Looking back with pride and forward with excitement!
2023-2024 was full of growth and evolution for the Kim Center. Inside our latest Impact Report, you will find how we and our amazing partners have been driving the mission of inclusive workforce and economic growth forward in San Diego and beyond
Our LEAPS Initiative Accelerates Change
We are on a trailblazing journey with San Diego leaders to develop a regional pilot proving that united and focused collaboration around locally relevant data can drive measurable change in years, not centuries. Once we have solidified the systems, we will apply the model to other regions in order to start normalizing fair and inclusive workplace ecosystems throughout the nation
LEAPS stands for Leadership in Ecosystems, Advancement, Policies, and Supervisors. This year, we co-developed the LEAPS San Diego Playbook with major stakeholder partners to generate tangible improvements within 12 years. They include Girl Scouts, San Diego for Every Child, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and so many more
Together, we are creating intentional roadmaps, toolkits, and best practices to help employers create quality jobs for all by addressing the top three barriers preventing fair access to work participation and success identified in the 2022 LEAPS San Diego Assessment:
1. Inadequate childcare: Increase the number of San Diego businesses offering childcare from 9% to 25%.
2. Sexual harassment: Reduce the incidence of workers experiencing sexual harassment from 30% to 10%
3. The limited economic power of small businesses: Conduct two case studies in undertapped neighborhoods demonstrating how LEAPS helps small businesses increase profitability through equitable work environments.
Achievements and Gratitude
The Kim Center was honored to receive the RISE San Diego ILIA Organization for Change Award 2023 in recognition for our efforts. Plus, a heartfelt thank-you to our incredible partners leaders, donors, and supporters from more than 100 organizations and agencies, including County of San Diego, San Diego Gas & Electric, Community Health Group, and City Heights Community Development Corporation.
Many thanks to YOU for joining us in building a more prosperous world for all!
Dr. Hei-ock Kim, Executive Director
Our Mission
Our Mission
Transforming ecosystems so that everyone has fair and accessible opportunities to thrive.
Our Core Values
Clarity of purpose
Dedication to progress
Emotional intelligence
Mindfulness of our impact on others
The power of unity
Helen Keller said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." It is inspiring to watch our partners in our pilot region of San Diego prove this over and over again. They are uniting around the Kim Center’s LEAPS (Leadership in Ecosystems, Advancement, Policies, Supervisors) initiative to transform workplace ecosystems so that everyone has fair and accessible opportunities to thrive. Together, we have been refining the LEAPS Playbook to eliminate San Diego’s top barriers to equitable workforce development and participation, and empower employers as leaders of inclusive social and economic growth.
Equitable workforce development is more of a necessity than ever for employers, their workers, AND for the communities they operate and live in. The LEAPS San Diego Pilot infuses today’s uncertain socio-political landscape with the determination to no longer wait decades or centuries for meaningful change. Together, we are customizing strategies for affordable childcare in undertapped communities to ensure that caregivers can equitably participate and advance in the workforce. We are helping employers build safe workplace environments by designing evidence-based toolkits for sexual harassment prevention and response. We are cultivating responsive and reflective leadership in the small business space to help women- and BIPOC-owned achieve the economic empowerment they deserve.
Let us keep moving forward with the resolve and urgency this moment demands — together. The change we seek lies within our power to create, and there is great power in unity. The Kim Center is honored to take this journey
Founder and Executive Director
Sarah Hassaine Board President
How We’re Accelerating Change: LEAPS
LEAPS is one of the nation’s only data-driven, collaborative programs to accelerate systemic change at the local level by uniting companies and whole regions around a common language and framework for transformation.
LEAPS
drives tangible, measurable progress
LEAPS Assessment
Evaluates how well employers are supporting their diverse employee populations and workforce development goals. The Assessment quantifies their successes and opportunities in 4 metric areas: (1) Workplace Ecosystem, (2) Advancement & Compensation, (3) Policies & Organizational Support, and (4) Supervisor Relationships.
