KAAN News

Imagine you’re an editor at The Paris Review, the product of a WASPy New England milieu. Your life entails daily interactions with George Plimpton — editing, writing, looking for the next Philip Roth. Then, for reasons that seemed reasonable at the time, you decide to pour your life savings into a cruddy bodega in the Boerum Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn for the sake of your Korean-American wife’s parents. Read More: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com

(Why) Do Asian Americans have a target on their backs?

Ms. Wallace's main complaint was an Asian American student taking cell phone calls in the library when she was trying to study for her finals. Okay, that would be pretty annoying. But why did Ms. Wallace's locate the cause of the poor behavior in the students' ethnicity? Read More: http://www.psychologytoday.com

More Korean Kids Ending Up if Foster Care

According to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in Los Angeles, the number of Korean children in foster homes has risen steadily in recent years, an effect of the increasing number of divorced or single parents choosing to give up their kids for adoption. Read More: http://newamericamedia.org#

Study Abroad in North Korea

Pack a suitcase for Pyongyang. Study Korean in Kaesong. North Korea may be an unlikely destination for study abroad, but its border has been breached. Read More: http://www.insidehighered.com

U.C.L.A. Student’s Video Rant Against Asians Fuels Firestorm

In the video, Ms. Wallace complains about Asian students in the school library using their cellphones to call family members after the tsunami in Japan. At one point, she mimics people speaking an Asian language.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com

WEBSITES

Update on International Adoption

Which countries are children coming from what are the trends. Visit http://www.familyhelper.net

Adoptees Have Answers Webinar CD's

Scroll down to find those on interethnic adoption http://www.mnadopt.org

Seoul Searching Mama

A wife, mother and Korean adoptee on a mission to find her birth family.

http://seoulsearchingmama.blogspot.com

BOOKS

Choosing Ethnicity, Negotiating Race: Korean Adoptees in America

The Russell Sage Foundation is pleased to offer a 20% discount on Mia Tuan and Jiannbin Lee Shiao’s new book Choosing Ethnicity, Negotiating Race: Korean Adoptees in America to KAAN members. Visit us online at www.russellsage.org and use the discount code KAAN11.

Choosing Ethnicity, Negotiating Race: Korean Adoptees in America

Mia Tuan and Jiannbin Lee Shiao

Transnational adoption was once a rarity in the United States, but Americans have been choosing to adopt children from abroad with increasing frequency since the mid-twentieth century. Korean adoptees make up the largest share of international adoptions—25 percent of all children adopted from outside the United States—but they remain understudied among Asian American groups. What kind of identities do adoptees develop as members of American families and in a cultural climate that often views them as foreigners? Choosing Ethnicity, Negotiating Race is the only study of this unique population to collect in-depth interviews with a multigenerational, random sample of adult Korean adoptees. The book examines how Korean adoptees form their social identities and compares them to native-born Asian Americans who are not adopted.

How do American stereotypes influence the ways Korean adoptees identify themselves? Does the need to explore a Korean cultural identity—or the absence of this need—shift according to life stage or circumstance? In Choosing Ethnicity, Negotiating Race, sixty-one adult Korean adoptees—representing different genders, social classes, and communities—reflect on early childhood, young adulthood, their current lives, and how they experience others’ perceptions of them. The authors find that most adoptees do not identify themselves strongly in ethnic terms, although they will at times identify as Korean or Asian American in order to deflect questions from outsiders about their cultural backgrounds. Indeed, Korean adoptees are far less likely than their non-adopted Asian American peers to explore their ethnic backgrounds by joining ethnic organizations or social networks. Adoptees who do not explore their ethnic identity early in life are less likely ever to do so—citing such causes as general aversion, lack of opportunity, or the personal insignificance of race, ethnicity, and adoption in their lives. Nonetheless, the choice of many adoptees not to identify as Korean or Asian American does not diminish the salience of racial stereotypes in their lives. Korean adoptees must continually navigate society’s assumptions about Asian Americans regardless of whether they chose to identify ethnically.

Choosing Ethnicity, Negotiating Race is a crucial examination of this little-studied American population and will make informative reading for adoptive families, adoption agencies, and policymakers. The authors demonstrate that while race is a social construct, its influence on daily life is real. This book provides an insightful analysis of how potent this influence can be—for transnational adoptees and all Americans.

