UPCOMING EVENTS:
Check back soon for new events!
PAST EVENTS:
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Do to the rising trend in covid cases, AK Connection is canceling our September Chuseok event. While we were looking forward to this event and wish we could celebrate this holiday with you, please know that the safety of our community and your family is our highest priority. We wish you and your family a very Happy Chuseok this year and hope that we can do this next year. Please continue to follow us as we will be providing other socially distant events in the near future.
~ AK Connection Board Members |
August Summer Picnic
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2021 Annual Summer PicnicBring the whole family to celebrate summer! AK will be serving up some amazing bulgogi, kimbop, japchae and kimchi!
Date: Saturday, August 21 Time: 12:00 - 3:00 PM Location: Boom Island - Pavilion B 724 Sibley Ave NE Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413 |
July Summer Party
Join us on Saturday, July 24th 7:00 PM for a night out on the town.
Who's ready for a night out?
AK's summer party this year will take place in a private room at hotel Canopy inside the Umbra restaurant in downtown Minneapolis.
AK Connection will be providing light appetizers, but if you would like to order off the full menu for yourself you can check it out here.
Spouses and significant other's are welcome; however, we ask that you do not bring children, as this particular event is adults only.
Party starts at 7:00 PM, please be sure to RSVP on Facebook.
UMBRA
708 3rd Street South
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(located inside The Canopy Hotel)
June Mini Meet Up
Join us for our first in-person event of the year at Bap and Chicken on Wednesday, June 23rd from 6:00-8:00 PM.
Everyone's safety and health is our number one priority!
Please ensure that you are following CDC guidelines which can be found here-
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
For those that prefer outside seating will be available.
Please be sure to RSVP here if you plan on attending so we can give Bap and Chicken a head count.
AK Connection will be providing light appetizers for members.
Check out their full menu here: https://www.bapandchicken.com/
AK Connection Food Drive!
Since we're unable to gather as a community this year for AK Connection's annual holiday party, we've decided to commemorate the end of 2020 by coming together to give back to the greater Twin Cities community. Please consider joining AK Connection for a food drive to benefit Sharing and Caring Hands . AK Connection will be collecting nonperishable foods and personal hygiene products beginning Saturday, December 19th until Saturday, January 2nd.
Bap and Chicken, located at 1328 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, has graciously offered up their dining room as a drop-off location for donations. Donations can be dropped off at Bap and Chicken any day of the week between 11:00-8:00 PM (although please be sure to check Bap and Chicken's holiday hours). Please remember to wear your mask and practice safe, social distancing when dropping off donations.
The food drive will officially begin on Saturday, December 19th at 11:00 am. On Saturday, December 19th between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, AK Connection will be at Bap and Chicken handling out mini bottles of hand sanitizer and Korean culture books to those who drop-off donations. If you are among the first 20 community members to drop off 5 or more nonperishable food items or personal hygiene products on December 9th, you will receive a $10.00 Bap and Chicken gift card from AK Connection.
We hope you will consider joining AK Connection in its efforts to give back this holiday season. A special thanks to Bap and Chicken for agreeing to act as a drop-off site for donations and for offering 10% off Bap and Chicken's delicious food to any community members who donate 10 or more items between Saturday, December 19th and Saturday, January 2nd!
We so appreciate your support and wish you and your family a healthy holiday season and a Happy New Year!
For more information on AK Connection or if you would like to donate please visit our website: http://www.akconnection.com/donate1.html
Thank you,
AK Connection
Bap and Chicken, located at 1328 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, has graciously offered up their dining room as a drop-off location for donations. Donations can be dropped off at Bap and Chicken any day of the week between 11:00-8:00 PM (although please be sure to check Bap and Chicken's holiday hours). Please remember to wear your mask and practice safe, social distancing when dropping off donations.