LEAPS Playbook
A custom roadmap based on Assessment results that helps employers streamline the process of achieving an equitable environment. Measurable progress clearly demonstrates positive trends and return on investment (ROI).
LEAPS Accreditation
Uses LEAPS Assessment scores to validate employers’ equity efforts. Nationally standardized levels of achievement empower decision-makers to hold themselves accountable and compare their progress across industries, regions, and time.
LEAPS for Regions
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
- Helen Keller
San Diego’s Groundbreaking Pilot WHERE WE ARE TODAY
where LEAPS Alliance members formally committed resources to refine and implement targeted interventions based on LEAPS San Diego Assessment results.
The LEAPS San Diego Playbook Update
The LEAPS Playbook is a regionally unique roadmap that focuses changemakers’ energies on generating maximum impact by tackling the most urgent challenges arising from an assessment, rather than trying to fix everything at once.
In December 2023, LEAPS Alliance members self-selected into three Community Action Groups (CAGs) to address San Diego’s top barriers to equitable workforce participation and development with measurable goals and milestones.
Sexual Harassment
FACT: About a third of San Diego workers experience sexual harassment, including 40% of Latinas. LGBT+ workers in the Hotel/Hospitality sector experience it at four times the rate of their counterparts.
CAG GOAL: Decrease the percentage of San Diego workers experiencing sexual harassment Always/Very Often/Sometimes from 32% to 10% for all demographic groups.
SOLUTION: Universalize trauma-informed toolkits to help employers improve sexual harassment prevention and response.
BENEFIT: U.S. employers can save $22,500 per employee in lost productivity and employee turnover from sexual harassment by implementing effective sexual harassment prevention and equitable workplace practices (Personnel Psychology).
"It is not enough to advocate for equity, inclusion, safety, and voice, we must build the workplace culture and practices necessary so there is no room for sexual harassment. We want the tens of thousands of young Girl Scouts from our region to find their leadership places, as adults, in safe, welcoming, and supportive workplaces across San Diego and Imperial counties. We thank the Kim Center for driving this priority."
- Michelle Mullen, Chief Mission Delivery Officer, Girl Scouts San Diego
CAG Members:
● BRAV Consultations (Addresses human rights by bridging gaps in research, policy and practice)
● California State Assembly 80th District David Alvarez's Office
● Employee Rights Center (Advances the rights of all San Diego area workers)
● Girl Scouts San Diego
● North County Philanthropy Council (Strengthens philanthropy in North County)
● RISE San Diego (Elevates and advances urban leadership)
● Salaam USA (Trains and activates white allies)
Childcare
FACT: 30% of San Diego workers are considering leaving their employer because of insufficient childcare support, including 34% of female primary caregivers.
CAG GOAL: Increase the number of San Diego employers offering childcare benefits from 9% (Say San Diego) to 25%.
SOLUTION: Create an online portal to connect employers, families, and providers around innovative solutions.
BENEFIT: Almost 2/3 of employees report being late, leaving early, or missing work completely due to childcare issues Employers can avoid lost productivity and related costs by offering childcare options or benefits (Council for a Strong America) .
“Participating in the LEAPS Child Care Community Action Group (CAG) has been an illuminating and rewarding experience. The CAG creates a unique space for bringing in fresh perspectives, stretching those of us who know the child care problem well to consider it from different angles. The LEAPS initiative encourages us to investigate meaningful, measurable impact possible even amidst larger efforts to reform the sector. And by focusing specifically on the child care challenges of businesses, new doors are opening, and partnerships that might not have been considered before can now be explored. The collaborative approach LEAPS takes is a critical part of creating a community that supports families and businesses alike.”
