A Message from the CEO

Updated on February 2022

The American Dream is the wholehearted belief that anyone can become successful and live the perfect life as long as they’re willing to put in the work. However, that dream is not as attainable as many of our fellow citizens think. My story is just one of the millions, and it's important to remember that someone's financial status does not define them. 

Growing up with a single parent who immigrated here gave me first-hand insight into roadblocks still facing many in our community today. Ongoing poverty, racism, and inequality struggles left my mother trapped in low-income jobs that didn’t pay enough to keep food on the table. That’s where I saw firsthand the difference that community organizations, churches, and access to mentors with resources can make when they come together. 

Without the help of our community, my story could have ended up very differently, and the guidance and support we were given had a significant impact on me. I now know that we can empower people to build the lives they deserve with the right resources and a lot of hope. That’s what makes CAO such a unique organization. 

Here at CAO, our mission is to provide integrated services that focus on our clients and their families to combat poverty and create multigenerational success. We want to spread hope while fighting deeply-rooted systemic issues that plague us to transform underprivileged neighborhoods into healthy, safe, and equitable communities. However, those dreams are impossible to achieve alone. 

To see our vision come to fruition, we need to create a strategic, cohesive network of individuals, organizations, health centers, educational facilities, and other community services that can work together to meet the needs of our clients. We must also focus on combatting the legacy of institutional racism, socioeconomic inequalities, and lack of equity in our criminal justice system so that future generations can live in true freedom. 

With the right tools and collaborative strategy,  we can provide real solutions that offer hope and empowerment to our clients, leading them to lifelong and multigeneration self-responsibility and success. It’s the only way everyone can have equal access to the American Dream.

Thomas Kim
President & CEO, CAO of WNY