The food drive will officially begin on Saturday, December 19th at 11:00 am. On Saturday, December 19th between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, AK Connection will be at Bap and Chicken handling out mini bottles of hand sanitizer and Korean culture books to those who drop-off donations. If you are among the first 20 community members to drop off 5 or more nonperishable food items or personal hygiene products on December 9th, you will receive a $10.00 Bap and Chicken gift card from AK Connection.
We hope you will consider joining AK Connection in its efforts to give back this holiday season. A special thanks to Bap and Chicken for agreeing to act as a drop-off site for donations and for offering 10% off Bap and Chicken's delicious food to any community members who donate 10 or more items between Saturday, December 19th and Saturday, January 2nd!
We so appreciate your support and wish you and your family a healthy holiday season and a Happy New Year!
For more information on AK Connection or if you would like to donate please visit our website: http://www.akconnection.com/donate1.html
Thank you,
AK Connection
AK Connection in Collaboration with NPA Presents a 3 part Series:
Join us on this journey to become more racially conscious and equipped to identify and interrupt white supremacy in small and big ways so that we, Asian adoptees, can challenge anti-Blackness in ourselves, in our relationships, and in larger systems now and for the rest of our lives. Let’s do our part in building a society to ensure the reality of this obvious yet misunderstood truth: Black Lives Matter.
How Asian Adoptees Can Support Black Lives Matter
The murder of George Perry Floyd on May 25, 2020, sparked a racial reckoning that is taking place locally, nationally, and globally. Because of this, more than ever before, people across the country are showing up, eager to educate themselves and others in an effort to stand in solidarity with the movement for Black Lives. Calls to examine white supremacy and anti-black racism in ourselves and in one’s own community are cited by Black people as the work needed to be done by non-Black people. But what does this look like if you’re an Asian adoptee?
Join AK Connection and Network of Politicized Adoptees (NPA) in navigating this complex question by attending our three-part series. As immigrants of color, many of whom were adopted into all-white families and predominantly white communities, Asian adoptees inhabit a unique position, complicating the “racial triangulation” of Blacks, Asians, and whites that Claire Jean Kim theorizes. This series provides Asian adoptees with a brave space to process our own complicated relationship to whiteness and Blackness in order to eradicate white supremacy and usher in a society that truly values and respects the lives of Black people to the same degree as white lives are valued and respected.
Join us on this journey to become more racially conscious and equipped to identify and interrupt white supremacy in small and big ways so that we, Asian adoptees, can support anti-Blackness in ourselves, in our relationships, and in larger systems now and for the rest of our lives. Let’s do our part in building a society to ensure the reality of this obvious yet misunderstood truth: Black Lives Matter.
Session 1:
Sunday, August 16th 2:00-3:30 PM
Asian Adoptees on Identity, Racial Consciousness, and Black Lives Matter Sung Ja Shin, Elly Fireside, Jaehoon Lee, and Kim Richard will discuss what sparked their journey to learn more about race and what it means to be an Asian adoptee in this moment of racial reckoning. They will also talk about what they are doing now to help support the movement for Black lives and Black liberation. This conversation is moderated by Dr. SooJin Pate.
Session 2:
Sunday, August 23rd 2:00-3:30 PM
Coming to Terms with Racism and White Supremacy Words such as “racism” and “white supremacy” are widely misunderstood and misused, leading to misinformed conversations. Therefore, this session focuses on the difference between bias vs. prejudice and prejudice vs. racism; the various types of racism; the relationship between racism and white supremacy; and how white supremacy shows up in our everyday lives. This session will also highlight anti-Blackness and anti-Asian bias. This session is facilitated by Dr. SooJin Pate.
NOTE: Registrants will be asked to do some pre-work by reading two short essays. In addition, some homework will be assigned in preparation for Session 3: Sunday, August 30th 2:00-3:30 PM
How to Be an Antiracist Asian Adoptee In this final session of the series, we will learn what it means to be an antiracist and how we, Asian adoptees, can activate our antiracist lens in everything we do, including the conversations we have with our coworkers, friends, and family members. Time will be provided to practice these potentially difficult conversations in small groups, getting feedback from others on how to handle obstacles and challenges they might face, as well as tips on how to mitigate potential missteps that could shut down conversations. This session is facilitated by Dr. SooJin Pate.
