Established as a non-profit organization (501(c)3) in the United States of America in March, 2015. Offices in Minnesota, USA.
The organization began in 2015 as Freedom for North Korean Refugees - Minnesota and changed its' name in 2017 to Midwest Alliance for North Korean Refugees as we expanded our geography and focused our vision and mission.
In 2015 and in 2016, two major Symposiums were held at the University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute for Public Policy. Speakers were from South Korea, refugees from North Korea, and Founder Hyon Kim, among others, who told their stories and shared their work toward the freedom of North Korean refugees. Politicians from MN (Keith Ellison, Sandy Pappas, Amy Klobuchar) were supportive (some were present) and Governor Dayton made a Declaration of the day for North Korean refugees. These educational events set a foundation and communicated the hope of our vision and mission. (See "Past Events" for more information, including videos)
In 2017, there has been concentration on the fine-tuning of our mission, and the expansion of our geographical area - from Minnesota to the Midwest – that represents the area of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago.
In 2018, we have partnered with other groups in the Twin Cities
The organization began in 2015 as Freedom for North Korean Refugees - Minnesota and changed its' name in 2017 to Midwest Alliance for North Korean Refugees as we expanded our geography and focused our vision and mission.
In 2015 and in 2016, two major Symposiums were held at the University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute for Public Policy. Speakers were from South Korea, refugees from North Korea, and Founder Hyon Kim, among others, who told their stories and shared their work toward the freedom of North Korean refugees. Politicians from MN (Keith Ellison, Sandy Pappas, Amy Klobuchar) were supportive (some were present) and Governor Dayton made a Declaration of the day for North Korean refugees. These educational events set a foundation and communicated the hope of our vision and mission. (See "Past Events" for more information, including videos)
In 2017, there has been concentration on the fine-tuning of our mission, and the expansion of our geographical area - from Minnesota to the Midwest – that represents the area of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago.
In 2018, we have partnered with other groups in the Twin Cities
- February 11 - Celebrated the Lunar New Year with games, Korean food, conversations, and learning of the Korean culture (cosponsored with AdopteeBridge and supported as a Changemaker with American Refugee Committee)
- March 21 - Our Founder, Hyon Kim, shared her personal story with junior high and high school students in a special school in Brooklyn Center. They learned about Korean history and how personal lives were affected by the Korean War and the separation into North and South. The dialogue was insightful and engaging!
- April - Hyon Kim, Founder, traveled to South Korea to visit with the North Korean refugees who are working to provide information on the North Korean refugee experience. They also sent rice bags and flash drives (with much information) in balloons to North Korea. (see pictures in "Learn More")
- June 16 - Ruben Rosario, columnist, featured Hyon Kim's story and her thoughts on human rights in his column in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The article appeared during the time of the Trump-Kim Summit. (See "Learn More" to access the column)
- August - We were a co-sponsor to the World without Genocide evening presentation by Jack Rendler (Amnesty International and a member of our Board of Directors) on "North Korea's Weapons of Mass Destruction: Repression, Starvation, and Nukes."
- September - We advertised and were on-hand for conversation at the Global Minnesota Conversations in St. Paul and Minneapolis with Mark Canning (retired US diplomat) speaking on "North Korea: Fire and Fury or Dialogue and Diplomacy." Our display table brought good conversations with participants.
- September 28 - Hyon Kim is sharing her personal story through presentation and power point at the Minneapolis University Rotary Club meeting.