Meet Michelle Kang
Hi, I’m Michelle
I’m a proud first-generation Korean American immigrant who came to Georgia in 1992, after earning my degree in Seoul and beginning my career in intellectual property law. I immigrated to the United States with hope in my heart and a vision for a better future: one grounded in opportunity, equity, and community. Over the past 30 years, Georgia has become more than just home; it’s where I’ve raised my three daughters, built a life rooted in service, and stood shoulder to shoulder with my neighbors through moments of struggle and triumph. And through it all, one thing has become clear: Georgia’s promise must be real for everyone, not just the powerful few.
I’m running for State House to take on the challenges too many families face every day: unaffordable housing, the crushing cost of living (from childcare to healthcare), attacks on immigrant communities, and public schools that are asked to do more with less. I believe our district deserves a representative who sees all of us, listens to every voice, and leads with compassion and with courage. I’m running to create safer neighborhoods, open doors of opportunity for every child, and ensure that the diversity of District 99 isn’t just acknowledged, it’s celebrated. Because Georgia’s future should be written by all of us, together.
Rooted in Service, Powered by Purpose
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been driven to serve. In high school in South Korea, I organized visits to orphanages and public nursing homes, these early experiences showed me the power of community care and the urgent need for a strong social safety net. I saw how too many people, especially children, elders, and the poor were held back not by lack of potential, but by lack of access. That realization became my compass.
At 41, with three young daughters by my side, I enrolled in the Master of Public Administration program at the University of Georgia. I wanted to understand how public policy impacts people’s lives, especially those in immigrant and marginalized communities. After graduation, I became the Center Manager at the Asian American Resource Center in Gwinnett County, where I supported newly arrived immigrants and managed affordable housing cases through HUD. From helping families remain housed to making sure they had the resources to thrive, I’ve always believed that public service isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am.
Delivering for District 99
My journey as a community advocate began right here in Gwinnett County working to create space for Asian Americans to not only speak with their elected officials, but be truly heard. I saw early on that when communities are invited to the table, real change is possible. That belief has guided every step of my public service.
I’ve served on the Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta (KAAGA) and the Asian Pacific American Council of Georgia (APAC), where I worked to amplify immigrant voices and foster civic engagement. Additionally, I have served on the Gwinnett Place Mall Equitable Redevelopment Advisory Board, the Transit Development Plan Stakeholder Committee, and Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson’s Citizen Budget Review Committee. With each of these opportunities, I pushed for equity to be woven into every decision, from infrastructure to transit to budgeting. Whether I was advocating for immigrant-owned small businesses or fighting for expanded public services, my focus was always the same: make government work for the people it serves.
I’ve learned that good policy isn’t written in isolation, it’s built with community at the center. That’s the approach I’ll take to the Gold Dome: listening deeply, leading boldly, and ensuring every voice in District 99 is not just heard, but valued.
Championing Small Businesses
Before stepping into politics, I was a small business owner running retail shops and restaurants across Georgia. I know firsthand the challenges entrepreneurs face and the grit it takes to keep a business alive. Today, I’m the founder of AAPI Outreach & Engagement, LLC, and I’ve dedicated my work to bridging the gap between local government and the small business communities that keep our economy moving.
From 2020 to 2021, I served as Vice President of External Affairs for the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta, and in 2020, I was appointed to the board of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, in 2023, I organized a small business roundtable that brought together Asian American business owners and Gwinnett County’s Economic Development Department, including Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. We tackled real issues like workforce shortages, supply chain gaps, and access to training and capital, because small business owners deserve to be part of the policy conversation.
In the State House, I’ll bring that same energy, grounded in lived experience to fight for stronger local economies, more investment in small businesses, and real opportunities for growth and prosperity in District 99.
Photo by Boon Vong PhotoOrganizing for Visibility, Voice, & Belonging
Throughout my time in Gwinnett County, I’ve been proud to lead with creativity and purpose, organizing events and initiatives that didn’t just fill a gap, but reimagined what civic and cultural engagement could look like. From town halls to festivals, I’ve brought people together to be seen, heard, and empowered.
I organized the first-ever candidate forums specifically for Korean Americans in our area, giving voters the chance to hear directly from local, state, and Congressional candidates. These events weren’t just about politics, they were about mobilizing a community to recognize its own power and participate fully in our democracy.
I also launched the first AAPI Heritage Month Celebration at Suwanee Town Center Park—now known as the Suwanee Asian Festival. I created it to carve out space for minority communities to take center stage, share their stories, and celebrate their culture. Because I believe in the power of culture to break down barriers, build bridges, and bring us together—not as separate groups, but as one community, united in purpose and pride.
Building Bridges, Standing for Justice
In June 2020, as Black Lives Matter protests filled the streets of Duluth, I organized a Korean supporters group to march in solidarity. That experience deepened my understanding of how systemic racism shapes lives, and how urgently we must confront it.
On March 16, 2021, when eight people, six of them Asian women, were murdered in the Atlanta spa shootings, I helped form the Atlanta Korean American Committee Against Asian Hate. Leaders from Korean churches, AAPI groups, and the Black and Latino communities came together to grieve, speak out, and commit to standing united against hate and injustice. Through the Stop Asian Hate movement, I’ve worked to connect Asian communities with government leaders at every level — building bridges, advancing racial equity, and helping ensure that no community is left behind. Because justice must be more than a promise; it has to be our practice.
Making Georgia a better place
As a community advocate, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside nonprofits and campaigns at every level, from local school boards to the U.S. Senate, supporting candidates who fight to protect voting rights, expand access to healthcare, and build an economy that works for everyone.
In 2020 and 2021, I helped organize Asian American voters across Georgia to elect Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock. It was a grassroots movement fueled by hope and a belief that when we show up, we can shape the future. That experience reminded me just how critical it is to elect leaders who see and serve all Georgians, not just the well-connected.
Through that work, I met countless voters from every background: parents worried about the cost of childcare, young people fighting for a better future, seniors navigating a system that too often overlooks them. Hearing their stories inspired me to step up and serve, not just as an organizer, but as a leader who will bring their voices to the Capitol and fight for real solutions.