Korean community center task force has challenging agenda
Plans to establish a Korean community center in Fairfax
County are proceeding despite conflicts over leadership within the task force
set up to organize the project.
County are proceeding despite conflicts over leadership within the task force
set up to organize the project.
The task force members include representatives of several
Korean social service and business organizations. William Hwang, former
president of the Korean American Association of Virginia, is serving as
coordinator of the task force.
Korean social service and business organizations. William Hwang, former
president of the Korean American Association of Virginia, is serving as
coordinator of the task force.
Several committees have been formed, on governance,
membership, finance/fundraising, and finding a home. At its most recent meeting
in May, the task force agreed to also let people join the effort as
individuals, rather than as a representative of an organization.
membership, finance/fundraising, and finding a home. At its most recent meeting
in May, the task force agreed to also let people join the effort as
individuals, rather than as a representative of an organization.
Some of the organizations involved have had a long history
of disagreement with one another, so working together, even on a project they
all support, is challenging. While the task force agreed on a vision for a
Korean community center—“to provide services and cultural opportunities that allow
Koreans and non-Koreans to develop as healthy, self-sufficient, and engaged
community members”—as well as a mission statement and set of principles, they haven’t yet
created a formal organizational structure.
of disagreement with one another, so working together, even on a project they
all support, is challenging. While the task force agreed on a vision for a
Korean community center—“to provide services and cultural opportunities that allow
Koreans and non-Koreans to develop as healthy, self-sufficient, and engaged
community members”—as well as a mission statement and set of principles, they haven’t yet
created a formal organizational structure.
The group needs to work on several key administrative issues, including a
memorandum of understanding on the role of the participants, bylaws, a board of
directors, a process for selecting leaders, and a financial plan. Another
challenge is figuring out how the participating
organizations with different levels of resources can contribute to the project on an equitable basis.
memorandum of understanding on the role of the participants, bylaws, a board of
directors, a process for selecting leaders, and a financial plan. Another
challenge is figuring out how the participating
organizations with different levels of resources can contribute to the project on an equitable basis.
Fairfax County Chair Sharon Bulova’s office is facilitating
the working group’s meetings but will take a back seat once task force gets
farther along. The county isn’t providing any funding to the group.
the working group’s meetings but will take a back seat once task force gets
farther along. The county isn’t providing any funding to the group.
County officials who spoke at the meeting said the county
doesn’t own any suitable land or properties it could sell or lease, so the task
force will either have to buy land and build a facility or buy or lease an
existing building that could be renovated and repurposed.
doesn’t own any suitable land or properties it could sell or lease, so the task
force will either have to buy land and build a facility or buy or lease an
existing building that could be renovated and repurposed.
According to several sources close to the task force, the
group is leaning toward looking for a site along the Route 29 corridor
between the two centers of the county’s Korean population—Annandale and
Centreville. In general, real estate in Annandale would be more expensive so that could be an obstacle for an Annandale location.
group is leaning toward looking for a site along the Route 29 corridor
between the two centers of the county’s Korean population—Annandale and
Centreville. In general, real estate in Annandale would be more expensive so that could be an obstacle for an Annandale location.
Developing the center in a location zoned commercial would
be easier. A community center could be built in a residential area under the “public
benefit association” classification but that would require the Board of
Supervisors to approve a special exception. That process could take up to a
year and there would be a $16,000 application fee. The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia on Little River Turnpike, which the task force is looking at as a model, was designated as a public benefit
when it was developed in a residential area between Annandale and Fairfax.
be easier. A community center could be built in a residential area under the “public
benefit association” classification but that would require the Board of
Supervisors to approve a special exception. That process could take up to a
year and there would be a $16,000 application fee. The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia on Little River Turnpike, which the task force is looking at as a model, was designated as a public benefit
when it was developed in a residential area between Annandale and Fairfax.