Dual Citizenship Kindle Edition

For adoptees considering reclaiming their Korean citizenship http://www.amazon.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

KAAN 2011: We Have a Dream …

KAAN 2011: We Have a Dream …
July 29-31, 2011 in Atlanta, GA

Registration for KAAN’s thirteenth annual conference is now open. At www.kaanet.org, we provide a variety of registration options:

· Register and pay online using PayPal

· Register online, print the cost summary, and mail us a check

· Print the brochure, complete, and send in everything by mail

Copies of the brochure are also going out to our mailing list and should arrive by mid-March.

Conference Registration Details

Please see www.kaanet.org for specific costs and information.

Register by May 15 to take advantage of our discounted rates.

Hotel Information

Hotel reservations are separate from conference registration. If you wish to stay at the hotel, sign up early as the room block fills quickly.

Sheraton Atlanta Hotel
165 Courtland Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
1.888.625.5144/ sheratonatl.com

KAAN rate: $119/night plus tax

Rate is also valid three days prior/post conference.

New KAAN Conference Registration Incentive

We have a great conference planned and want to boost our numbers so that more people than ever can enjoy it. Since word of mouth is the most powerful recruiting tool, we’d like to enlist the community’s help towards this goal. Each first-time attendee who registers online will be asked to name who introduced them to KAAN. Both people will get their names entered into a drawing for a free KAAN 2012 conference registration. There is no limit to the number of people you can recruit … your chances of winning a free conference registration increase as your recruits do. Let’s work together to fill the house!

What to Expect at KAAN 2011

Check-in begins Friday, July 29, at 1:00PM with the first film screening at 2:30PM. Closing keynote ends at 12:30PM on Sunday, July 31.

We offer six formal session blocks with many choices for attendees. Engaging keynote speakers, vendors and exhibit tables, support groups, and family and cultural activities round out the weekend. See kaanet.org for complete details; here is a taste of what is planned …

Conference Session Topics (partial list)

· What Do We Tell the Kids? Adoptees Explain Their Journey to Their Children

· Adoptive Parents and Search: Do They Have a Role?

· The Politics of Identity: Adoptees Speak Out

· No Birthfamily … Now What?

· Who’s Your Daddy? Bringing Fathers into the Equation

· Sibling Power: How We Helped Our Parents Understand

· Understanding and Challenging White Culture for the Benefit of the Family

· Becoming Bridge-People: Voices of Racial Reconciliation for the Korean Adoption Community

· Speak Your Dream in Korean

· Making Culture Camps Relevant

· Social Media for the Adoption Community

· Dual Citizenship for Adoptees

Film Screenings

· Adopted… with Jennifer Fero

· In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee… with Deann Borshay Liem

Adult Adoptee Programs

Adult adoptees can attend adult adoptee-only sessions as well as general sessions.

· An optional adult adoptee-only dinner is planned for Friday evening. Contact jennifermfero@yahoo.com for cost and times. Sign up by June 30.

· We also like to connect young adult adoptees (ages 18-20) with each other and other adoptees.

Youth Programs (for registered attendees ages 8-17)

Saturday:Daytrip to Georgia Aquarium and Civil Rights landmarks

Sunday: Peer group sessions and activities

Holt Adoptee Camp Counselor

We are looking for enthusiastic adult adoptees to be camp staff with us this summer. The staff is required to work with Holt for five weeks from July 12-August 13. This time includes 1 week of staff training before camps begin. Once the camp season is under way, we’ll travel together across the country to serve hundreds of transracial and international adoptees. Through organized small group times and everyday interactions, you’ll have the opportunity to mentor the campers while helping them grow and be their best.

How to apply
If you’re interested in being a Holt camp staff person, register online at http://www.holtinternational.org. For more information about the program or counselor responsibilities, please contact Steve Kalb stevek@holtintl.org or Michael Tessier michaelt@holtintl.org for details.

IIIHR Adult Adoptee Program

The IIIHR program is a non-profit educational institution attached to Inje University, located in Gimhae, Gyeonngnam Providence, Korea. The program invites Koreans, who were adopted as children into overseas families, to live on campus for a semester, to study the Korean language, history, and culture, and to attend short trips to different cultural or historical sites around the country for a 16 week stay at Inje University.

