Participants are required to pay for their meal.
When: Dinner #1: Thursday, April 10th from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Focus of dialogue:
"Growing Up Stories."
The focus of this discussion will center around our lives leading toward adulthood and what we experienced as a result of being an adopted Korean. Each of us was adopted at various ages and grew up in different sized cities and families, therefore resulting in our own unique upbringing. However, we all shared a common experience of being one of the few, if not the only Korean adoptee in our neighborhood, schools, etc. How did we live through these pre-adulthood years, what were our challenges, who were are mentors, and how do these early experiences impact us as adults?
Dinner #2: Wednesday, May 14th from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Focus of dialogue:
"Birth Search Stories."
The focus of this discussion will center around individual's birth search stories and their interest in searching for birth relatives. You need not have already searched for birth family to attend. There are many ways in which people try to re-connect with their birth families and there are a variety of results of a birth search. The emotional, mental and physical experiences that happen throughout a birth search can vary from one person to another. Likely there are very personal and sometimes difficult lessons learned as one searches for birth family. Their are two purposes for this dialogue. One is to encourage everyone to share some of their birth search story and the other is to promote the interest of those who are interested in starting a birth search.
Dinner #3: Tuesday, June 10th from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Focus of dialogue:
"Experiences in Korea."
The focus of this discussion will center around the various experiences that adoptees have had while in Korea. From working in Korea, to school programs, to tours, and to general travel, here is a place to talk more about it and share what it was like to be a Korean adoptee in Korea. Again, you need not have already been back to Korean to attend this dinner. If this is the case, we encourage you to come to hear more about the stories others have had and ask questions about other people's experiences in Korea.
You must RSVP by emailing us at
contact@akconnection.com or if you are an AK Connection group member on Facebook, you can RSVP to this event by clicking on "Attending."
Kim Park Nelson lecture series
Tuesday, March 11
AK Connection strives to promote awareness of Korean adoption issues. We are honored to collaborate with the Asian Law Students Association at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in presenting Kim Park Nelson in the following lecture series:
1. Racial Identity on Tuesday, February 5. Examining the role of race in experiences of Korean adoption
2. Economics of Adoption from Outsiders Within on Tuesday, March 11.
A look into transracial and transnational adoption as an act of white privilege and as part of an industry of international supply and demand
TIME: 7pm - 9pm
WHERE: University of St. Thomas School of Law Building / Room MSL 334
1000 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
WHO: Adult adoptees and their friends and family, adoptive parents, and anyone with interest in international adoption
** Parking is available on the street or at the ramp at 11th Street and Harmon Place**
**We will break in the middle of each lecture and light refreshments will be provided**
**RSVPs are appreciated! RSVP to contact@akconnection.com**
ABOUT KIM PARK NELSON:
Kim Park Nelson is a scholar and educator of Korean adoption, Asian American Studies, American race relations, and American Studies. Between 2003 and 2006, she collected 73 oral histories from Korean adoptees in the United States and the around the world. She also developed and taught the first college course on Korean adoption in the United States. Her Ph.D. dissertation, which will be completed in 2008 at the University of Minnesota American Studies Department, is titled "Korean Looks, American Eyes: Korean American Adoptees, Race, Culture and Nation." This research explores the many identities of adult Korean adoptees, as well as the cultural, social, historical and political significance of over 50 years of Korean adoption to the United States. In addition, Park Nelson also participates in public engagement work through presentations and community-based projects focusing on transnational and transracial adoption in the United States.
