At the age of seven, Steve Park immigrated with his family to the United States from South Korea. After a life-changing spiritual conversion to Christianity, Steve founded Little Lights Urban Ministries in 1995 when he met Darrell, a middle school student who could not read a Dr. Seuss book. Steve started Little Lights without funding or experience in the nonprofit sector, yet in two decades he has grown the organization to 50 full and part time staff members serving 140 students and 200 adults each year.

 

Little Lights works with students and families living in Potomac Gardens and Hopkins public housing, where the average annual family income is $10,000 per year. Passionate about the importance of holistic programming, Steve has grown Little Lights to focus on diverse programming for students, teens, adults and families with an emphasis on personal relationships as the key to long-term impact.

 

Along with his wife, Steve has made a life-long commitment to the underserved children and youth of DC and consequently in 2002 moved to Anacostia, DC’s historic African American neighborhood. In 2010 Steve won the Gelman, Rosenberg, and Freedman EXCEL award for excellence in nonprofit executive management. He also serves on the board of the Christian Community Development Association and the House DC.