TEEN SUMMIT
Teen Summit
Date: Saturday, June 8, 2024
Time: 9:30AM – 3:00PM
Location: Korean Center (1362 Post St, SF)
Eligible Participants: 8-12th Grade Students
Early Bird Fee (ends 5/3): $45
Regular Fee: $50
*Please note that the fee is non-refundable.
Overview
The Teen Summit Program, hosted by the Korean Center and sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, is designed to empower and develop young leaders in the Korean community. This one day program aims to provide students from grades 8-12 with opportunities to enhance their leadership skills and foster personal growth. Through a combination of hands-on workshops, engaging lectures, and discussions, the program equips students with the knowledge and tools needed to be an effective leader. Once the program is completed, participants will receive a certificate from KCI.
2024 Teen Summit Speakers & Activities
Kristyn Leach of Namu Farm
Korean American farmer Kristyn Leach runs the 2-acre Namu Farm situated in Petaluma, California. Known for her dedication to sustainable agriculture, Kristyn’s focus on preserving crops native to her homeland of South Korea and other East Asian regions through traditional farming methods have garners local and international attention. This means no mechanical plowing, no tractors, no fossil fuels, only hand tools. In addition to her work on the farm, Kristyn is an active member of various agricultural and food justice organizations, advocating for sustainable agriculture, seed diversity, and food security. Her approach to farming – integrating cultural heritage, environmental stewardship, and community engagement – has not only enhanced the culinary landscape of the Bay Area but also sparked important conversations about the preservation of agricultural traditions.
Eddie Ahn, Author of Advocate
In additional to being a graphic novelist, Eddie Ahn has been an environmental justice attorney and nonprofit worker for fifteen years. While working as the executive director of Brightline Defense, a San Francisco–based environmental justice nonprofit, he was inducted into the State of California’s Clean Energy Hall of Fame for his work in equity and clean energy. He has also served as President of the San Francisco Commission on the Environment as well as a commissioner on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bay Conservation and Development Commission. He is a self-taught artist who has been recognized as a Cartoonist-in-Residence by the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa.
Advocate follows Eddie in his career as an environmental justice lawyer and activist striving to serve diverse communities in San Francisco amidst environmental catastrophes, an accelerating tide of racial and economic inequality, burnout, and his family’s expectations.
Participants will receive a free copy of Eddie Ahn’s Advocate.
Marisa Chun
Judge A. Marisa Chun has served on the Superior Court of California, San Francisco County, since 2021. She is currently a criminal trial judge and previously presided over juvenile dependency cases and felony arraignments and preliminary hearings. She graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School, where she served as developments editor of the Harvard Law Review.
Inhi Suh
Prior to joining DocuSign Inhi served as the General Manager of Global Strategic Partnerships at IBM. She previously held various senior executive roles at IBM. Inhi received a B.S. in Biology, History, and Women’s Studies from Duke University and a J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Inhi has been a champion of diversity and inclusion throughout her career.
Custom Chopsticks with Chopstick Story
Chopsticks have been part of Korean culture for thousands of years, dating back to ancient times.They were initially made from various materials such as wood, metal, or bamboo. As part of the Teen Summit, Chopstick Story will teach students how to create their very own personalized wooden chopsticks from start to finish. They can engrave their names onto the chopsticks, adding a unique touch to their creation, and then take them home as a memento of the experience.
Program Schedule:
| Time | Speaker | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30AM | Consul General Lim Jung-taek | Greetings |
| 10:00AM | Kristyn Leach | Presentation |
| 10:45AM | Eddie Ahn | Presentation |
| 11:15AM | Eddie Ahn, Kristyn Leach, Irene Kyoung | Panel 1: Leaving Legacy/Preservation of Culture |
| 12:00PM | Lunch (Dosirak provided by Korean Center, Inc.) | |
| 12:45PM | Chopstick Story | Chopstick Making |
| 2:30PM | Marissa Chun, Inhi Suh | Panel 2: To be Korean or Not Korean, That is the Question – Career Journey With Sprinkles of Korean Values in Your Day-to-Day At Work |
| 3:00PM | End |