The Association of Korean Adoptees San Francisco (AKA-SF) invites you to our 20th Anniversary Celebration & International Korean Adoptee Associations (IKAA) Annual Convention 2017. The weekend-long milestone event will be an outstanding opportunity to meet local and international Korean adoptees, engage in unique conference sessions, and explore the beautiful city of San Francisco.
In hosting this conference we focus on:
• Creating connections among adoptees.
• Enhancing awareness of resources and opportunities for adoptees.
• Bringing positive impact to the community through adoptee-led organizations and initiatives.
We are excited to be collaborating with many organizations, artists, and academics to develop this program. Stay tuned for more details on sessions, speakers, and activities!
Registration ends Oct5th. There are no walk-ins for this conference.
Email AKASF20@aka-sf.org with any questions and feedback.
Birth Family Search with Prof. Keon-Su Lee
Walk through the process of searching for birth family in Korea with Professor Keon-Su Lee, who is known as “Sergeant Lee” by many adopted Koreans. A retired Captain of the Korean National Policy Agency, Prof. Lee will share some of his experiences finding more than 5,600 missing family members.
Speaker: Professor and Retired Captain Keon-Su Lee
Adopted, Without Citizenship
Hear the stories, struggles and hopes of adopted Koreans who’ve lived with the consequences of lacking citizenship. They are among 20,000 adopted Koreans whose citizenships were not secured in their countries of adoption. Learn about efforts to pass the Adoptee Citizenship Act for an estimated 35,000 international adoptees without citizenship in the U.S.
Speakers: Joy Alessi, Kris Larsen, Donald Bearden, Justin Ki Hong, "SC," and Becky Belcore (moderator) of Adoptee Rights Campaign (ARC)
DNA Testing & Birth Family Reunion
A discussion of DNA testing in the Korean adoptee community and its impact on understanding one's biological history and connecting with relatives. Also, an adopted Korean describes being reunited with her birth family for more than 10 years, and her work with unwed mothers who formed KUMFA.
Speakers: Bella Siegel-Dalton (325 KAMRA), Joo Ae Lippe-Klein
LGBTQ Panel Discussion
A panel of LGBTQ Korean Adoptees discussing the intersection of culture, gender, and sexual orientation and the impact on the future generations of LGBTQ adoptees.
Speakers: Min Matson, Jana Lee, Peter Savasta
A Conversation with Poets and Authors
Nationally acclaimed and emerging Korean adoptee authors read from their creative writing and discuss their writing processes, challenges, and insights. They will also discuss what markers signify Korean adoptee writing across their various genres, including poetry, fiction, memoir, and cookbook writing. Q&A will follow the readings.
Speakers: Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello (Hour of the Ox), SooJin Pate (From Orphan to Adoptee), Jessica Sun Lee (An Ode to the Humans Who’ve Loved and Left Me), Julayne Lee (Not My White Savior, Spring 2018), and Lee Herrick (moderator, Gardening Secrets of the Dead)
Somatic Empowerment through Cross-cultural Archetypes
This workshop may be powerful for adoptees of color by expanding healing and empowerment by focusing on the body. You do not need any previous experience, training, or special ability to participate. Exploring archetypes may allow adoptees of color to explore the many dimensions of their identity, and to become inspired by the discovery of new embodied and imaginative possibilities.
Presenter: Amy Mihyang Ginther
Return to Korea
A panel discussion with adoptees who have returned to Korea as they share their experiences. The discussion will focus on how visiting or living in Korea has shaped their sense of Korean identity and affected their ongoing relationship with Korea.
Speakers: Anouk Eigenraam, Dana Schlafman, Jennifer Schupp, Jared Utley, Mary O’Donnell (moderator)
1st Generation/Hapa KADs panel
During and after the Korean War, children of Korean mothers and American or U.N. soldiers were among the first Korean children to be adopted overseas. Many entered the U.S. when immigration laws blocked entry of Asians, and grew up during the racially segregated 1950s and ‘60s. Now, decades later, they are returning to Korea to confront their histories and search for their birth families.
Speakers: Lowell Rojon, Sharon Mellor, Maria Giannoble Johnson, Tanne Beaudecker, and Bella Siegel-Dalton (moderator)
Film Symposium
Viewing and Q&A with featured Korean adoptee filmmakers and subjects, about their experiences across the adoptee continuum.