The IIIHR program will be having its 10th anniversary in 2011. Since the program was established, we have had 170 students from 12 different countries. The program is based on respecting life, an educational principle at Inje University, and was created for Koreans who were adopted at an early age overseas.

Applications are being accepted for the 2011 Spring (2nd of March to 10th of June) and 2011 Fall (29th of August to 9th of December). Tuition is $600 USD and covers classes, housing, cafeteria meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and day trips to cultural and historical sites for the whole semester. Flight not included. Classes are approximately 10 students in size and taught in English. Students will live on campus with a Korean roommate, attend classes, and have access to Inje University's student organizations, weight training gyms, library, and computers. Applications are due February 11, 2011 for both Spring and Fall semesters.

For more information and application download "2011 Inje University IIIHR Program" or contact IIIHR@hotmail.com

Holt Homecoming Program

Mapo-gu Office and Holt Children's Services, Inc. have joined forces to develop and present their Homecoming Program that is designed exclusively for Korean Adoptees; the goal is to provide assistance for individuals who want to live and work in Korea. Our objective is to facilitate opportunities for adoptees to better understand their Motherland while building networks with other adoptees as-well-as native Koreans. Our hope is that the Homecoming Program will help participants understand their Korean identities while providing a home base for adoptees during their stay in Korea.

The program is a paid three-month position with Holt Children's Services, Inc. For more information and application contact Courtney Rader, Adult Adoptee Director at courtneyr@holtintl.org.

National Institute for International Education (NIIED)

The Korean Government Scholarship Program is designated to provide higher education in Korea for international students, with the aim of promoting international exchange in educations, as well as mutual friendship amongst the participating countries. Adult adoptees are encouraged to apply.

Master and Doctoral scholarships require at least Level 3 of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). Both programs offer 1 year language study prior to start Master's or Doctoral programs.

Scholarship includes:

-Airfare: Round-trip economy class ticket.=
-Monthly Allowance: 900,000 won (KRW) per month
-Research Allowance: 210,000 won for scholars in the humanities and social sciences and 240,000 won for scholars in natural and mechanic sciences per semester
-Relocation Allowance: 200,000 won upon arrival
-Language Training Fee: full coverage
-Tuitions: All admission fees are waived by the host institution, tuition is paid by NIIED
-Dissertation Printing Costs: 500,000 to 800,000 won depending on the actual costs
-Medical Insurance: 15,000 won per month will be provided (limited coverage)
-Special funding for scholars who are proficient in the Korean language (TOPIK Level 5 or 6) will receive 100,000 per month (commencing from the degree program)

For full description, requirements, and application visit NIEED's website at http://www.niied.go.kr

Exploring the In-race adoption of Asian Children

You are being asked to participate in the study because there is a growing field of research that has explored the transracial adoption of Asian children into White homes, but there are to date no studies have that considered the experiences of Asian/Asian American families that adopt Asian children. Selection criteria are: a) prospective or adoptive parents of Asian or Asian American children, b) between the ages of 21-60, with c) at least one parent is Asian or Asian American [participation is requested from Asian parent(s)].

This Phase II of this study. Phase I involved the completion of questionnaires (quantitative study) and Phase II will involve 30-45 minute interviews of adoptive parents.

Interviews can be conducted either in person or via phone dependent on geography and availability. I will be in Minnesota (land of 10,000+ Korean adoptees) March 12-14 in case there are parents in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area that are interested in participating.

Please contact me: Kathleen Ja Sook Bergquist, Ph.D. at kathleen.bergquist@unlv.edu.

Kathleen Ja Sook Bergquist, LCSW, JD, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Social Work
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Box 455032
4505 Maryland Parkway Rm GUA 3136
Las Vegas, NV 89154-5032
(702) 895-2449

Winter issue of Korean Quarterly

Winter 2011 issue of KQ is out - Lunar New Year edition!

Featuring:
Third World Newsreel advances social justice through films

John Choi, Minnesota's first Asian American county attorney (and the country's first Korean American county attorney)

Korean unwed mothers advocate for a stigma-free society

Six Korean journalists jailed for doing their jobs

Artist Ju-Yeon Kim and The In-Betweens

Essay/column section featuring:
The facts on the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, China's North Korean calculations, Crisis in Cheju, Creation Myth: A Korean Adoption in Real Time, Harry Holt and being a good eater, Why I teach Korean, Adoptee research findings.

