LOS ANGELES (Feb. 25, 2016) — Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (Advancing Justice – LA) welcomes Sylvia Kim as its new Orange County Regional Director. In this role, Kim will provide vision and strategic leadership for the organization’s work and will be responsible for securing resources to sustain and expand Advancing Justice – LA’s Orange County satellite office.
Kim has a long-standing passion for human rights issues at home and abroad. Prior to joining Advancing Justice – LA, Kim was the Executive Director of a multi-ethnic collaborative advocating to reduce racial disparities in accessing mental health, and she currently sits on the Steering Committee for the statewide Racial and Ethnic Mental Health Disparities Coalition.
Originally from Toronto, Canada, she co-founded Canada’s largest human rights organization for North Korea human rights. After law school, she practiced criminal law as both a defense attorney and as an Assistant Crown Attorney. Kim then went on to non-profit community-based work managing public legal education programs and training sessions on access to justice issues.
“I’m delighted to be joining Advancing Justice – LA,” said Kim. “I am excited to collaborate with both existing and new community partners in strengthening the Asian American and Pacific Islander community within Orange County and to build upon the organization’s existing work and legacy.”
“We are excited to welcome Sylvia Kim as our new Orange County Regional Director,” said Advancing Justice – LA President and Executive Director Stewart Kwoh. “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing racial population in Orange County and with Sylvia at the helm, we hope to expand our existing services such as immigration as well as grow our advocacy on behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Orange County. Sylvia brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to this new role and we look forward to strengthening our relationship with the Orange County community under her guidance.”
Kim earned her Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto and recently completed her Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law (LL.M. equivalent) at Oxford University. She is also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles is the nation’s largest Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) legal and civil rights organization and serves more than 15,000 individuals and organizations every year. Founded in 1983 as the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Advancing Justice – LA’s mission is to advocate for civil rights, provide legal services and education, and build coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to create a more equitable and harmonious society. Through direct legal services, impact litigation, policy analysis and advocacy, leadership development and capacity building, Advancing Justice – LA seeks to serve the most vulnerable members of the AANHPI community while also building a strong AANHPI voice for civil rights and social justice.
