Pacific Century Institute

History

The Pacific Century Institute (PCI) is a non-profit 501(c) organization based in Los Angeles, California with its focus in "building bridges between countries and people". PCI was initially founded in Louisville, Kentucky during the mid-1980s by the late Ronald D. McLaurin, Dr. Stephan Haggard, Dr. Chung-in Moon, Spencer H. Kim and Kenneth J. Tuggle.

While Louisville was clearly not part of the Pacific Rim region, the founders had a great interest in the region and understood that what happens in this part of the world impacts the rest of the globe.

The founders held organizational meetings with a vision toward improving international relations between countries and intercultural relations between the various inhabitants of the Pacific Rim region.

In the first years of PCI existence, they worked to expand knowledge and dialogue about the Pacific Rim by supporting Asian studies programs at regional universities, disseminating over 200,000 Asian language books to universities and schools.

Since incorporating as a 501(c) non-profit organization with private funding in the early 1990’s, PCI has been involved in a broad variety of activities designed to support its mission of promoting education, dialogue and research that will build a network of bridges of understanding that crisscross the Pacific Ocean.

Mission

The Pacific Century Institute’s mission is to foster education, policy dialogue and research. Our chosen constituencies are the significant actors on the regional stage government officials, scholars, business people and journalists.

PCI strives to provide a forum for discussion of regional problems, foster the creation of common solutions, promote cross-cultural communication, build bridges between the peoples of the Pacific Rim, especially focusing on gaps not being filled by other institutions, use imaginative "entrepreneurial" programming to fulfill its mission, and provide "seed money" to get initiatives off the ground; seek partners to carry forward.

All of these efforts are designed to construct a more open and harmonious future, one free from the forces of parochialism and chauvinism that have marred our mutual past.

PCI Reflection

The Pacific Century Institute (PCI) joins the nation in mourning the senseless death of George Floyd and stands in solidarity with the Black American community and all those united in exercising their constitutional rights in peacefully demanding justice and advocating a more perfect union.

As an international institution, PCI recognizes, respects and values the many contributions that Black Americans have made to shaping our communities, cities, counties, and countries. Martin Luther King's dictum that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” applies not just to the United States but to the whole world. As he said, “we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

We remain committed to meaningful action and dialogue to bridge the gaps in understanding between peoples of diverse backgrounds. Our Project Bridge program was established in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles riots to educate high school students of the greater Los Angeles area to be aware of cultural, racial and ethnic diversity and to recognize the stereotypes that foster intolerance and racism. We will continue to work to develop cultural sensitivity and leadership among young Americans from diverse ethnic, social, and religious backgrounds in our efforts to build a better America as a leader for the Pacific century.