- Erin Hogeboom, Director, San Diego for Every Child
CAG Members:
● City Heights Community Development Corporation
● County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency - Child and Family Well-Being Office of Child and Family Strengthening
● San Diego & Imperial Women's Business Center
● San Diego Black Worker Center (Builds a more equitable economy for Black workers)
● San Diego for Every Child (Aims to cut child poverty in San Diego County in half by 2030)
● Southern California Rental Housing Association (Supports rental professionals)
● The Chicano Federation
● United Domestic Workers of America UDW/AFSCME Local 3930
● YMCA of San Diego County
Small Businesses
FACT: Women own 39% of San Diego businesses but are able to contribute only 10% of the region’s annual revenue and jobs.
CAG GOAL: Award the LEAPS Accreditation to 25% of San Diego’s small businesses to elevate their presence in the supply chain and help them create more quality jobs.
SOLUTION: Pilot LEAPS with undertapped small business communities to prove that equitable ecosystems increase economic prosperity.
BENEFIT: Locally owned businesses circulate three times more money back into the local economy than corporate chains (Forbes).
CAG Members:
● Connect San Diego
● Gina Jacobs (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Business and Community Partner - Port of San Diego)
● Hey Social Good (Inspires businesses to be sustainable)
● LEAD San Diego
● National Latina Business Women's Association - San Diego
● RK2 Systems (Creates quality aquatic life support)
● Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research (Supports California Community Colleges)
● San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
● San Diego Hispanic Chamber
● Wendy Hunter Barker (Assistant Dean, Strategy & Operations - UC San Diego Rady School of Management)
“The San Diego & Imperial SBDC values LEAPS as an essential element in elevating the economic power of small businesses. LEAPS increases their ability to offer quality jobs through equitable practices, which is significant considering they employ 60% of our region's workers. Small businesses increasingly face challenges with employee retention. Ensuring equitable practices strengthens and stabilizes the small business workforce.”
- Danny Fitzgerald, Regional Director, San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network
Thanks to CAG members for the honor of your partnership!
Kim Center in the Community
Proud Recipient: RISE San Diego ILIA Organization for Change Award – 2023
Other accomplishments in the community:
● Executive Director, Dr. Hei-ock Kim, was nominated for
○ East County Chamber Women in Leadership Award (WILL)
○ Association of Fundraising Professionals Outstanding Development Professional
○ The Conrad Prebys Foundation's Leaders in Belonging
In addition, she was asked to share her expertise on numerous occasions:
○ Pay Equity Panel for San Diego County Bar Association
○ Panel about Pay Equity Day for Lawyers Club of San Diego
○ Keynoted an employer workshop for LiveWell Business Sector
○ The Evaluation Committee for Association of Fundraising Professionals
● Board President Sarah Hassaine was nominated for the Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Leader of the Year Award Issued by World 50 Group
● Board Member Adrianna O’Donnell became the first Latina President of the Association for Fundraising Professionals San Diego
A New Partnership for Workplace Equity
We’re excited to join forces with Arboreta Group, LLC to increase the capacity of both organizations to build equity and end discrimination in the workplace. This powerful alliance promises to ensure the long-term sustainability of the LEAPS initiative and deepen collaborations with employers, communities, and other partners.
Here's a glimpse into their wonderful talents:
Jaime Sykes-Summerville is a technical writer, video editor, and communications consultant. She also facilitates purposeful and meaningful conversations around racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion, within a framework of cultural humility.
Jessie Towne-Cardenas is a trainer, facilitator, and curriculum developer who breaks things down and organizes them in a way that is easy to understand and practical to apply. She has expertise in violence prevention, public health and social equity, and policy and system change.
Become a Leader of Change
Donate.
"As an employment attorney, I am professionally invested in the issue of workplace equity. As a minority woman, I am personally passionate about it as well. I have supported the Kim Center from the very beginning because I see the need for the type of intentional, collaborative, and data driven solutions it offers to companies that are seeking to make a difference.”
You can become a disrupter too!
