When we are clear on shared solutions, we can achieve the future we are urgently building together.

My name is Hwa Jeong Kim — I am an organizer, Korean American, non-profit executive director, former Legislative Aide, and proud North End resident. I’m running to represent Ward 5 because I believe in a St. Paul with healthy homes, neighborhood jobs, clean air, community safety, and transportation options that meet our changing needs.

I came to Saint Paul to attend Hamline University and moved to the North End shortly after meeting my husband. In 2016, I would regularly cross Rice Street to volunteer at the Rice Street Library. Experiencing how dangerous this corridor was for pedestrians got me involved in neighborhood issues and led me to serve on our North End Neighborhood Organization. Serving on my district council deepened my relationships with my neighbors and confirmed my belief that we become creators of change when we center ourselves and our communities in decision-making.

I’ve also had the honor of serving Ward 5 and representing our shared values on the Saint Paul Planning Commission and its Zoning Committee. From 2018 to 2021, I was also the Legislative Aide for Ward 5. In these roles, I organized alongside our community to fight for affordable housing, healthy communities, strengthening city services, and passing progressive policies that protect our most marginalized neighbors.

I’ve spent the last several years working to elect progressive, women, women of color, and LGBTQ women to offices that represent our communities. I’ve worked both visibly and behind the scenes to see myself and our shared values represented in places of power.

I currently serve as the executive director of Minnesota Voice, a non-profit focused on voting rights, voting access, civic engagement and education.

Through these experiences, I’ve listened to the needs of our community members on their doorsteps or in City Hall and used the power I had to create change.

Over the last several years, I’ve knocked on thousands of doors in the Ward and spoken to thousands of our neighbors. You have all taught me: we can only move meaningful changes by earning each other's trust, and that when we are clear on shared solutions, we can achieve the future we are urgently building together.

I know what’s at stake in the current election: communities like ours are being left out and left behind. We know that voting alone doesn't equate to meaningful changes in our daily lives. Change doesn’t come from electing one person. Change comes from us. We are powerful when we fight together.

I want to keep fighting alongside you for our communities. I look forward to earning your support.

-Hwa Jeong