Our Mission
At the Korean Community Development Services Center, our mission is to empower individuals and families in the Olney community by providing essential services and support. We are dedicated to helping new immigrants navigate their journey and ensuring low-income families have access to vital resources. Through compassion and commitment, we strive to create lasting change and foster a sense of belonging for all.
Our Vision
Our vision is to cultivate a thriving Olney community where every resident has the opportunity to succeed and prosper. We envision a future where all families have access to safe housing, quality education, and the resources they need to achieve their goals. Together, we aim to build a supportive environment that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusivity for everyone.
Empowering the Olney Community Since 1983
Founded in December 1983, the Korean Community Development Services Center has been dedicated to uplifting the Olney community in north Philadelphia. As a nonprofit organization, we provide essential services to new immigrants, helping them with naturalization and benefit enrollment. We also offer affordable housing solutions for low-income families and operate an early learning center, ensuring that every child has access to quality care and education. Our mission is to support and empower those in need, creating a stronger, more resilient community.
Why Choose Us?
At the Korean Community Development Services Center, we are committed to making a positive impact in the Olney community. Our extensive experience and compassionate approach ensure that we meet the diverse needs of those we serve.
Proven Track Record
With over 40 years of experience, we have successfully assisted thousands of individuals and families in Olney.
Comprehensive Services
We offer a wide range of services, including housing assistance, immigrant support, and early childhood education, all under one roof.
Community-Centered Approach
Our dedicated team focuses on building relationships and understanding the unique needs of each family in Olney, ensuring personalized support.
Our Services
Housing Assistance
We provide comprehensive support to help low-income families safe and affordable housing. Our team guides you through the process, connecting you with resources to meet your housing needs.
Immigrant Services
Our immigrant services include naturalization assistance and benefit enrollment support. We empower new arrivals with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate their new life in Philadelphia.
Early Learning Center
Our early learning center, Rising Sun Children’s Center, offers quality childcare for low-income families, focusing on early education and development. We provide a nurturing environment where children can thrive and prepare for future success. Rising Sun Children’s Center has received a four out of four star Keystone Stars rating from the state of Pennsylvania.
About Us
Board of Directors
Dr. Jin Hung Yu, Chair of The Board
In December 1983, Dr. Jin Hung Yu founded the Korean Community Development Services Center in Philadelphia. Originally established to help newly-arrived Asian immigrants adjust to life in their new country, its mission evolved over the years to address the needs of tens of thousands of low-income clients from many different backgrounds over the decades.
Since 1983, the Korean Community Development Services Center has served nearly 100,000 residents in Olney including 80,000 new immigrants, provided hundreds of families with affordable housing, and served over 2,000+ children from low-income families. As a result of this work, Dr. Yu has won dozens of awards including the following: the Philadelphia Human Rights Award in 1980, the Community Service Award from the Philadelphia Refugee Center in 1985, the Community Leadership Award from the Mayor of Philadelphia in 1986, the Prudential Insurance Company Leadership Award in 1989, the La Salle University Community Service Award in 1992, the Certificate of Appreciation from Asian Health Projects in 2003, and the Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Philadelphia in 2006.
Dr. Yu retired as Executive Director in July 2024 and now serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Yu graduated from Wake Forest in 1963, became a U.S. citizen in 1974, and completed his PhD at Temple in 1979.
Reverend Dae Yong Um, Board Member
Reverend Dae Yong Um first joined the Korean Community Development Services Center as the Senior Community Service Employment Program Director in 2001. During his 23 years of service at the Center, he has taught AIDS prevention courses, English as Second Language classes, and provided benefit enrollment assistance to thousands of new immigrants living in the Philadelphia area. He has served as a tireless volunteer for residents in Olney, Philadelphia for several decades.
Reverend Um has also served as a pastor at several churches in the Philadelphia metropolitan area including Canaan Korean Presbyterian Church, Young Sang Korean Presbyterian Church, and Market Square Presbyterian Church. He served as the Pastor of Korean Ministries at Market Square for 18 years through 2016.
Reverend Um graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Seoul National University, and received his Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary and his Doctorate of Ministry at Trinity Theological Seminary.
Reverend Um joined the Board of Directors at the Korean Community Development Services Center in June 2024.
Staff
Don Yu, Executive Director
Don currently serves as the Executive Director of the Korean Community Development Services Center. In his more than 20 years of service to a variety of nonprofit organizations and institutions, Don has spent his career as a leader in education, government, nonprofit organizations, and the law. His experience spans strategic partnerships and fundraising, legal issues, board relations, financial sustainability, governance, and politics.
Prior to joining KCDSC, Don served as the Chief Strategy & Product Officer at Scholarship America, the largest nonprofit provider of scholarships in the U.S. He has also served as the Chief Operating Officer for former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative as well as Vice President for Applied Policy & Advancement at Common App, a nonprofit college application provider.
Prior to joining Reach Higher, he served in a variety of positions as a political appointee in the Obama Administration, including Chief Transformation Officer at the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education and Special Advisor to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. In his time at the U.S. Department of Education, he played a lead role in the creation of presidential Executive Order 13592, Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities, as well as the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program which honors secondary and postsecondary institutions for achievements in sustainability, health and wellness, and the reduction of environmental impact.
He also spent four years as an attorney representing public school districts and before federal state courts and administrative agencies and provided legal counsel on special education, student discipline, free speech, and student records. Prior to his legal career, he was a high school English teacher and coach for three years at a school in suburban Philadelphia.
He received his bachelors and masters degrees from Columbia University and his law degree from Northwestern University.
Lynn Lee, Director of Rising Sun Children’s Center
Ms. Lynn Lee has served as the Director of KCDSC’s Rising Sun Children’s Center since September of 2021. As the Director, Ms. Lee is responsible for hiring, training, and supervising staff members, developing educational programs, overseeing curriculum implementation, managing the Center’s budget, and communicating with parents among other responsibilities.
Born in Vietnam, Lynn and her family immigrated to the U.S. when she was eleven years old. Lynn can speak several languages including Chinese, Vietnamese and English. Lynn received her associates degree in Advertising Design in 2003 from Cypress College California. She later received her bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Early Childhood Education from Ashford University in 2014. In 2015, she received her certification for PA private school with credentials for birth to kindergarten. Prior to serving as the Director of Rising Sun Children’s Center, she worked as a Pre-K teacher for eight years.
Ms. Lee lives in Olney, Philadelphia.
