Are you an adult Korean adoptee or an organization that would be of interest to adult adopted Koreans? If you want to share with the rest of the community an upcoming event, performance, reading, or a call for an activity of some sort, please let us know and we'll post it here.
EVENTS
October 2009
Korean Quarterly newspaper is having a fun and lighthearted fall event, the KQ 5K Chusok Run/Walk, to be held Sunday, October 4, starting at 2 p.m., at Lake Phalen Park in St. Paul.
We will have a 5K run or walk along a beautiful lake trail, followed by Korean food, entertainment, Chusok games, drawings for merchandise, sample post-5K back massages, taekwondo demos, drumming, and information tables by various vendors at the Lake Phalen Pavilion.
The Run/Walk takes place on the weekend of Chusok, the festival of the harvest moon in Korea.
The minimum donation for this event is $30, which gets each entrant either a fleece KQ sweatshirt or a t-shirt. We also have sponsorship forms to raise money for KQ (attached and on the KQ website).
Please participate in this event to support a great newspaper for the Korean American community of the Twin Cities.
If you cannot participate, please give a donation today. Any amount will help KQ keep its unique news and information of the Korean American community coming to you.
The direct link for KQ 5K Chusok Run/Walk registration, sponsorship, and donations: http://www.koreanquarterly.org/5K.html
September 2009
Sun Yung Shin and Jill Breckenridge
Poetry reading at ArtStart in St. Paul
September 12, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public. Books available for purchase.
March 2009
Korea Seminar Series: Koryo Saram: The Unreliable People; film screening and discussion with David Chung
When: Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 6pm to 8:30 pm
Where: Bell Museum of Natural History, U of M
Cost: Free!
Contact: Consortium for the Study of the Asias, 612-625-6103, asias@umn.edu
180,000 people taken from their homes and deported 4000 miles away to the steppes of Central Asia? Why were they taken and how did they survive?
In 1937, Stalin began a campaign of massive ethnic cleansing and forcibly deported everyone of Korean origin living in the coastal provinces of the Far East Russia near the border of North Korea to the unsettled steppe country of Central Asia 3700 miles away. This story of 180,000 Koreans who became political pawns during the Great Terror is the central focus of this film.
Koryo Saram (the Soviet Korean phrase for Korean person) tells the harrowing saga of survival in the open steppe country and the sweep of Soviet history through the eyes of these deported Koreans, who were designated by Stalin as an "unreliable people" and enemies of the state. Through recently uncovered archival footage and new interviews, the film follows the deportees' history of integrating into the Soviet system while working under punishing conditions in Kazakhstan, a country which became a concentration camp of exiled people from throughout the Soviet Union.
Today, in the context of Kazakhstan's recent emergence as a rapidly modernizing, independent state, the story of the Kazakhstani-Koreans situated within this ethnically diverse country has resonance with the experience of many Americans and how they have assimilated to form new cultures in our world of increasingly displaced people.
For more information visit the film website at: http://www.koryosaram.net/index.html.
FEBRUARY 2009
Distinguished Poet, Kim Ki-Taek, at The Loft Literary Center with Adoptee Poet Jennifer Kwon Dobbs
Event details:
“Contemporary Korean Poetry Through Translation and Diaspora: A Reading and Conversation with Kim Ki-Taek and Jennifer Kwon Dobbs”
February 24, 2009 | 7:30-9:00 p.m. | The Loft Literary Center | Suite 200, Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415 www.loft.org
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (January 20, 2009)—Award-winning Korean poet Kim Ki-Taek will give three talks in the Twin Cities area on February 24 and 26, 2009. He will appear at the University of Minnesota, The Loft Literary Center, and St. Olaf College; his talks are free and open to the public.
Kim’s poetry focuses on violence inflicted on the body. He explores how physical and psychological violence leaves its mark behind and how that mark eventually manifests as various habits that continue to inform one's sense of self. He has tried to observe this process and record it in his poems. Literary critics have praised his work for its perceptive imagination, its "observation and description of minute and microscopic details.”
