KAN-WIN'S 33RD ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA

"Our Journey Home"
Friday, April 21st, 2023

Thank you to all of our friends and supporters for joining us for KAN-WIN's 32nd Anniversary virtual Gala! We are so grateful that our wonderful community came together to share a space full of love, care, and inspiration. Our work would not be possible without each and every one of you!

Check out our event highlights below!

The KAN-WIN team with our emcee, Susie An, our keynote speaker, Kaylyn Ahn, and musical performer, Cat Taylo!

"KAN-WIN's Journey Home"

In honor of this year's theme, "Our Journey Home," we reflected on the ways in which we as an organization have strived to create a sense of "home" for our survivors and community.

Survivor Animated Storytelling

Using art for storytelling, our client shared a powerful animated video about her journey towards finding safety, freedom, and home.

TW: This video contains mentions & descriptions of domestic violence.

Our Program

Susie An is a reporter for WBEZ-FM, the NPR affiliate in Chicago. She covers state and suburban education. She also co-hosts the podcast "Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast." Susie has previously served on KAN-WIN's Board of Directors.

Kaylyn Ahn is the queer daughter of Korean immigrants and a survivor of domestic and sexual violence. After their sexual assault case was denied by prosecutors, she helped draft and testified for HB5441 to close a loophole in Illinois criminal sexual assault law. She organized a March For Asian Lives and Say it With Pride: Equality Now! which successfully repealed laws that prohibited dressing in clothing “of the opposite sex.” Currently, she is a sophomore studying Social Policy and Legal Studies at Northwestern University. On campus, she is the Equity Inclusion Chair for the Undergraduate Prison Education Partnership and the Events Chair for SPEAK (for sexual assault awareness). In the winter of 2021, she fled her home due to domestic violence and became a homeless/unaccompanied youth. Kaylyn hopes to conduct research on employment and domestic violence; in her future, she hopes to become a lawyer to advocate for homeless queer youth.

Cat Taylo works at the University of Chicago’s Physical Sciences Division and advises on academic affairs. She is an alumna of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has hosted multiple workshops at their Philippine Student Association’s annual Filipino Americans Coming Together (FACT) conference. Her workshops often cover intergenerational/intercultural conflict, mental health, and sexual violence awareness through the lens of a first-generation Filipina-American. On the side, she also tutors a playful eleven year old.

Thank you to our Host Committee Members!

Thank you to our Community Partners!

Chicago Mental Health Institute
koreancounseling.com | chicagomhi.com

Chicago Sanctuary Church Network 시카고 이민자보호교회 네트워크
kascn.org | Facebook: @ChicagoSanctuaryChurch

Comprehensive Korean Self-Help Community

Hanul Family Allilance 한울종합복지관
hanulusa.org | Facebook: @hanulchicago | Instagram: @hanulfamilyalliance

J & C Financial, Inc.

Korean American Wellness Association
kawaus.net | Facebook: @KAWAChicagoEnglish
KAWA is committed to promoting wellness of the Korean American community through increasing awareness of mental health issues and education and bridging resources.

Korean Cultural Center of Chicago
kccoc.org | Facebook: @kccoc

Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago
soribeat.org | Facebook: @SoriBeat
Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago (KPAC) is a community-based cultural and educational organization dedicated to promoting traditional Korean performing arts. KPAC annually provides more than 90 performances to more than 50,000 audiences.

Korean Women's International Network (KOWIN) Chicago
kowinchicago.org | Facebook: @ChicagoKOWIN

Law Office of Samuel S. Bae
baelegal.com
Law Office of Samuel S. Bae is a small general practice firm representing individuals and businesses in Personal Injury & Wrongful Death, Divorce & Family Law, Business Law, and Civil Litigation serving Chicagoland area since 1999.