Born and raised in S. C., at the age of 4 or 5, I observed the KKK for the first time in my life. As a result, I understood the fear and pain that is spawned by racism. Having achieved a degree of success, both personally and professionally, I understand the importance of being a mentor, lending a helping hand, and providing a stable influence to those who have not experienced the tough journey that they have traveled, particularly, if they identify as Black, African American or BIPOC. I am honored to have had an award named in my honor which has allowed me, and the organization where I was the first woman and person of color to lead the organization (DRI), to provide mentorship, guidance and recognition and to respect and enhance the talents and contributions people of color. I have been a member of the WK family for 40 years. I am here for a reason.

Growing up, my parents instilled in me the belief that I could be and do anything I wanted if I was determined and willing to put in the necessary effort. With the knowledge of experience, I recognize that as a woman I probably had to work harder and prove myself more than most men do and I understand that for women of color the challenge is often greater. As a leader, I strive to create a culture in which each person feels seen, supported, and equipped with opportunities to achieve their own goals.

As a non-member native of the Colville Indian Reservation, Hunter is deeply rooted in his community, country, faith, and family. He serves as an At-Large member of the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors, with the special charge to represent 'those who may be historically underrepresented in governance, or who represent some of the diverse elements of the public of the State of Washington.' Hunter is passionate about freedom, justice, equality, and rule of law.

It has been said that diversity is being invited to the party, while inclusion is being asked to dance. As a Korean-American professional woman, ubiquitous and meaningful representation of BIPOC and women in both the professional realm and the community at large is of the utmost importance to me. I strive to further diversity and inclusion initiatives in the community to ensure that exponentially more BIPOC and women are joining in on the dance and that they are remaining, developing, and thriving on the dance floor.

I feel so privileged to have been afforded the opportunity to become a lawyer. With two lawyers for parents, there was never any question whether the law was a viable career path for me or whether I would have access to the resources needed to get there. I want all kids – from every race, community, and economic status – to feel that similar freedom of opportunity. That’s why I serve on the steering committee for SMART Reading’s Lawyers for Literacy campaign, a fantastic organization dedicated to fostering strong early literacy skills and a love for reading in underprivileged young children who may not own any books or have anyone reading to them at home. I hope that through these efforts, more children in our community will develop the strong foundation in literacy required for educational achievement, opening doors to additional opportunities throughout their academic career.

Our national identity and diversity are one and the same regardless of whether we recognize it or not. As I see it, the current effort around diversity and inclusion is about more than platitudes. It presents an opportunity for us to accept in earnest what we have always been – a nation of rich heritage founded on the contributions of many.