We are excited to introduce one of our recent additions to the team, Minsang Kim! Min will be interning at Thrive DC for the next few months with the Development team. Get to know her down below!

Where are you from, where did you go to college, and what did you study?

I am from South Korea and attend graduate school in Hanyang University, South Korea. My major is cultural anthropology and I do research about the society and culture of specific regions!

What brought you to Thrive DC?

I participated in the KOREA-WEST program to do an internship in the U.S. and got matched to Thrive DC!

What has been the most surprising thing about coming to the U.S.?

Everything is new to me because it is my first time in the U.S.! Two things were the most novel, though. Of course, I expected racial diversity, but when I actually saw it for the first time, I knew I was really in America. Also, although the price without tax is written on a price tag, it is strange that tax is added when actually paying.

What have you learned since working at Thrive DC?

I learned to value collaboration between all departments of the organization, such as the development team and program management team, when working on a single project. In addition, instead of explaining the homeless population as a single group, I came to realize that there are diverse situations among the population.

What are your career goals/ambitions?

I think a child's education has a huge impact on their future, which is why I want to become a person who organizes and manages educational programs for migrant children. Not only in Korea, but if there is an area where various migrants gather, it will be a place where my professional dreams can come true.

What have you observed/learned about homelessness in DC? How is it different from what you've observed about homelessness in Korea?

I've sensed that the number of homeless people in DC is definitely higher than where I live in Korea. Instead of ignoring or hiding their existence, many organizations and programs in DC provide various opportunities for those experiencing homelessness to play a role in society.