Please register for each session individually.
Session 1: August 16th, 2:00-3:30 Asian Adoptees on Identity, Racial Consciousness, and Black Lives Matter.
Session 2: August 23rd, 2:00-3:30
Coming to Terms with Racism and White Supremacy
Session 3: August 30th, 2:00-3:30
How to be an Antiracist Asian Adoptee
NOTE: Registrants will be asked to do some pre-work by reading two short essays. In addition, some homework will be assigned in preparation for session3.
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NPA is comprised of transracial transnational adoptees representing a variety of countries of origin and professional backgrounds working in Minneapolis/St. Paul. We meet bimonthly to move a larger agenda forward.
NPA’s mission is to strengthen, cultivate, and improve the lives of adoptees by building community power. Through solution-focused action, we advance adoptee justice by telling our own stories and collectively working towards systemic change within adoption. |
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Let’s stay connected during quarantine and watch First Person Plural, a film by Deann Borshay Liem.
Wednesday, May 21st at 8:00 PM Please register via the link to join us for our virtual movie night. Once you have registered you will be sent the Zoom link. Register Here! |
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Our first ever virtual movie night!
AK Connection Holiday Party!
January 25, 2020
8:00 PM
Lux Lounge at Seven Steakhouse & Sushi
Another year has gone by and that means it's time to party! Come join us for our Annual AK Connection Holiday Party at Seven in downtown Minneapolis. Light apps will be provided by AK Connection and tunes spun by DJ Nak so come early and dance the night away.
January 25, 2020
8:00 PM
Lux Lounge at Seven Steakhouse & Sushi
Another year has gone by and that means it's time to party! Come join us for our Annual AK Connection Holiday Party at Seven in downtown Minneapolis. Light apps will be provided by AK Connection and tunes spun by DJ Nak so come early and dance the night away.
Aubergine with AK Connection
Join AK Connection for a special night while we enjoy Aubergine. ***Special AK Connection ticket pricing***
AK Connection has an exclusive offer just for our community. We have limited tickets available for $10 each (regularly $45-55).
Food brings us together and creates unexpected bridges. A son cooks a meal for his dying father to say everything that his words can’t. Lyrical, humorous and full of love, this is a story of an inter-generational Korean family struggling to relate across emotional, linguistic and cultural divides. When words fail, a home-cooked meal transcends differences and brings us together.
Park Square Theatre's 2019-2020 season opens with Aubergine , a poignant story of family, love and the best meals of our lives! With the Park Square directing debut of Park Square Artistic Director, Flordelino Lagundino!
Bonus: Ann Kim (chef/owner of Pizzeria Lola, Hello Pizza, Young Joni) will be doing a post-show conversation with Flordelino, the director.
By Julia Cho | Directed by Flordelino Lagundino | Boss Stage
Tickets available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aubergine-with-ak-connection-tickets-73950675461
More details here: https://conta.cc/30mTkPu
Join AK Connection for a special night while we enjoy Aubergine. ***Special AK Connection ticket pricing***
AK Connection has an exclusive offer just for our community. We have limited tickets available for $10 each (regularly $45-55).
Food brings us together and creates unexpected bridges. A son cooks a meal for his dying father to say everything that his words can’t. Lyrical, humorous and full of love, this is a story of an inter-generational Korean family struggling to relate across emotional, linguistic and cultural divides. When words fail, a home-cooked meal transcends differences and brings us together.
Park Square Theatre's 2019-2020 season opens with Aubergine , a poignant story of family, love and the best meals of our lives! With the Park Square directing debut of Park Square Artistic Director, Flordelino Lagundino!
