UPCOMING AK CONNECTION EVENTS

August 9: AK Connection Picnic 

                  

We hope to see you for our annual picnic! Korean adoptees and loved ones of all ages are welcome. Whether you’re reconnecting with old friends or making new ones, it’s going to be a day to remember. We can't wait! 
               
Registration Required: Please register by August 6, 2025, at 5:00 PM, to help us with our preparations. All attendees are expected to adhere to our guidelines to ensure a respectful and welcoming environment. 

Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
Time: 5:00 - 9:00 PM
Location: Jaycees Shelter (2540 Lexington Avenue North, Roseville, MN 55113)

September 19: Fall Social for Adult Korean Adoptees at Steady Pour

Join us for a fun and welcoming social gathering for adult Korean adoptees and their plus ones—come connect, relax, and build community together. More details coming soon!

Date: September 19, 2025
Time: TBD (evening)
Location: Steady Pour (2125 E Hennepin Ave Suite 205, Minneapolis, MN 55413)

COMMUNITY EVENTS

August 1, 2025: Deadline to apply for the Overseas Korean Adoptee Gathering (November 10-14, 2025)
August 4, 2025: Deadline to register for Network of Politicized Adoptees’ Histories & Cultures of American Transnational Adoption Course Series
September 20, 2025: Korean Culture Festival
September 27, 2025: Self-Care Workshop by Adoptee Hub
April 16-19, 2026: Also-Known-As New York 30th Anniversary

Seeking Community Input for Roots & Reflections

A Support Circle for Korean Adoptees
At this time, AK Connection and fellow Korean adoptee and therapist, Megan Nyberg, MA, LPCC are in consideration of how best to continue creating and providing a safe space for adult Korean Adoptees in Minnesota to come together and discuss their experiences. Your input is extremely valuable and helps us improve future sessions and programming for our community. 

Community Input for Roots & Reflections

BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOTE

Crafts & Drafts Recap – Thank You for Joining Us!

We had a wonderful time at our Crafts & Drafts event earlier this month at Arbeiter Brewing Co.! Thank you to everyone who came out to create, connect, and celebrate community with us. From hanbok-themed crafts to Korean snacks and a special brewery tour with co-owners (and fellow Korean American adoptee) Kate Winkel and Juno Choi (fellow Korean American), we are so grateful for the chance to gather with adoptees, family, and friends of all ages—and for your continued support of AK Connection’s mission. 

If you missed the Crafts & Drafts or want to continue to make one of our Hanbok Origami here. 

Check out more photos from Crafts & Drafts on instagram.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the picnic!

Take care,
AK Connection Board of Directors

Help Support AK Connection

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.

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!

UPCOMING AK CONNECTION EVENTS

July 20: Crafts & Drafts with AK Connection

We’re thrilled to return to Arbeiter Brewing Company for a social hour for Korean Adoptees and their loved ones with crafts, drafts and some Korean style snacks. Registration and more details to come out this week!

Date: Sunday, July 20, 2025
Time: 4 - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Arbeiter Brewing Company (3038 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406)

August 9: AK Connection Picnic

Mark your calendars for our annual picnic! Korean adoptees and loved ones of all ages are welcome. Whether you’re reconnecting with old friends or making new ones, it’s going to be a day to remember. We can't wait to see you there!

Date: August 9, 2025
Time: TBD (evening)
Location: Jaycees Shelter (2540 Lexington Avenue North, Roseville, MN 55113)

COMMUNITY EVENTS

July 7, 2025: Registration closes for Mu Explorations Camp by Theater Mu
July 11-13, 2025: Panda Fest Twin Cities
July 13, 2025: K-Pop World Festival USA Midwest Regional Round
July 14, 2025: Myonghee Kimchi’s Relish episode airs (now streaming online)
September 20, 2025: Korean Culture Festival
September 27, 2025: Self-Care Workshop by Adoptee Hub
April 16-19, 2026: Also-Known-As New York 30th Anniversary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOTE

Thank you for sticking together and rocking out with us!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Sticking Together: a POUND® Workout for the Korean Adoptee Community! Your energy, smiles, and rhythm made this an unforgettable experience for us. Many thanks to Aimee Sue Ladin for leading us through an empowering and fun-filled workout. 

Also, this past month, participants from Roots & Reflections: A Support Circle for Korean Adoptees gathered again as a follow-up from our March session. We are so grateful for the guidance from Megan Nyberg, MA, LPCC, for guiding and facilitating this follow-up, as well as Lynn Woo Yeong Sando, MA, LADCC, LPCC, who played a huge role in creating this safe space for our community.

We organized Roots & Reflections in response to our community’s need to reflect, share, and discuss the impact of the investigative reporting - Frontline: South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. Korean Adoptees all over the world are still searching for answers about what comes next. A community-based group, EARS on NCRC, has formed to report on the transfer process of our adoption files.

On July 7th, EARS is organizing a National Assembly Forum on Ethical Transfer of Overseas Adoption Records and State Responsibility, which will feature Korean Adoptee scholars and writers, as well as Korean scholars, writers, lawyers, and activists, urging President Lee Jae-Myung to ensure the safe transfer and historical preservation of our records. 
Registration for National Assembly Forum Livestream

Whether you’ve already explored your records, are just beginning, taking time to reflect, or feeling uncertain about your next steps, we see you, and we’re in this together. We’re seeking community input on how we continue our Roots & Reflections support circles, and we’d love to hear from you.
Community Input for Roots & Reflections

Take care,
AK Connection Board of Directors 

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!