Queens, NY – On Monday, the New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force Chair Assemblymember Grace Lee, Assemblymember Ron Kim, Assemblymember Ed Braunstein, Assemblymember Nily Rozic and Senator John Liu announced $648,000 in state funding for the Korean American Family Service Center, and $529,200 for the MinKwon Center for Community Action.

This award is a part of a historic $30 million investment in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) New Yorkers in the FY 2025-26 State Budget, secured for the third consecutive year by the APA Task Force.

“I’m proud to help provide funding to organizations that support some of our most vulnerable AAPI New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee, Chair of the APA Task Force. “The funding for KAFSC and the MinKwon Center for Community Action secured by Assemblymember Kim is part of the historic $30 million we’ve invested in AAPI communities for three years in a row. And we’re doing it at a time when Donald Trump and Republicans are attacking immigrant families and the safety nets they rely on. This is about more than dollars—it’s about keeping critical services stable and accessible for New Yorkers too often left behind.”

"The Korean American Family Service Center and the MinKwon Center for Community Action have long had an outsized impact in their work serving the Asian American community of New York,” said Assemblymember Ron Kim. “For decades, they have been at the forefront of empowering and educating immigrant New Yorkers on their rights, addressing domestic violence and helping survivors of abuse, and providing extensive legal assistance and youth education. I am proud to join the Chair of the APA Task Force and my colleagues in honoring their accomplishments and continuing our support for the critical services they provide to countless New Yorkers."

Founded in 1989 in response to the needs of New York City’s growing Korean immigrant community, the Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC) has evolved into a leading, culturally competent agency addressing domestic violence and sexual assault through prevention and intervention.

Jeehae Fischer, Executive Director at The Korean American Family Service Center, said, “We thank our legislative champions and the Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force for leading the effort to establish the $30 million AAPI Equity Budget—a landmark investment that affirms New York’s commitment to equity and inclusion for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. For decades, culturally specific organizations like KAFSC have filled critical gaps in care, supporting immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, their families, and elders with language-accessible, trauma-informed services. At a time of harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric at the federal level and ongoing anti-Asian hate, this investment is a clear stand for safety, dignity, and belonging. It allows us to strengthen the foundation of community-led care—expanding mental-health, violence-prevention, legal, and economic-empowerment programs that meet people where they are. This is more than funding; it’s a commitment to ensure equity endures for our children and the generations to come.”

The MinKwon Center for Community Action is a community-based organization serving Korean Americans, Asian Americans, and the broader immigrant community in New York, advancing immigrant rights advocacy, civic engagement, education, social and legal services, and youth leadership.

Yoon Ji Kim, Interim Executive Director at MinKwon Center for Community Action, Convener of APA VOICE, said, “We are deeply grateful to our legislative champions of the New York State APA Task Force, led by AM Grace Lee, our local State representatives AM Kim, AM Rozic, AM Braunstein, Sen. Liu, the entire State legislature, our partners at the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) and AAF, and the entire Equity Budget Coalition for fighting for and securing this critical funding. In an unprecedented time of political and economic uncertainty that has devastated our communities, this investment is absolutely essential. For the low- to middle-income Korean, Chinese, and other Asian immigrants we serve in Queens, this funding is a lifeline. It allows Minkwon Center to continue our vital work of empowering, organizing, and providing the resources our community members need to not only survive, but to thrive and fight for justice.”

Other elected officials attending the funding presentation included Senator John Liu, and members of the APA Task Force, Edward Braunstein, and Nily Rozic.

State Senator John Liu said, "These funds represent an important part of the AAPI Equity Budget, which was established to make sure community-based organizations serving Asian Americans throughout New York City have the resources they need to sustain vital programs, address systemic inequities, and advocate for our communities. As the federal administration continues to look for ways to threaten the safety and security of immigrant communities, these funds are more important than ever to keep our communities safe and supported."

Assemblymember Edward Braunstein said, “The AAPI Equity Budget was established to help correct years of historical underinvestment by earmarking funds to support organizations like the Korean American Family Service Center and MinKwon Center for Community Action that serve AAPI communities with critical social services, crisis intervention, and programming. I’m happy to join Assembly Members Kim, Rozic and Lee to present these two Queens-based organizations with over $1 million in funding. Thank you to my APA Task Force colleagues for their partnership in securing these community investments.”

“For too long, Asian American and immigrant communities have been overlooked and underfunded. The Korean American Family Service Center and the MinKwon Center have filled those gaps for decades, standing up for survivors, empowering youth, and fighting for justice when others would not. This funding ensures that their work continues, that families in Queens and beyond have access to safety and opportunity. I’m grateful to Chair Lee and the APA Task Force for their continued leadership in delivering real investments to the AAPI community," said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.