Bonus: Ann Kim (chef/owner of Pizzeria Lola, Hello Pizza, Young Joni) will be doing a post-show conversation with Flordelino, the director.
By Julia Cho | Directed by Flordelino Lagundino | Boss Stage
Tickets available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aubergine-with-ak-connection-tickets-73950675461
More details here: https://conta.cc/30mTkPu
AK Connection 2019 Chuseok Celebration
Bring your whole family and join AK Connection as we celebrate Chuseok (추석). Chuseok is similar to Thanksgiving, and is a major holiday in Korea celebrating the fall harvest.
AK Connection will be serving some traditional Korean food that will be delicious! If you like bibimbap, you’ll love our “make your own bibimbap” option catered by Bonsai where the ingredients are all there and you just choose what you want in your bowl.
We will have Korean watercolor fan painting for the kids as well.
We hope to see you there!
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2019
Time: 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM CDT
Location: 1530 NE Johnson St
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Bring your whole family and join AK Connection as we celebrate Chuseok (추석). Chuseok is similar to Thanksgiving, and is a major holiday in Korea celebrating the fall harvest.
AK Connection will be serving some traditional Korean food that will be delicious! If you like bibimbap, you’ll love our “make your own bibimbap” option catered by Bonsai where the ingredients are all there and you just choose what you want in your bowl.
We will have Korean watercolor fan painting for the kids as well.
We hope to see you there!
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2019
Time: 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM CDT
Location: 1530 NE Johnson St
Minneapolis, MN 55413
AK Connection - Summer Picnic 2019!
Join us for the AK Connection Summer Picnic at Boom Island Park!
We will be serving Korean BBQ meats, japchae, and of course kimchee! Feel free to bring a dish to share as well.
There is plenty of parking in the three lots adjacent to the picnic shelter we have reserved (Shelter B). Boom Island also has a playground and tons of open space if people wanted to bring a game or activity to play. The event runs until 7:00PM, but the park is open until sunset.
Friends and family are welcome. Hope to see you there!
Date: Saturday, August 24
Time: 5:00PM to 8:00PM CDT
Location: Boom Island - Pavilion B
724 Sibley Ave NE
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413
Join us for the AK Connection Summer Picnic at Boom Island Park!
We will be serving Korean BBQ meats, japchae, and of course kimchee! Feel free to bring a dish to share as well.
There is plenty of parking in the three lots adjacent to the picnic shelter we have reserved (Shelter B). Boom Island also has a playground and tons of open space if people wanted to bring a game or activity to play. The event runs until 7:00PM, but the park is open until sunset.
Friends and family are welcome. Hope to see you there!
Date: Saturday, August 24
Time: 5:00PM to 8:00PM CDT
Location: Boom Island - Pavilion B
724 Sibley Ave NE
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413
Theatre Mu's Brother's Paranormal
Come see Theatre Mu's performance of The Brother's Paranormal with an exclusive AK Connection post-show dessert reception!
"In response to a nationwide increase in sightings of “Asian-looking ghosts,” two entrepreneurial Thai-American brothers launch a ghost-hunting business. When the siblings investigate the home of an African American couple displaced by Hurricane Katrina, what’s real and what’s fantasy clash against a shocking truth."
AK Connection has an amazing opportunity to offer our community a limited number of discounted tickets at $25 each (standard tickets are $40). Only 30 tickets are available so be sure to reserve yours today!
Date: Friday, May 24
Time: 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM CDT
Location: Penumbra Theatre
270 North Kent Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Come see Theatre Mu's performance of The Brother's Paranormal with an exclusive AK Connection post-show dessert reception!
"In response to a nationwide increase in sightings of “Asian-looking ghosts,” two entrepreneurial Thai-American brothers launch a ghost-hunting business. When the siblings investigate the home of an African American couple displaced by Hurricane Katrina, what’s real and what’s fantasy clash against a shocking truth."
