Sherlene M. Shanklin
May is Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month. I spoke to a man who was born in Korea but now calls Louisville his home.
Raising a family and teaching our children the art of Taekwondo. In today’s Moments that Matter, I introduce you to Jung Oh Grandmaster Hwang.
I have seen the business & community leader many times but this was the first time I had the opportunity to sit down with him. I had so many questions and he was sincere and patient with me.
Grandmaster Hwang called me before the interview to make sure I found his studio. I told him I was just waiting outside awaiting my photojournalist to arrive. The door swings open and he came out to greet me. He stood out there with me until we were ready to begin.
As we entered Hwang’s Marital Arts we were welcomed by students. They were clapping and cheering as we entered the venue. Once we entered they gave us a demonstration of what they have learned under Hwang. His daughter Mimi was directing the students but he was off to the side giving additional instruction.
Mimi led me to his office so we could sit and talk. I had so many questions. Some of the most simple questions in Asian culture like is it disrespectful to bow when you don’t know the meaning. I have to say he was very patient with me to make sure I understood.
So, when we officially started the interview I asked him to give the pronunciation of his name.
He says “My name is Jung Oh Hwang”. He tells me where he was born. “I’m from South Korea. I come to the United States in 1987 I studied at the University of Tennessee.”
When he was in elementary school in South Korea he started learning taekwondo and judo. Leading him to the Olympics not once but twice. He missed the opportunity of a third because his country sat out. Hwang says “Seoul Korea boycotted the Olympic games so he had to wait for more years for his chance to compete.
1984 changed my life I got a silver medal at that time.”
Hwang also tells me that he was the international referee for his sport in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Hwang, his wife Sun and their two year daughter Mimi came to America in 1987. Eventually moving to Louisville and opening three martial arts studios in the city. He says “Louisville is my hometown. I love Louisville. Louisville is the best city. I love Louisville.”
He also loves to teach children the core values of his heritage that we all can relate to regardless of where you are from. “I wanted to give more opportunity to children to learn respect, discipline, and positive attitude. He can do, she can do, why not me? Yes I can positive attitude.”
Grandmaster Hwang believes every person should have the following: Focus, Discipline and Respect this is very very important.
In Asian culture It’s mind and body together. That’s respect. That’s for all Asians especially Marital Arts. Giving over a million dollars to charity like the Crusade for Children, and now starting his own foundation. He just wants to leave a legacy of hope.
Hwang says “I want to share my Olympic three’s. Never, never never give up. You know. Teach the generation they quickly give up. We always never, never, never give up. Yes, I can I can do it!”
Contact Sherlene Shanklin at sherlene@sherleneshanklin.com or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
To see the story, click the link https://www.whas11.com/amp/article/news/community/moments-that-matter/grandmaster-hwang-teaches-his-students-respect-and-discipline-in-louisville/417-8fd30281-40c1-4b7b-8aea-9832046c7f3b
I received these photos from Nicole Hayden. The Louisville activist has been participating in protests for weeks asking for justice in the Breonna Taylor case.
Chef Pasch, a native of Yellow Springs, Ohio who currently lives in Louisville says “As a chef I let the food speak to me. When my creative juices flow, I can turn simple dishes into masterpieces.” The Sullivan University culinary graduate goes on to say, “It’s about teaching the new generation of chefs that it not only takes skill but passion it can be seen through from every dish that comes out of my kitchen.”
Louisville found his passion for food at an early age but never getting the break he needed to extend his career. The Sullivan University culinary graduate followed his dream and kept his faith even through the hard times. The tough times brought him to this moment. He says “He wants to live a life that shows all others that the best blessings are when we become one to others. Food is my therapy and its healing to soul and the stomach. My time is now, I’m getting the opportunity to showcase my skills.”
VIPP Communications is a full service public relations, event management and production firm headquartered in Louisville, KY with clients and/or projects all over the U.S. We can create, maintain and sustain your brand. Our clientele range from small businesses, non-profits, corporate leaders, entertainment to current and retired professional athletes. Contact one of our team members to see if we can assist you at info at vippcommunications dot com. 
Rev. Alex C. Shanklin, retired pastor as pastor of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church located in the Smoketown neighborhood in Louisville, KY. Prior to retiring Shanklin and members of the congregation paid off their mortgage and held a mortgage burning ceremony on February 28, 2016. Shanklin served as pastor for 35 years.
The awards ceremony will honor community unsung heroes and community leaders in their various fields from service workers, educators to youth who go above and beyond the call of duty to assist those in need. Several Jefferson County Public Schools, (JCPS) students and faculty will be honored.
will get the opportunity to meet high ranking federal agency representatives and discuss the expansion of contracting opportunities for minority-owned businesses and the creation of more mentorship programs for minority entrepreneurs to collaborate with the private sector.
DB Bourbon Candy, LLC can be found in various locations throughout Kentucky from the Kroger Company to the Muhammad Ali International Airport. To learn more about Robyn Stuart and DB Bourbon Candy and how to place your customized order visit 
rm headquartered in Louisville, KY with clients and/or projects all over the U.S. We can create, maintain and sustain your brand. Our clientele range from small businesses, non-profits, corporate leaders, entertainment to current and retired professional athletes. Contact one of our team members to see if we can assist you at info at vippcommunications dot com. 
Here’s some of the events I profiled in the inaugural show:
The Miss Kentucky and Miss Kentucky’s Outstanding Teen programs empower young women across Kentucky through pageantry. The participants develop leadership skills and confidence as they work to achieve their biggest goals in life. The Miss Kentucky Scholarship Organization continues to develop role models for communities not only in Kentucky, but the world.
The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage (Heritage Center) is embarking on the expansion of a new Media Arts Center in a vacant 14,000 square foot wing on the campus. The proposed media arts center will be a state-of-the-art facility serving as the communication arm of one of the primary heritage centers in the state of Kentucky. The Media Arts Center will house a 40′ x 50′ “black-box” with a maximum seating capacity of 200, providing a unique and versatile space where artists of all disciplines showcase their creative work. The center’s layout will also include a lower and upper level. The lower level will include a dressing room with sink and toilets, green rooms, options for loading in and out, public restrooms, office and storage spaces. The upper level will include editing suites, sound booths, meeting rooms and access to the control room and lighting grid over-looking the “black-box” theatre. This venue will offer local artist and media producers a platform to produce video, theatre, music, dance, literary, public lectures, community forums and more.
The VIPP Report 