No. of Participants at YGTLC (Ygnite)/KSTLC & KATALYSTS/IMPACTS
19 YGTLC/Ygnite’s 2005 -2023
YGTLC
Why started YGTLC in January 2005?
It was the summer of 2004! After attending the Young Generation Forum (YGF) in Korea as a supervisor for YGF participants, I realized that we needed a similar gathering in the U.S. in order to sustain the bonding relationship developed among participants from the U.S. through YGF.
After having organized the one-day long Young Generation Leadership Forum (YGLF) in Washington DC for two years in 2003 and 2024 where about 20 young people gathered to talk about the same thing over and over, I realized that a paradigm shift from YGLF was necessary.
Mission of YGTLC/YGNITE
Provide 2nd Generation Korean-American undergraduate/graduate students as well as young professionals an opportunity to showcase their research or their industry.
Promote careers in science and engineering for 2nd Generation Korean-American students and young professionals through technical workshops and guest speaker sessions.
Sustain the nationwide Young Generation (YG) movement by providing leadership training and networking opportunities for leaders at the KSEA YG student chapters and young professionals across America.
Goals YGTLC/YGNITE
2nd Generation Young Korean-Americans to Develop “Technical Excellence and Leadership”.
2nd Generation Young Korean-Americans to Develop “Bonding Relationship” among them.
Recruit “KSEA Members” from 2nd Generation Korean-Americans for the better future of KSEA.
Bring 2nd Generation Korean-Americans to the “Mainstream KSEA” as Leaders.
Allow the Opportunity for 2nd Generation Young Korean-Americans to “Mingle” to understand cultural differences from each other” to become a truly one Korean-American community.
1st YGTLC in San Francisco in 2005
2nd YGTLC in Los Angeles in 2006
3rd YGTLC in New York in 2007
4th YGTLC in San Diego in 2008
5th YGTLC in Dallas in 2009
6th YGTLC in Washington DC in 2010
8th YGTLC in San Francisco in 2022
Integration of 1st and Non-Korean YG
YG was originally created to encourage participation from 1.5 and 2nd generation Korean Americans under 35 years old. It is time to expand the YG to 1st Generation Koreans and non-Koreans who are 35 years old and younger.
Most similar professional organizations have YG group, who are regular members of the society. So, all YG members should be treated as “regular” KSEA members.
Integrate YG with entrepreneur group within KSEA.
Use YGTLC/YGNITE as a vehicle to recruit KSEA members and future leaders. With more non-Korean YGTLC/YGNITE participants, KSEA can attract more American industry sponsors.
Adjust YGTLC/YGNITE leadership selection a year in advance to better align funding resources for sponsorships following UKC panning process.
Focus YGTLC/YGNITE to help YG in their professional avenue in life by training interviewing skills, leadership skills, problem solving, team- work building, resume building, multicultural sensitivity/awareness.
First Korean Student (KSTLC) in Chicago, 2012
9th YGTLC/Ygnite in 2013
10th YGTLC/Ygnite in NY, 2014
11th YGTLC/Ygnite in Orlando, 2015
12th YGTLC/Ygnite in Dalla, 2016
13th YGTLC/Ygnite in Philadelphia, 2017
14th YGTLC/Ygnite in Washington DC, 2018
15th YGTLC/Ygnite in Los Angeles, 2019
16th YGTLC/Ygnite in Seattle, 2020
17th YGTLC/Ygnite in Virtual, 2021
18th YGTLC/Ygnite in Atlanta, 2022
19th YGTLC/Ygnite in San Jose, 2023