"Getting to Know Tammy Kim" by Monica Koh
Becoming an Inclusive Leader
Tammy Kim. The strength the name gives. I had the opportunity to meet her and instantly became entranced by her soft yet strong charisma. I learned firsthand what prompted her to run for the Irvine City Council as a woman who first founded a nonprofit organization to lead the Korean American community.
Not only was Councilwoman Kim a leader of nonprofit organizations, she was also a small business owner involved in global operations, which drove her to run for a position in the Irvine City Council. As in most of her life, she primarily devotes her energy to youth leadership development and community service while stressing that a true leader must include all races and cultures. Councilwoman Kim expressed, “I wanted to be part of the Irvine City Council because I felt the city was getting lost, and [it] needed a new leadership that reflects why people settle in Irvine and embraces the multicultural community.”
As a Korean American, Councilwoman Kim constantly gives back to her cultural community. For instance, she helped educate Koreans and the underprivileged through founding the Korean American Center, which fosters knowledge about Korean culture. Councilwoman Kim exclaims, “I like historical dramas. I have a website that connects virtual dramas with real Korean history. Since the U.S. doesn't teach Korean history at school, I naturally wanted to teach Korean history to children.” She emphasized that she will continue to pay attention to the Korean American community and support improvement plans as needed. Personally, she hopes to encourage a sense of pride among Koreans living in the United States. Her goal is to help them grow into global leaders who will dedicate time to learning the Korean language and culture.
Currently, Irvine is fighting the economic impact and public health issues caused by the ongoing pandemic while trying to pursue a strong and sustainable future. Councilwoman Kim finds Irvine’s housing expenses to be very high and burdensome on many families. Therefore, she is working to lift this burden by creating a workforce housing program for intermediate professionals.
Creating a World Without Racism
When we meet people, we tend to first judge their physical appearances. In America, a country of diverse cultures and races, people are often discriminated against because of their skin colors. Councilwoman Kim remarks, “We should have an attitude of respecting differences but rejecting discrimination. I spent my high school days in Michigan. There were a handful of Asians there, [but] people told me to go back to where I came from. I tried to defend myself by talking back but, in the end, the school had suspended me.”
From this experience, Councilwoman Kim knew she had to work to reduce the prejudice, discrimination, and institutional racism that still exist in this country. She noticed that most highly qualified Asians were being forced to be satisfied with lower ranking jobs because they were often restricted from being promoted to better positions. Councilwoman Kim strives to be the inclusive leader who addresses these social issues. She desires to create a city where everyone receives fair opportunities.
As Tammy Kim grows as the new Vice Mayor of Irvine, I strongly believe her work will change the community for the better. She will make sure to share various cultural backgrounds with the people of Irvine and give to others who are in need. I look forward to seeing the beneficial changes brought about by Tammy Kim, a strong and caring leader.