After winning the poetry section of a literary contest in Hankook Daily Newspaper in 1989, Kim focused on writing poetry professionally. He has since published four books of collected poems in Korean— Fatal Sleep (1991), Storm in the Hole of the Needle (1994), Office Worker (1999), and Cow (2005) and has won 5 major literary prizes— Kim Soo Young Literary Award, Hyundai Literary Award, Midang Literary Award, Jihoon Literary Award and Isu Literary Award. His fifth book, a selection of his poems, is forthcoming.
JANUARY 2009
Young Jean Lee's Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven (A show about white people in love)
When: January 18-20, 2009 8pm
Where: Walker Art Center McGuire Theater
Cost: $20
“Lee’s snaky, tart-writing and her understanding of theatrical conventions seem to exist only so she can subvert and frustrate expectations.” —Time Out New York
Provocative writer/director Young Jean Lee’s worst nightmare is to make anything as predictable as a confessional, Korean American identity play with a flowery Asian-sounding title, so she decided to do just that. Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven follows a character named “Korean-American” as she navigates—like a contestant in an identity-politics video game—the increasingly disturbing levels of a pseudo-Korean world. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a white couple appears and begins having a dysfunctional relationship drama that eventually takes over the play. Full of blunt observations and unexpected turns, Lee’s warped, funny take on her heritage raises difficult questions about race, culture, and identity that leave the audience uneasy, exhilarated, and grappling for answers.Copresented with the National Performance Network (NPN).
OCTOBER 2008
October 16-18, 2008
Today, America sees its Asian population as over-achieving, humble, hard-working, submissive, quiet, or 'not willing to accept American culture.' Many high- and low-achieving Asian students experience anxiety and distress from seeking help. Due to the stereotypes, we are rarely seen as leaders, political or social, who really stand out from the rest. We are not likely to advance as leaders in the future if we don't address these issues.
'Asian Pacific Americans Conference: Leadership for Generation Next' will be the theme this year. The Asian American Affairs program is honored to host this event at Minnesota State University, Mankato on October 16-18, 2008.
The purpose of this conference is to give Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders the opportunity to talk about issues that affect their pursuit of education. These students will be able to connect with academic scholars, professionals and community members and discuss leadership development for the present and future generations.
For registration and more information about APAC, please visit our website at www.mnsu.edu/cultdiv/aaa/apac<http://www.mnsu.edu/cultdiv/aaa/apac>, or contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 507-389-2799.
Sunday, October 19
Pianist Hee Ah Lee was born in Seoul with only four fingers. She will hold a Minnesota concert on Sunday, October 19, 3pm at Hopkins High School Auditorium, 2004 Lindbergh Drive, Minnetonka, MN. Ticket information at www.ticketworks.com or 651-209-6689.
SEPTEMBER 2008
Wednesday, September 10
Judge Park Won Soon will discuss human rights and transitional justice in Korea. Named by the Citizen Times as the "Most Distinguished and Respected Activist in Korea" for three years running, Judge Park is the executive director of the Hope Institute and of the Beautiful Foundation and Beautiful Store (a community foundation and fair-trade network).
Organized by the Transitional Justice and Collective Memory collaborative.
4:00 PM
Cost: Free and open to the public!
Contact: Institute for Advanced Study, 612-626-5054
http://events.tc.umn.edu/event.xml?occurrence=411657
September 13 - October 5
Under the Porcelain Mask: Asian American women speak out
Mu Performing Arts presents two one-act plays; Sia(b)
by May Lee-Yang and Asiamnesia by Sun Mee Chomet.
Featuring May Lee-Yang, Katie Vang, Sun Mee
Chomet, Katie Bradley, and Rose Le Tran.