AK Connection has an amazing opportunity to offer our community a limited number of discounted tickets at $25 each (standard tickets are $40). Only 30 tickets are available so be sure to reserve yours today!
Date: Friday, May 24
Time: 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM CDT
Location: Penumbra Theatre
270 North Kent Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Korean Drumming Lessons with Jang-mi!
(Ongoing Event)
Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Location:
Sejong Academy
1330 Blair Ave
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104
or
Korean American Association of Minnesota's office at:
1331 County Road D Circle E Vadnais Heights, MN 55109
Check in each week via facebook for location updates.
From our friend, Brooke Newmaster:
Happy New Year, AK Connection members!
Jang-mi Korean Dance, Drum & Music is partnering with AK Connection to offer $10 Korean drumming lessons on Saturday afternoons from 2:15 pm ~ 3:30 pm. No music or performance experience necessary! Come try out the first class on February 23rd. No registration fee for AK Connection members.
I first started learning Korean dance at KCC back in 1984 and loved learning about Korean culture through the arts. Since that time, I have gained a passion for sharing Korean traditional and creative arts with other adoptees, their families and friends. I love the way we can connect through the vibration of the drums and feel a unified togetherness physically and emotionally. I wonder about our ancestors and the times they heard or played the same rhythms. I am so excited to have a chance to drum with all of you.
You do not need to be at every class! Everyone is busy and overbooked on Saturdays. To really learn the rhythms you should try coming to as many sessions as you can. But if you miss please don’t be discouraged! There is participation for every level student. There are four instruments we need players for, and I guarantee we will need some large gong players (that play about once each measure;-). This should be a fun opportunity and not a stressful one!
Jang-mi means "rose" and was named by my teacher Han, Jiwon. This year is our 35th year! We have added the Korean American Women's Association drumming group and they have named themselves the "Wild Roses" -- ha! They meet on Friday evenings and would like to drum with AK Connection sometime in the future. I believe they will bring the Korean snacks if we provide the Makkeolli -- a good trade I think!
Please email AK Connection at akconnectionmn@gmail.com for a form to bring to the first class! New players can join anytime. The lesson material will be progressive so I will try to catch up new students as much as possible.
Please message Brooke with any questions! - jangmikoreandancedrumandmusic@gmail.com
(Ongoing Event)
Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Location:
Sejong Academy
1330 Blair Ave
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104
or
Korean American Association of Minnesota's office at:
1331 County Road D Circle E Vadnais Heights, MN 55109
Check in each week via facebook for location updates.
From our friend, Brooke Newmaster:
Happy New Year, AK Connection members!
Jang-mi Korean Dance, Drum & Music is partnering with AK Connection to offer $10 Korean drumming lessons on Saturday afternoons from 2:15 pm ~ 3:30 pm. No music or performance experience necessary! Come try out the first class on February 23rd. No registration fee for AK Connection members.
I first started learning Korean dance at KCC back in 1984 and loved learning about Korean culture through the arts. Since that time, I have gained a passion for sharing Korean traditional and creative arts with other adoptees, their families and friends. I love the way we can connect through the vibration of the drums and feel a unified togetherness physically and emotionally. I wonder about our ancestors and the times they heard or played the same rhythms. I am so excited to have a chance to drum with all of you.
You do not need to be at every class! Everyone is busy and overbooked on Saturdays. To really learn the rhythms you should try coming to as many sessions as you can. But if you miss please don’t be discouraged! There is participation for every level student. There are four instruments we need players for, and I guarantee we will need some large gong players (that play about once each measure;-). This should be a fun opportunity and not a stressful one!
Jang-mi means "rose" and was named by my teacher Han, Jiwon. This year is our 35th year! We have added the Korean American Women's Association drumming group and they have named themselves the "Wild Roses" -- ha! They meet on Friday evenings and would like to drum with AK Connection sometime in the future. I believe they will bring the Korean snacks if we provide the Makkeolli -- a good trade I think!