Plus tons of film, drama and book reviews and comics...

For more info, and how to subscribe, visit:
www.koreanquarterly.org

Spiritual Journey to Korea

With A Full Scholarship Worth Over $5,000
For 3 weeks (7/21/2011 – 8/13/2011)

This is a three-week long Spiritual Journey to Korea, including:

- Visiting holy/historical sites in Korea, including the DMZ, Mt. Jiri, Juldu-san, Bulguksa

- Staying with Korean Christian families in 4 cities: Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Jeonju

- Shopping, attending worship services, and attending an Inner Healing Seminar

Who is eligible?

Young adult Korean adoptees (age 21 – 35) who are interested in spiritual fellowship & friendship, searchingfor roots and true-self, and finding a place to belong

When is the deadline to apply?

The application deadline is March 15, 2011.

What should I expect?

This full scholarship includes round-trip airfare, room and board, transportation

and fees – approximately $5,000 in value!

How can I apply?

Visit the web-site: www.kamcenter.org to print out an application and return it to

KAM Center, P.O. Box 130563, Roseville, MN 55113

Some Questions The Journeyer Will Consider:

o Who Am I?

o What is my True-self?

o Where do I belong?

o Am I able to live a peaceful, joyful and abundant life?

2011 Worldwide Korean Youth- Motherland Cultural Training

The Korean Oversees Foundation is inviting oversees Korean youth to Korea so that they will become global Korean leaders with pride in their heritage. Now accetping applications from children, teens and college students who would like to travel to Korea and learn about the Korean culture. Korean American Adoptees are welcome to apply. 1. Number of Selected students: US- 171

? Washington DC: Elementary students: 2, Middle school students: 3, Highschool students: 3,College students:10

2. Training Location: Seoul and other cities

3. Training dates

- 1st term (10 years old- highschoolers): 2011. 7. 12(Tuesday) ~ 7. 18(Monday)(6 nights 7days)

- 2nd term (Students who are about to enter colleges or college students)): 2011. 7. 26(Tuesday) ~ 8. 1(Monday)

4. Ages of participants : 10-23

5. Eligibility

- Korean Americans-Korean Adoptees who have not participated in similar programs

- Applicants must be physically and emotionally healthy to receive training and travel.

6. Training

- Program contents: Experiencing Various Korean Cultures (drumming, mask dance, traditional cooking, tea ceremony, martial art, frield trips to other cities, visits to performances, and opportunities to present and discuss your findings throughout the training.

-- Fee: There is no tuition fee, but the airfare should be covered by participants.

- Required Documents:
   1. Application form(download at www.korean.net or http://www.koreaembassy.org)
   2. Personal essay
   3. A copy of Passport(Photo page only)
   4. Certificate of Current Enrollment or Notice of College Admission
   5. A copy of Awards(Optional)
   6. Recommendation letter(Principal or Counselor)(Optional)

- Application Deadline: April 4, 2011(The applications should arrive at the application office by this date.)
- Application address:

   Korean Education Center
   2320 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
   Washington, DC 20008

- Contacts: Phone: 202-939-5681

SaeJong Camp

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to you to tell you about my favorite place on the planet. It calls me home every summer, provides me with laughter and smiles that last until I return the following year... and always leaves me standing taller, happier and more confident. I feel that time spent there is so important that I've taken my children there every summer since they were 4 years old. (They will be 15 when we're there this summer.)

The place is SaeJong Camp (SJC), a week-long summer camp for Korean American youth. SJC has served Korean American youth for 35 years, by creating a warm, supportive and fun community for:

- First, second, and third-generation Korean American children
- Adopted Korean American children
- Korean American children from families where one parent (or grandparent) is
   non-Korean (e.g., "AmerAsian" or "Hapa" children)

I could write volumes about SJC and what a magical place it is, but instead, I encourage you to check out the following videos posted on YouTube. (Please cut and past the address to access the videos - they are UNLISTED and only available to those who have the following addresses).

1) To get an overview of SJC, while listening the campers sing in the background, please visit:

http://www.youtube.com     WHAT IS SAEJONG CAMP?

