[신년사] 참여하며 강해지는 휴스턴 동포사회

휴스턴 한인동포 여러분
2020년 경자년 새해에는 번영과 희망찬 한 해가 되시기를 바랍니다.

“함께 할 때 우리는 더 강합니다.”
저는 한인 커뮤니티 행사에 참여하면서 그 경험으로부터 배우는 것이 많았고 그러한 참여를 통하여 새롭고도 다양한 넓은 시야를 얻게 되었습니다. 그동안 우리 한인 동포들은 힘들고 어려운 이민생활을 통하여 각자 각 개인의 삶을 영위하는 데에 치중하였습니다. 그러나 이제부터 우리 모두는 함께 할 때 더 강해질 수 있습니다.
저는 차세대 리더로서 모든 한인 동포들이 개인적 역량보다는 화합하여 함께 할 수 있기 위해 노력했습니다. 한인동포들이 그룹으로 함께 일할 때 강력한 영향력을 발휘할 수 있고 유력한 정치인들과 다른 지도자들을 끌어들일 수 있기 때문입니다.

“당신이 무엇을 아는가보다 누구를 아는가가 더 중요합니다.”
한인사회 부모들은 고교생 자녀들에게는 대학 진학이나 취업 관련 등 개인적인 목표에 성취를 위해서 조언을 해 줄 수 있지만, 25세 이후 자녀가 사회에서 성공하는 방법에 대해서는 조언을 못해주고 있습니다. 성인이 된 자녀에게 제가 한인회장으로서 조언할 수 있는 것은 귀하의 가치는 “당신이 무엇을 아는가보다 누구를 아는가가 더 중요하다는 것입니다.”
한인회에서는 그 ‘아는 사람’의 목록을 늘려줄 수 있으며, 이를 위해서는 여러분의 참여가 필요합니다. 한인회는 우리 한인들이 많은 중요한 사람들과 대화 할 수 있게 했다고 생각합니다. 개인적인 만남을 갖는 것이 인간관계를 증가시키는 가장 좋은 방법입니다.
그래서 한인회는 한인동포 여러분들의 참여가 필요합니다.
휴스턴 한인 노인회의 경우 많은 회원들이 다양한 행사에 적극 참여하는 모습을 보여줌으로서 한인회는 물론 텍사스 대법원 판사에게도 존중을 받았습니다.
휴스턴은 이민 2세대 한인회 회장을 가진 미국 최초의 도시입니다.
저의 휴스턴 한인회의 초점은 모든 한인단체들과 차세대들의 참여를 독려하는 것이며 다른 도시의 본이 될 수 있는 롤 모델을 만드는 것입니다.
이 기회를 주신 동포 여러분들께 다시 한 번 감사드리며 새해에도 복 많이 받으시기를 바랍니다.

I hope 2019 has been a prosperous year for you and I hope you are optimistic about 2020.
The purpose of HaninHwe is to improve the lives of our Korean community members in the greater Houston Area. I have enjoyed attending most of the Korean community events and have learned from that experience. In doing so, it has given me a unique perspective, and now the unique voice for this new year’s greeting.

“Together Koreans Are Stronger”
Historically, Koreans have been struggling survivors, and naturally evolved to focus on their individual goals. As you can see, Koreans are world leaders in individual sports, like golfing, swimming, speed skating etc…
Koreans, however, are weak in team sports. As a second generation leader, I have tried to emphasize a team leadership approach, by giving individuals more autonomy, while being overlooked by a democratic board of directors.
As a group, we can be stronger, and accomplish many things.
Here are some examples:
A Korean lawyer in San Antonio, introduced a Texas Supreme Court level judge to the Houston Korean seniors, who signed a petition for his re-election. This judge travelled to Houston to thank the Korean seniors at the Senior Center. With HaninHwe, we can introduce this top level judge to our second generation Korean lawyers. This would be a big opportunity for the judge and our Korean lawyers.
Our Korea town, City of Houston council member Brenda Stardig is now running for County Commissioner Precinct 3. She will have more influence than before and she is another person who is happy to meet our younger generation Koreans.
Our Korean American Voters League organized a Korean Early Voters day, and we showed Korean voting power. When the polling judge discouraged translators, our young English Speaking HaninHwe Directors, spoke up against it. One reached out and got our story published in the Houston Chronicle. Another met with the County Clerk. The efforts of our young English speaking Koreans resulting in a smooth pathway for our translators, and even got the county to hire two Korean translators.
We are more powerful when we work together as a group, and as group we attract attention, including powerful politicians and other leaders.

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”
I often ask children, “What advice do your parents give you?” I also ask parents, “What advice do you give your children?” The answer is always similar, “Work hard and get good grades.” Again, this is an individual goal. As you know, universities are interested in how your child works in groups, and your child tries to gain a “group” related resume during high school. What if your child works with adult groups and not student groups? What if that adult groups included contacts with Houston and State elected officials? I would think that resume would get more attention from University admissions, than being the high school math team president. HaninHwe can provide these connections to your child.
When I ask both parents and students about advice given after age 25, the answer is ……. none. Children are not taught how to succeed after age 25. My answer to them is, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Good or bad, this is the reality of life. Your value as an adult is “who you know”. HaninHwe can increase your list of “who you know”.
• I do not have much money, but I know who does.
• I cannot speak Korean, but I know who can
• I cannot give you a job, but I may know who can.
• I cannot cure your disease, but I may know who can.
• I cannot solve your dispute, but I may know the best lawyer for the situation
• I cannot help you if the government is after you, but I know a Houston politician and a Texas supreme level Judge who can help you.
And growing this list of “who you know” requires participation. Meeting in person is the best way to increase “human currency”.
As HaninHwe president, I feel I can get many important people to speak to us Koreans, but we need your participation. We can learn from the Korean Senior Association. They participate as a group. They command the respect from HaninHwe, and even a Texas Supreme Court level judge.
Who you know does not need to be very important people. In the past, we have had university students speak to high school students on what to focus on in college, absent of parent control. Most kids have no guidance.
Please have your children participate. They need practice having conversation with adults. For many of us, our first experience working with adults was on the first day of our first job. It many respects, it was too late. We were so out of practice. How could we succeed?
Houston is first US city to have Korean second generation HaninHwe president. Our focus is on our youth and we hope to create a model for other cities to follow. Thank you again, for this opportunity to lead our community. Please join me.

휴스턴 한인회 회장 신창하(David Shin)