KIWA's mission is to empower low wage immigrant workers and to develop a progressive constituency and leadership amongst low wage immigrant workers in Los Angeles that can join the struggle in solidarity with other underrepresented communities for social change and justice.



Founded in March 1992, KIWA has made a significant contribution to the empowerment of Korean immigrant workers and to the development of a progressive constituency in the Korean community. Following the April 1992 Civil Unrest, the Korean American Relief Fun, a self-appointed group of conservative businessmen, denied relief money to worker victims. KIWA organized 45 displaced Korean and Latino workers to demand inclusion of workers in relief fund distribution. The workers eventually succeeded in receiving $109,000 in relief funds. In 1997, KIWA helped win over $2 million for workers from retailers and manufacturers connected with the El Monte "slaveshop" operators. KIWA organized 55 Latino garment workers and was a part of the legal team that eventually won this landmark case. In collaboration with other progressive organizations, KIWA fought to maintain the state's affirmative action programs, raise the minimum wage, lower bus rates for the poor, save hundreds of union jobs at two local hotels and win dignity and respect for workers locally and internationally.