2) To see interviews with CAMPERS and hear their thoughts about SJC, please
visit:

http://www.youtube.com   INTERVIEW WITH MADELINE MURRAY, the 10-year old daughter of a former SJC camper, and a non-Korean father

http://www.youtube.com    INTERVIEW WITH JAMESON CHUNG, a 13 year-old Korean American girl

http://www.youtube.com  INTERVIEW WITH AUSTIN ROBLYER, a 16 year-old Korean American adoptee

http://www.youtube.com   INTERVIEW WITH JEFFREY FRASER, a college-age Korean American adoptee, who has been at SJC for 12 years

3) To see interviews with PARENTS as they discuss why they send their kids to SJC, please visit:

http:// www.youtube.com    LORI & CAL SHOOTIE, ADOPTIVE PARENTS

http://www.youtube.com  INTERVIEW WITH KOREAN PARENTS

http://www.youtube.com   DAWN & BRIAN ROBLYER,
ADOPTIVE PARENTS

http://www.youtube.com   KOREAN FATHER SPEAKS
TO OTHER KOREAN PARENTS IN KOREAN

Oh by the way... there is a wonderful posting about SJC by an adoptive mother made last summer @:

http://discussion.bethany.org

EVENTS

IAC Center Groups - New Jersey, New York - January through April 2011

All IAC Center Groups are professionally led. Contact jmantellmsw@iaccenter.com or 609-737-8750 for more information or to sign up for a group. (Please use this as the contact information for all groups/workshops except for the Teen groups.)

Pennington , NJ

? NEW Infertility Support Groups forming in Pennington, NJ. From 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month. Dates - 1/3, 1/17, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7, 3/21

? Pennington Pre-Adopt Groups meet once a month

Fourth Tuesday of the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dates – 1/25, 2/22, 3/22

Second Saturday of the month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dates – 1/8, 2/12, 3/12. ·

? Pennington Parents through Domestic Adoption Group - meets once a month on the third Thursday of the month from 10:30 to 12 noon. Dates – 1/20, 2/17, 3/17

? Pennington Parents through International Adoption Group - meets once a month from 10 to 11:30. Dates – 1/30, 2/27, 3/27

? Pennington Girl’s Group - For girls ages 8 to 10. Meets the 2nd Friday of the month from 4:30 to 5:45. Dates – 1/14, 2/11, 3/11

? Pennington Tween Group - For girls 11 to 13. Meets the 2nd Friday of the month from 6 to 7:15 Dates – 1/14, 2/11, 3/11.

Montclair NJ

? Montclair Evening Parents Group - will meet the third Wednesday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. Dates – 1/19, 2/16, 3/16

? Montclair Daytime Parents Group - will meet the third Tuesday of the month from 1-2:30 p.m. Dates – 1/18, 2/15, 3/15

? Montclair Teen Group - Will meet on the second Monday of the month from 6-7:30pm Contact IAC Center Counselor Bridget Devine at bdevinemsw@gmail.com or 973-534-6680 for a screening interview for this group. Dates – 2/14, 3/14

? Montclair Pre-Adopt Group - Will meet on the first Monday of the month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. 2/7, 3/7

New York – Manhattan

? NY Pre-Adopt Groups meets once a month on the Third Tuesday of the month from 6:15 to 7:45 pm Dates – 1/18, 2/15, 3/15

· New York Parents through International Adoption Group – Will meet on the first Wednesday of the month starting 3/2

· New York Teen Group will meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 6-7:30 pm starting 3/23. Contact IAC Center Counselor Bridget Devine at bdevinemsw@gmail.com or 973-534-6680 for a screening interview for this group.

WORKSHOPS – Contact jmantellmsw@iaccenter.com or 609-737-8750 for more information or to sign up for a workshop.

