps of the Supreme Court. They intended to elevate DACA back into the mainstream conversation—garnering 50 media hits and meeting hundreds of people along the route. They also held a Home is Here March for DACA and TPS that involved hundreds of participants who walked from the Statue of Liberty to the steps of the US Supreme Court.
Having an Asian American group spearhead this and other similar actions has also served to broaden the public narrative about who is a DACA recipient, who would be harmed if the program ended, and the diversity of people that immigration policies impact.
NAKASEC also frequently partners with other immigrant-led groups, for instance UndocuBlack Network, creating a model for addressing both anti-Black racism and anti-Asian racism. Shortly after the murder of George Floyd, NAKASEC co-hosted a conversation with numerous Asian American organizations and the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), providing several ways for the over 7,500 participants to engage with M4BL’s planned mobilizations. And following the murders of eight individuals – six of whom identified as Asian women – in Atlanta, GA, NAKASEC co-organized a powerful solidarity event with UndocuBlack and United We Dream Network to provide space for community members to come together, learn, and support one another.
Unbound has supported NAKASEC with general operating support since 2019.
Advancing social, racial, and economic justice for Asian American immigrants
200
People who marched from New York City to Washington D.C. in November 2019, in support of DACA
The Latest
Photo 1: Home Is Here March, NAKASEC
Photo 2: NAKASEC bike tour