April Newsletter

UPCOMING AK CONNECTION EVENTS May 3: Children's Day Celebration Join us for some outdoor fun (rain or shine) to celebrate Children’s Day, a traditional Korean holiday. This event is for all ages, and Korean adoptees and their loved ones are welcome!  Please help AK Connection plan accordingly for food and drinks by RSVP'ing before Thursday, May 1. Be sure to wear some comfortable shoes for a little friendly competition! Activities will include games from Squid Games (like jegichagi and ddakji), a bubble station, lawn games, and more. AK Connection will provide lunch (including grilled hot dogs and DIY kimbap). Feel free to bring a dish or beverage to share.  When: Saturday, May 3  Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Where: Jaycees Shelter in Roseville, MN Cost: Pay what you can  RSVP June 7: Fitness Event (Save the Date)  Get ready to break a sweat and then share a meal afterward in June with us! We’ll share more details on our Facebook and Instagram soon. COMMUNITY EVENTS Highlighting Korean-American and adoptee community events April 29: Korean Music New and Old  By April 30: Participate in Omma Poom Art Exhibit (background on the exhibit) May 3: More Kinds of Awesome: Untold Stories By and For Adoptees May 10: Arbeiter Brewing Phoenix Festival May 10, 17, 24, and 31: Spring Into Jogakbo: Traditional Korean Hand Sewing Series May 26-28: G.O.A.'L.'s Let's Geoje! Trip (applications open now) June 8: Jangmi Arts Recital and Community Celebration June 20-22: KAAN Conference  June 21 - July 1: Bridge to Korea - Birthland Tour WHAT'S NEW Welcome New AK Connection Board Member Kip Hansen!  We are excited to share that Kip Hansen has recently joined the AK Connection Board! Kip brings several important skills to AK Connection, including grant writing, nonprofit work experience, deep communications expertise, and much more. Please join us in welcoming him to AK Connection and say hi to him at an upcoming event! Seeking AK Connection Board Members and Volunteers Since 2000, AK Connection has served as a resource for adult Korean Adoptees, their families, and communities in Minnesota. As a non-profit organization led by all Korean Adoptees, we provide cultural, educational, and social programming for our Korean Adoptee community.  This work would not be possible without community members donating their time, resources, and skills to AK Connection. If you are interested in serving on our board or volunteering, please fill out an interest form - we’re looking forward to hearing from you! BOARD MEMBER INTEREST FORM VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOTE Reflections On Our Spring Events Over the past few weeks, AK Connection hosted two meaningful gatherings designed to support and connect our community of Korean adoptees. Thank you to everyone who participated in our first Roots & Reflections: A Support Circle for Korean Adoptees, held in partnership with Korean adoptee counselors Lynn Woo Yeong Sando, MA, LADCC, LPCC, and Megan Nyberg, MA, LPCC. As global events continue to impact Korean adoptees, we’re currently working on a follow-up event. We each experience the world in our own way, but we are not alone — and we are deeply grateful for this community. We were also glad to host a 18+ adoptee dinner on Saturday, April 19 at Hoban in Eagan. This gathering offered a chance for both new and familiar faces to come together in a smaller, more intimate setting — to reconnect, share stories, and simply enjoy each other’s company. Hoban holds a special place for many as a longtime Korean restaurant staple in the Twin Cities. Thank you to everyone who made time during a busy holiday weekend to join us. We hope to see you at Children’s Day or another upcoming event soon! Take care, 잘 지내 주세요. AK Connection Board of Directors   DONATE TO AK CONNECTION