? ·Baby Care for Adoptive Parents Workshop - http :// www . iaccenter . com / workshops / workshop - baby - care . asp - 2/5 – Pennington, NJ

? Baby Care for Adoptive Parents Workshop –-

http :// iaccenter . com / workshops / workshop - baby - care - ny . asp - 4/2 - Manhattan

· Frontload Your Child Now to Meet the Challenges of Adolescence – 4/16 - Pennington

Asian American Movement - Ann Arbor, MI - March 25-26, 2011

OUT OF THE MARGINS:
ASIAN AMERICAN MOVEMENT BUILDING

A two-day conference on the past, present, and future of activism and
social change
March 25-26, 2011
University of Michigan

HIGHLIGHTS:

· Conversation between Grace Lee Boggs and Michael Hardt on the
Next American Revolution (3/25, 4pm, Michigan League Ballroom)
· Asian American performers showcase with Geologic (from Blue
Scholars), Kiwi and DJ Phatrick, comic Hari Kondabolu, and Nobuko
Miyamoto (3/25, 7:30pm, Michigan League Ballroom)
· Panel discussions on immigrant rights, youth organizing,
cultural activism, building multiracial coalitions and campus/
community connections (3/26, 9am to 6pm, Trotter Multicultural Center)

Join students, scholars, artists, and community organizers from the
University of Michigan and across the nation in this historic event.

SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATED INFO AND FREE REGISTRATION:
http://www.umich.edu

Sponsored by:
University of Michigan Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies Program
Committee on Institutional Cooperation
Asian American Association
Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives
Rackham Graduate School
United Asian American Organizations
Asian American Studies Program (Ohio State University)
Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, Asian/Pacific Islander American Heritage
Month
Michigan Community Scholars Program

New England Adoption Conference - Bellingham, MA - April 2, 2011

More than 90 workshops, including:
"Importance of the Sibling Bond," "Why Is My Child Disorganized,
Unprepared and Impulsive? Discussion of Executive Function Challenges,"
"How Neurofeedback Helps ADHD, Autism Spectrum, and PTSD,"
"Understanding the Lifelong Impact of Childhood Trauma," "The Powerful
and Positive Impact of Growing Up Adopted," "Internet Safety and
Adoption," "How Neurofeedback Helps Previously Institutionalized
Children," "Helping Children Develop Positive Racial and Cultural
Identities," "Adoption and Adolescence: Stories of Struggles and
Success," and many more! Don't miss it!

To Register: Click Here
<http://adoptioncommunityofne.org

Adoption and Attachment - New York, NY - April 6, 2011

This evening of presentations and discussion brings together leading authorities in the fields of adoption, attachment and clinical intervention. Adoption offers children the most radical form of intervention that exists, arising from the promise of permanence in a new family. Adoptive families often face unique challenges as children’s prior experiences often include physical, emotional and social deprivation. The presentations will focus on the unique needs of adopted children with special emphasis on the nature of attachment relationships, and new ways of supporting adoptive families.

Jane Aronson will discuss her thoughts about the challenges and needs that adoptive families face. Based on over 20 years of experience working as the leading pediatric specialist in the field of adoption, and institutional care, Dr. Aronson will offer her unique insights on understanding and supporting adoptive families.

Dr. Miriam Steele is Professor and Director of the Clinical Training program in Clinical Psychology at the New School for Social Research. Miriam’s work over 20 years has used an attachment framework to bridge theory, research, and applied issues in the field of adoption and foster care. Professor Steele will address the implications of trauma, loss, and separation for the individual adopted child (and adoptive parent), as well as family processes that contribute to the resolution of trauma and loss, permitting new adoptive families to realize for all its members the promise of permanence, safety and health.

Pre-Registration (on or before March 1, 2011): $15
Registration (after March 1, 2011): $20
RSVP: adoptionattachmentconference@gmail.com

The Joke Joint - Minneapolist, MN - April 7-9, 2011

The Mom Squad is a first time together, powerhouse line up of comedians who happen to all be MOMS! Headliners Wendy Liebman, Judy Gold, Amy Anderson (Korean adoptee!) and Jennifer Rawlings band together to deliver an unforgettable night of comedy. Three nights only in St Paul, MN!

April 7-9 The Joke Joint St Paul, MN
April 7 at 8pm April 8 at 8 & 10:30pm April 9 at 8pm and 10:30pm
These shows are expected to sell out, so buy tickets early: The Joke Joint Box Office at (651) 330-9078 Online at www.JokeJointComedyClub.com

Transracial Parenting - Seattle, WA - April 8-9, 2011

Cost: $150 per single or $250 per couple
When: Friday, April 8, Part 1 0f 2 from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday, April 9, Part 2 of 2 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

The decision to adopt across cultural and racial lines is a lifelong commitment to exploring matters of race, confronting racism in all its forms, and constantly developing new skills and awareness. This 2-day workshop will help you to identify assumptions, provide you with tools and resources, and create a sense of confidence as you explore your future as a transracial family. This workshop is appropriate for adoptive parents, waiting parents, and professionals. View flyer.

