Bighug

1. The Story of How Big Hug Came About: 

Big Hug was originally founded with the goal of addressing child hunger in developing countries. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, we recognized the immense challenges faced by Korean American small business owners and their families in Washington State, particularly due to language barriers, digital gaps, and economic hardships. As a result, we shifted our focus to support this community, providing financial assistance, resources, and training to help these businesses survive and thrive. Now, our mission

BIGHUG helps Korean small business owners and their families in Washington state thrive in American society. We are building a positive cycle where their success flows back to help the global community.

2. Where We Focus Our Efforts: 

Big Hug operates primarily in Washington State, with a focus on supporting small business owners who face language and digital challenges, particularly those in immigrant communities. We have partnered with organizations like Bellwether Housing to provide affordable housing in areas like Redmond, Washington. Our current projects span across King County, where there is a significant concentration of immigrant-owned businesses and families in need. 

3. How We Engage Community Members:

We actively engage community members by offering essential resources such as grants, business education, and digital marketing training. We also host webinars, workshops, and seminars aimed at bridging the digital divide and helping small businesses grow. Our platform, Bada, connects our community globally, allowing them to share their experiences and challenges, ensuring our initiatives are aligned with their priorities. 

4. Focus Areas at Big Hug and Alignment with Community Priorities: 

Our focus areas include: 

• Economic Empowerment: Providing resources and training for immigrant small business owners to overcome language and digital barriers. 

• Affordable Housing: Supporting projects that provide safe, affordable living options for immigrant families. 

• Community Support: Connecting families with vital resources, such as government grants, and offering consulting services. We ensure our work aligns with community priorities by actively listening to feedback and working closely with community members to adapt our programs to their needs. 

5. Organizational Structure: 

Big Hug is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We have a Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and consultants, many of whom are based in Washington State. Our Board includes members deeply involved in both nonprofit and business communities. Our team is made up of individuals from immigrant backgrounds, ensuring we are closely connected to the communities we serve. 

6. Policy and Advocacy Efforts: 

As a 501(c)(3) organization, we remain non-partisan and do not engage in political activities. However, we are committed to educating and empowering our community on how to navigate U.S. governance and political systems. We provide non-political resources to help individuals advocate for their rights and needs in a way that aligns with legal and regulatory guidelines. 

7. Building Collective Power: 

We build collective power by uniting immigrant communities, connecting them to resources, and educating them on how to navigate complex systems. Through partnerships with local governments and nonprofits, we create support networks that allow community members to grow economically and socially. 

8. Short- and Long-Term Goals: 

• Short-term: Continue distributing grants, enhance digital marketing education, and support small businesses transitioning into the digital economy. 

• Long-term: Expand our housing projects and strengthen partnerships to support even more immigrant families. We also aim to connect local success stories with broader international efforts, such as global hunger relief. 

9. Recent Wins and Challenges: 

We are currently working with Bellwether Housing to provide affordable housing for immigrant families near job opportunities. We’ve also partnered with WSMA, Eastside for All, and OneEastside and received training through King County DSHS on how to provide affordable housing. In addition, we’ve conducted online and offline workshops for over 900 Korean-owned businesses in Washington State, teaching them how to use Google My Business and ChatGPT for marketing. These efforts have been well received, though we continue to face challenges in reaching non-English-speaking communities and addressing the growing digital divide. 

10. Partner Organizations: 

We’re grateful to have partnered with Bellwether Housing, Sound Transit, WSMA, Eastside for All, OneEastside Spark, Community-Rise and King County DSHS. These organizations have been instrumental in helping us extend our reach and impact.