February 2026

UPCOMING AK CONNECTION EVENTS Lunar New Year at Arbeiter Brewing Co. Join AK Connection at Arbeiter Brewing Company in honor of the Lunar New Year and our community here.  Lunar New Year at Arbeiter Brewing Company Saturday, February 7, 2026 12-9:30 PM 3038 Minnehaha Ave Minneapolis, MN 55406 12 - 5 PM | Vendors & Performances Come check out some amazing Asian American vendors, including Myonghee Kimchi (Korean adoptee-made kimchi and other Korean specialties). AK Connection will be there with hanbok origami supplies and selling our new t-shirts, mugs, bookmarks, and stickers from 12-5 PM. Performances spotlight two Korean adoptee/Korean American community favorites, Korean JangmiArts and Conor Lee! 6 - 9:30 PM | Noraebang Night Bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Solo stars, dramatic duets, and chaotic group songs are all welcome. No pressure—just good vibes, singing, snacks, and community. Somaek (the iconic Korean mix of soju and beer) will be available for purchase, along with Arbeiter’s all-star lineup of brews. Food from a local vendor will be available for purchase until 8:00 PM, followed by a snack and ramen bar from AK Connection.      K-Number Film Screening with Director Jo Co-Sponsored with the University of Minnesota Date:Tuesday, February 10, 20 Time: 5:30-8:30 PM Liberal Arts Engagement Hub, Pillsbury 120 University of Minnesota Join us for a screening of Jo Seyoung's K-Number on February 10. This film follows a Korean adoptee's journey to learn about her birth family and adoption process, and examines the mechanisms, inconsistencies, and corruption in the international adoption system. A Q&A with the Director will follow the screening. Dinner will be provided. This event is free and open to the public. While registration is appreciated to help with planning, walk-ins for the event are also welcome! Parking validation for University-affiliated parking facilities is available for community members courtesy of the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub. Information on parking and directions to The Hub can be found here. There is also some metered street parking in the nearby neighborhood, although these parking spots cannot be validated by the University of Minnesota.    Sign Up Seollal with Korean Cultural Association & Jangmi Arts Saturday, February 21, 2026 Marimer Middle School White Bear Lake, MN   AK Connection is helping out at the Korean Cultural Association and Jangmi Arts’ Seollal Celebration this year! Enjoy some amazing performances and find some one-of-a-kind items at the market. Interested in participating as a vendor at the market? Claim your table by February 8 by filling out this form - Vendor Sign-Up Roots & Reflections Virtual Sessions Sunday, February 15, 2026  Sunday, February 22, 2026  1:00 - 3:00 PM As many of us in Minnesota are feeling shaken, anxious, and overwhelmed by recent federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, AK Connection is hosting two virtual sessions of Roots & Reflections: A Support Circle for Korean Adoptees. Roots & Reflections is facilitated by Megan Nyberg, LPCC, a licensed clinician and fellow Korean adoptee from Minnesota. These two sessions offer a supportive space for adult Korean adoptees living in Minnesota to process the emotional impact of ICE's presence in our communities and reflect on how immigration systems intersect with adoptee identity, family separation, and belonging. Register Seollal with AK Connection Saturday, February 28, 2026 Pearl Park Recreation Center 414 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55419 AK Connection warmly invites all Korean adoptees, along with their family and friends, to join us in celebrating Seollal together as a community. Come enjoy hands-on crafts for all ages, games, and plenty of time to connect while welcoming the Lunar New Year. As always, we’ll be serving up some holiday favorites, including tteokguk. How many rice cakes will you eat this year? We look forward to celebrating, sharing traditions, and starting the new year together! Register COMMUNITY EVENTS

Highlighting Korean American and Adoptee community events February 8: Adoptee Hub: Trans-National Adoptee Support Session (virtual) February 14: Adoption Mosaic's We the Experts: Black Adoptees and the Complexities of Same Race Adoption April 16-19: Also-Known-As New York 30th Anniversary June 19-21: KAAN 2026 Conference October 19-24: IKAA Korea Gathering 2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOTE Dear Family, Friends, and Community, Thank you to everyone who came out to our Winter Social—we loved seeing new faces and reconnecting with friends. A huge shoutout to fellow-KAD Ellen Minjoo and Steady Pour for hosting us in your beautiful space!   As we move into February, we want to pause and acknowledge the many layers people are carrying right now. This month invites reflection, tenderness, and honesty—about love, resistance, and how we continue to care for ourselves and one another. February is Black History Month. As Korean adoptees and Asian Americans—some with Black heritage in our DNA and lived experiences—we affirm our solidarity with Black communities past, present, and future. We honor Black histories of resistance, creativity, and survival, and recognize how our struggles for safety, dignity, and belonging are deeply connected. We recommit ourselves to learning, accountability, and action. This February brings Seollal / Lunar New Year, a time of renewal and intention. We welcome the Year of the Fire Horse (Byeong-O)—not as fear or misfortune, but as clarity, movement, and collective courage. In a moment when many of us in our community are being forced to think about citizenship, documentation, and belonging, we hold fast to fierce love, resilience, and care for one another. You are not alone. Building community is both an act of love and resistance. And it’s okay to step back; however you choose to engage, you belong. We hope to see you soon, whether at our upcoming events in February, including our Seollal celebration and other community events, or sometime in the future. Stay connected in whatever ways feel right for you—every act of care strengthens the fabric that holds us together. With care, Kira Siegler President AK Connection 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! DONATE TO AK CONNECTION VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM BOARD MEMBER INTEREST FORM