For tickets, call 612-824-4804 or visit
www.muperformingarts.org
Where: The Playwrights’ Center
2301 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis
When: September 13 — October 5
Cost: $18 Adults
$16 Students/Seniors
Event Archive
August 2008
HEALING GATHERING
An ugly act of hatred hit the Lake Phalen Park in St. Paul, Minnesota on the night/morning before the second day of the Dragon Festival.
On July 12, someone defaced areas of Phalen Park, spray-painting racist remarks and symbols.
The beautiful sculpture of an Asian woman's face Meditation by Chinese artist Lei Yixin was severely damaged. The icon was ground zero for this "hate" crime.
We feel the main target of this attack was the Asian American communities since the vandalism occurred during the Dragon Festival, but the racism was not directed at us alone.
The St. Paul Police are investigating and the FBI is looking at and investigating the vandalism as a hate crime. All efforts are being made to find the person or persons behind this crime.
The Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans along with numerous supporters and organizations will hold a healing gathering for the communities impacted on the evening of August 15, 2008 at Lake Phalen Park.
The gathering's purposes will be to create greater awareness of this tragedy, bring people together to foster understanding and peace, and to ask for help in cleaning the statue and safeguarding its future.
You are asked for help.
1) please plan to attend the healing gathering on August 15
2) volunteer to help in the restorative process for the sculpture - cleaning it and taking off the paint
3) donations to pay professionals to remove the paint, estimated cost - $2,500 - $3,000
Donations are being accepted by Public Arts St. Paul:
253 East 4th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-290-0921
651-292-0345 (fax)
June 2008
- Amy Anderson Live!
Acclaimed LA comedienne Amy Anderson returns to Illusion Theater, where she once performed as a Salad Bowl, to kick off the 2008 Fresh Ink Series with two hilarious nights of stand-up comedy. She says, "I'm never what people expect." Amy describes herself as "a funny American girl who happened to be born in Korea and then was adopted by Swedish parents in suburban Minnesota." She adds, "The fact that I'm an Asian American female and I ride a motorcycle, have a white family and have never given a manicure...well, that just blows people's minds."
Performance Schedule
Friday, June 27 at 8pm
Saturday, June 28 at 8pmTickets: $20
To order tickets, call the Illusion Theater Box Office at 612-339-4944
- AdopSource will hold its first Annual Fundraising Event on June 14, 2008. For more information, go to www.adopsource.org
March 2008
- March 24, Monday
Korea Seminar Series:
FILM SCREENING of Family Project: House of a Father
Director will be present
Auditorium
Bell Museum of Natural History
10 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Cost: Free and open to the public
Beginning with her own personal story, director Yun K. Jo considers current hierarchies and dynamics in the Korean family.
January 2008:
- 6 January:
Bu-Hyun Nam's Korean language class begins.
Beginner level is from 2:00-3:30pm
Advanced level is from 3:30-5:00pm
For more information call 952-221-8407.
December 2007:
- 5 December:
Poetry Reading at Nina's Cafe with Sun Yung Shin
165 Western Ave N., St. Paul 55102/651-292-9816
7:00pm - 8 and 9 December:
Sun Mee Chomet + 5 Asian American women artists come together.
Presented through Mu Performing Arts with the Jerome Foundation's support.
Asiamnesia at Center For Independent Artists : 4137 Bloomington Ave S., Minneapolis 55407/612-724-8392
7:00pm - 9 December:
Christmas Party given by the Korean Adoptees Ministry Center. 5:00pm at Rev. Sung Chul Park's home. For directions, call: 612-324-0208 or 612-636-6180. Korean dinner provided. You may bring something to share.
November 2007:
- 27 November:
Korea Seminar Series: Reading women writing space in modern Korean literature
University of Minnesota
4:00pm
Details here - 27 November:
Andersen Library Research Forum Presents:
Representations of Transnationally/Transracially Adopted Koreans in American Children's Literature with Sarah Park, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
3:30-4:30pm.