Speakers: Tammy Chu ("Resilience," "Searching for Go-Hyang"), and Min Matson (moderator, "AKA Seoul")
KAD Seminar
A workshop sharing the outcomes of the KAD Seminar, a study series exploring the intersections of adoption practices, Korean history, and U.S. history. Participants of the S.F. Bay Area-based seminar will share how their personal stories have been illuminated and contextualized through readings and discussions with influential scholars, artists, and activists.
Speakers: Coordinators Molly Cho (moderator), Yong Chan Miller, HyunJu Chappell, Deann Borshay Liem; Dina Buck, Leslie Griep, and Mary Lee
Post-Adoption Support & Healing Power of Art
Two Americans adopted from Korea share the uniqueness of the international adoption experience from a mental health perspective. It is a two-part presentation. Part 1 is a discussion about the distinctness, limitations, and possibilities in post-adoption support services while navigating through the personal journey of being adopted from Korea. Part II is an interactive experience that touches on healing through an expressive art process.
Part I: Merrily Sadlovsky, MSW, LICSW - Minnesota-based psychotherapist
Part II: Mele Kramer - Founder of 100,000 Kranes for my Mother (tm), is currently a Doctoral Student studying I/O Psychology at Walden University
IKAA Community Building
IKAA community leaders will share their experiences and advice for building local adoptee communities. This sessions encourages active discussion with the audience members on how to build and strengthen local communities while providing global resources.
Speakers: Taneka Jennings (KAtCH, Chicago), Lisa Dahlgren (AKF, Sweden), Tommy Gentzel (AKASF, San Francisco)
Parenting as KADs
An informal conversation centering the experiences of KADs who are now parents. Possible themes covered: racial identity development, experiencing birth parenthood, raising multiracial children, navigating retriggered trauma, internalized racial oppression, the challenges of passing on lost history and culture, and deep personal healing and love. KADs who are expecting/considering parenthood, LGBTQ KAD parents, and KADs who are adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to join! Partners (including non-KAD/non-POC) welcome, understanding the workshop will be centered on the KAD parent experience. Childcare will be provided.
Workshop Facilitator: Nari Baker
This will be held at Golden Gate Park (same location as picnic), but prior to the start of the picnic.
Picnic in the Park
On Sunday, we will host a family-friendly picnic in beautiful Golden Gate Park with Connect-A-Kid; School for Korean Adoptees & Families; Korean Center, Inc.; and #akasf20 participants. Join us for lawn activities and games! Food and drinks provided (including vegetarian options).
Tickets are purchased using a credit card payment.
Prices are in USD and are exclusive of fees (5% +$1).
General Ticket includes access to all events, while Dinner Ticket is only for the Gala dinner.
Cancellation and Refunds:
100% refund through Aug 1st, 2017. 50% refund through Sept 4th, 2017.
Refunds will not be accepted after Sept 4th, 2017. Refunds may take up to 60 days to process.
1625 Post Street,
San Francisco, CA 94115
Both the Saturday conference programming and Gala Dinner will be held at the Hotel Kabuki. This is the most convenient accommodation for individuals or groups traveling from outside of the city. The discounted rates expired August 1st, 2017
Additional Hotel Option:
Phone: 415-563-5600
The Chelsea Inn has provided discounted rooms. The rooms are $178 + tax/fees and they are single rooms with double beds. To get this discounted rate please ask for Mr. Eunkil Lee. Note: only 5 rooms available
AKA-SF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an all-volunteer board. If you wish to make a donation to support this conference, please follow the link below to our conference donation page. We are truly grateful for your generosity and support!
If you have any questions about donations/sponsorship opportunities, please email AKASF20@aka-sf.org
The Association of Korean Adoptees San Francisco (AKA-SF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the S.F. Bay Area serving the greater adoptee community and their families. Our mission is to educate and foster community among San Francisco Bay Area Korean adoptees, their friends and families through cultural and enrichment events, social gatherings, and collaboration with local Korean American groups.
AKA-SF offers monthly events and more:
• Like/follow our Facebook Page for updates and/or
• Sign up for our Email List
Email: info@aka-sf.org
The mission of the International Korean Adoptee Assocations (IKAA) Network is to enrich the global adoption community, promote the sharing of information and resources between adult adoptee associations, strengthen cross-cultural relations, and innovate post-adoption services for the broader international adoptee community.
The IKAA Network reaches out to 15,000+ members of the international adoption community through our member organizations from Europe (Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Italy, Belgium) and the U.S. (California; New York; Washington; Minnesota; Washington, DC; Hawaii; Illinois).
Email: info@ikaa.org