Please email AK Connection at akconnectionmn@gmail.com for a form to bring to the first class! New players can join anytime. The lesson material will be progressive so I will try to catch up new students as much as possible.
Please message Brooke with any questions! - jangmikoreandancedrumandmusic@gmail.com
An Adoptee for Every Lake
Join us for an in-depth discussion of “An Adoptee for Every Lake: Multiculturalism, Minnesota, and the Korean Transracial Adoptee,” the chapter on Minnesota Korean adoptees from her book Invisible Asians by Minnesota Korean adoptee Dr. Kim Park Nelson. Invisible Asians: Korean American Adoptees, Asian American Experiences, and Racial Exceptionalism, published in 2016 by Rutgers University Press, draws on the life stories and of Korean American adoptees living in the US and Korea. This is a unique opportunity to discuss the Minnesota Korean adoptee experience with a pioneer in Korean adoption studies who grew up and began her studies here in Minnesota.
You must read the chapter beforehand in order to participate in the event. If you do not already have Dr. Park Nelson’s book, you can find the book here.
If the book cost is a barrier for participation, let us know and we can provide you with an electronic copy of the required chapter only.
Tuesday, March 26th
6:30-8:00 PM
Minneapolis, MN
Exact location to be announced.
To register for the event please click here.
Join us for an in-depth discussion of “An Adoptee for Every Lake: Multiculturalism, Minnesota, and the Korean Transracial Adoptee,” the chapter on Minnesota Korean adoptees from her book Invisible Asians by Minnesota Korean adoptee Dr. Kim Park Nelson. Invisible Asians: Korean American Adoptees, Asian American Experiences, and Racial Exceptionalism, published in 2016 by Rutgers University Press, draws on the life stories and of Korean American adoptees living in the US and Korea. This is a unique opportunity to discuss the Minnesota Korean adoptee experience with a pioneer in Korean adoption studies who grew up and began her studies here in Minnesota.
You must read the chapter beforehand in order to participate in the event. If you do not already have Dr. Park Nelson’s book, you can find the book here.
If the book cost is a barrier for participation, let us know and we can provide you with an electronic copy of the required chapter only.
Tuesday, March 26th
6:30-8:00 PM
Minneapolis, MN
Exact location to be announced.
To register for the event please click here.
AK Connection Seollal 2019
Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location:
Northeast Recreation Center
1530 Johnson St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Seollal is the Korean Lunar New Year, the first day of the lunar calendar. It's one of the most celebrated holidays in Korea, and we'd like to bring it to you in Minnesota! This year we will be gathering at Northeast Recreation Center with some traditional Korean New Year foods, a tae kwon do demonstration, gayageum demonstration, and games and gifts for the kids. This is a family friendly event, and a great opportunity to introduce them to some Korean culture. Twin Cities KADs, come gather with us...we'd love to see you!
If you'd like to know more about Seollal, here are some websites that describe the holiday and how it's celebrated in Korea:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=941952
https://asiasociety.org/korea/seollal-korean-lunar-new-year
For more information on the event or this organization, please email akconnection.mn@gmail.com or message us on Facebook.
Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location:
Northeast Recreation Center
1530 Johnson St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Seollal is the Korean Lunar New Year, the first day of the lunar calendar. It's one of the most celebrated holidays in Korea, and we'd like to bring it to you in Minnesota! This year we will be gathering at Northeast Recreation Center with some traditional Korean New Year foods, a tae kwon do demonstration, gayageum demonstration, and games and gifts for the kids. This is a family friendly event, and a great opportunity to introduce them to some Korean culture. Twin Cities KADs, come gather with us...we'd love to see you!
If you'd like to know more about Seollal, here are some websites that describe the holiday and how it's celebrated in Korea:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=941952
https://asiasociety.org/korea/seollal-korean-lunar-new-year
For more information on the event or this organization, please email akconnection.mn@gmail.com or message us on Facebook.