Details on directions here - 28 November:
Paul Muldoon:
University of Minnesota
7:30pm
Pulitzer Prize-winner Paul Muldoon is considered by many "the most significant English-language poet born since the Second World War."
Website: http://www.paulmuldoon.net/
October 2007:
- 9 October:
Sun Yung Shin and Shannon Gibney discuss Outsiders Within: Writing on Transracial Adoption
Magers & Quinn: 3038 Hennepin Ave S., Minneapolis 55408/612-822-4611
7:30pm - 10 October:
Kimberly Michaels Trio performs
Bellanotte: 600 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis 55403/612-339-7200
8:00pm - 10:00pm - 10 October:
Korea Seminar Series: Another "language that failed": The abortive attempt at creating "Soviet" Korean in the Russian Far East, 1922-1937
University of Minnesota
3:30pm
Details here - 11 October:
Dr. Richard M. Lee "Culture Matters: The role of race and ethnicity in International Adoption"
124 Nolte Center, 315 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis (on the campus of the University of MN - East Bank)
4:00pm - 11 October:
Kimberly Michaels Trio performs
Bella in Blaine: 10950 Club West Parkway, Suite 280, Blaine 55449/763-746-9990
6:00pm - 9:00pm - 13 October:
Poetry Reading with Sun Yung Shin and Graham Foust
The Beat Coffeehouse: 1414 West 28th Street, Uptown Minneapolis
7:30pm - 18 October
Mayda's Stereotype EP Release Party!!!
The Varsity Theater (in Dinkytown)
18+!!! $8, doors at 8pm
The Line up:
CHRIS LAWRENCE
MAYDA
w. Michael Bland (Soul asylum, Prince, Paul Westerberg)
Jake Hanson (Halloween Alaska)
Yohannes Tona (Alicia Wiley, Dr. Mambo's Combo)
Ryan Leistman (The Rule)
DESDAMONA - an amazing female MC!!!!!!!!! - 25 October:
Korea Seminar Series: Cloud, Wind, Thunder and Rain: An instrumental introduction to Korean traditional percussive music
University of Minnesota
7:30pm
Details here. - 27 October:
Korean Quarterly 10th Anniversary
Details here.
November 2007:
- 12 November:
Korea Seminar Series: Selection of bilingual readings
University of Minnesota
4:30pm
Details here - 13 November:
Melissa Fay Greene:
Weisman Art Museum
7:30pm
Nonfiction writer Melissa Fay Greene is most recently the author of _There Is No Me Without You_, about Haregewoin Teferra, a foster mother in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the AIDS orphans she has raised.At her appearance here, she will be in dialog with Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Professor Larry Jacobs. Event followed by book-signing and reception.
Website: http://www.melissafaygreene.com/ - 17 November:
CHS RCAA Adoption Awareness Month event
University of MN: Smith Hall, Room 231, 207 Pleaseant St. SE, Minneapolis
4-7pm
Keynote speaker: Shannon Gibney, Growing Up, Growing Through Adulthood: The Role of Creativity and Community in Adoptee Development, Free!
Website: http://www.childrenshomeadopt.org/RCAA
Event details: http://www.childrenshomeadopt.org/National_Adoption_Awareness_Month_event_2007.html - 17 November:
9th Annual Chang Mi Korean Benefit Variety Show & Market
Where: White Bear High School South Campus Theater
3551 McKnight Rd, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
When: 10:30 a.m., FREE 1 PM benefit show.
Why: Fundraiser to support child services in Korea - baby hospital, orphanage and foster care programs with Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS).
Event includes, bake sale, children’s activities, Children’s Home Society Korean Market, Korean lunch and more!
Collection of vitamins for infants, children and teens served by Eastern Social Welfare Society programs in Korea. Chang Mi travelers will carry donations to Korea in March.
Want to volunteer? mnewmast@ties2.net
Website: For more information and to order lunch tickets visit http://www.changmi.org/.