Donate online at kimcenter.org, through Venmo, or send a check to: Kim Center for Social Balance, 5173 Waring Road, Suite 58, San Diego, CA 92120
The Kim Center is a 501(c)(3). EIN 81-4518651. Donations are deductible to the full extent of the law. Email questions to Dr. Hei-ock Kim at heiock@kimcenter.org.
KC Website Venmo (@KCSB-heiock)
Sincerest thanks to our supporting partners!
Pacesetters
($25,000-$49,999)
Pioneers ($7,500-$24,999)
Trailblazers ($3,500-$7,499)
Lodestars
($1,000-$3,499)
Arleene Antin and Len Ozerkis
Tina Ngo Bartel
Barbara Bry and Neil Senturia
Bonnie & Neil Cohen
5P Consulting
My Point Credit Union
Linda and Mel Katz
Miranda Heerah
Visionaries ($500-$999)
Nancy Mancilla
Burnham Center for Community Advancement
Employee Rights Center
Ben Kaatz
Proven Recruiting
RK2 Systems
Susan & Steve Davis
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
Norma Jasso
Steve Makoff
Bold names: We are honored by the dedication of these 5+ year donors.
Other supporting leaders ($1-$499)
Adrianna O'Donnell
Linda Kavanagh
Tom Lemmon
Michelle Youngers
Dave Brooke
Maggie & Paul Meyer
Sarah Hassaine
Lada Onyshkevych
Wendy Hunter Barker
Adriana Brunner
Barbara Orozco-Valdivia
Delinda Forsythe
Betty Roth
Fiona Ong
Jane Niemeier
Mary Kim
Shelby Gomez
Marci Bair
Clarissa Falcon
Connie Cepeda
Inez Gonzalez Perezchica
Jessica Crawford
Sofia Salgado Robitaille
Brian Noveck
Lynn Rhodes
Penny Clews
Catherine Northcutt
Stacie Bresler-Reinstein & Jonathan Reinstein
Bold names: We are honored by the dedication of these 5+ year donors.
Pro Bono Service Contributors
Bunsow legal firm
Founding Board President Brian Cohen
Good for Others
UPS Store in Allied Gardens
Our People
Board of Directors
Sarah Hassaine, President
Nancy Mancilla, Secretary
Norma Jasso, Treasurer
Adriana Brunner
Miranda Heerah
Hei-ock Kim
Tom Lemmon
Adrianna O’Donnell
Linda Kavanagh
Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion, ResMed
Co-Founder & President, ISOS Group
Regulatory Case Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric - Retired
Vice President & Sr. Business Consultant, JPMorganChase
Senior Principal of Talent & Organization, Accenture
Founder & Executive Director, Kim Center for Social Balance
Chair & CEO, San Diego County Building Trades Council - Retired
Director of Philanthropy, San Ysidro Health
Vice President of Human Resources, Cox Communication - Retired
Advisory Council
Laura Benedict
Jessica Crawford
Georgia Case
Annette Gregg
Research Advisory Committee
Dr. Murtaza Baxamusa
Dr. Alan Gin
Dr. Kyra Greene
Ryan Karlsgodt
Steph Groce
Jen Keyes
Tracey Mueller-Gibbs
Jerry Yen
Jessica Noel Keach
Benjamin Mendoza
Dr. Jennifer Rosen
Eduardo Velasquez
Our first Board Retreat, facilitated by Arboreta Group, had 100% Board attendance!
Interns
Kim Center is proud to host interns from schools within San Diego County and beyond. We are grateful to them for sharing their skills and enthusiasm to help us grow the workplace equity mission and its impact!
Jackson Dement, Parker Ward, Trevor Hawkins, Antonio Osornio, and Cole Hurtarte
“It was truly a valuable experience collaborating with you, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to your project.”
- Amina Luvsanchultem
San Diego State University
San Diego Mesa College
Olivia Thompson Social Media
Sumaya Musse Research & Administration
Financial Snapshot
July 2023 - June 2024
Income
The Kim Center ultimately aims to raise 90% of our annual revenue from earned income.