Workshop topics will include:

Race matters
Development of racial identity
Cultural competence
Tools for creating positive outcomes
Talking to your child about race
Confronting racism
Personalizing culture

International Forum - Washington D.C. - April 13-16, 2011

Holt International and Adoptees For Children are hosting an International Forum in Washington D.C. April 13-16, 2011. In addition to adoption professionals and adult adoptees, there will be international guests from a variety of countries. For more information and Forum registration at http://www.holtinternational.org.

Please forward information about this event to your networks. We look forward to seeing you there!

Math & Science Competition - Sacramento, CA - April 16, 2011

KSEA 2011 National Math & Science Competition for Grades 4th - 11th

KSEA-SVC is pleased to announce the Annual KSEA National Math &
Science Competition (NMSC2011) for students 4th to 11th grades in the
USA. The Math competition will be in the form of written exam and it
will start at the same time throughout the nation at 11AM PST (2PM
EST) on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Science Competition starts at
2:30PM. Please see the attached program for details and visit KSEA
website (www.ksea.org) for sample tests.

KSEA-SVC will hold the competition in Sacramento for students in
Northern California including Sacramento Valley and Bay Area. Details
of the competition in Sacramento are as follows:

When: April 16, 2011 (Saturday)
Where: University of Phoenix Main Campus (2860 Gateway Oaks Dr. Suite
200, Sacramento, CA 95833)
Registration: Through the NMSC 2011 Homepage by April 10, 2011
(http://ksea.org). Select Sacramento Chapter first then input
other information.

Fee: $20 per person ($30 if registered after April 10)
Payable on-site at the check-in desk by check (payable to: KSEA-SVC)
or cash. See the attached registration form.

The goal of the NMC is to promote students' interest in mathematics
and Science, and eventually careers in science and engineering.

For more information contact: Sung K. Moon
KSEA Sacramento Valley Chapter
sungkwon.moon@gmail.com, 916-227-1001

Still Present Pasts - New York, NY - Through May 13, 2011

STILL PRESENT PASTS: Korean Americans and the "Forgotten War"
Opening Reception

Thursday, APRIL 7th, 2011 at 6 PMï¿½
New York University
41-51 East 11th Street, 7th floor
NY NY 10003

Event is free, but please RSVP as space is limited.
email apa.rsvp@nyu.edu, or call 212 992-9653.
Still Present Pasts: Korean Americans and the "Forgotten War" is a multi-media exhibit of installation and performance art, documentary film and archival photographs, and oral histories that explores memories and legacies of the Korean War. Embodying life stories of ordinary Korean Americans who experienced the war, the exhibit is a public space of remembering that breaks the silence about a tragic episode in U.S. and Korean history. The Korean War took the lives of 3 million Korean civilians and 1.2 million combatants, ushered in the Cold War era, and remains stalemated in an armistice agreement nearly 6 decades since its signing

Understanding the Stress-Shaped Brain - San Jose, CA - April 9, 2011

Forwarding by request of an FCC member and therapist. Please note that this
workshop is for psychotherapists and other mental health professionals only.

Patty Cogen, M.A., Ed.D.,
Author of Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child

Workshop 1: Saturday, April 9, 2011
Understanding the Stress-Shaped Brain and Early Development: Aka Traumatic Development Disorder

Dr. Patty Cogen will focus on how a child's brain and attachment skills are disrupted and reshaped by early trauma including the “invisible” traumas of international adoption, foster care and overly busy, neglectful parents.

***This training is for psychotherapists and other mental health professionals only. It is not appropriate for parents. Parenting groups will be offered at a later time. ***

Workshop 2: Sunday April 10, 2011
Early Intervention for the Stress-shaped Brain:
The First Year Home Group for Adopted Children and Their Families

Dr. Cogen will describe the psycho-educational format, play therapy, and parent education techniques of the internationally known First Year Home Group. This approach enables children to replace traumatic developmental behavior (survival skills) with family skills.

***Only available to Participants who attend Workshop 1***

Location: 1101 South Winchester Blvd., San Jose, CA 95128
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Fee: $100/ day
Limit: 12 participants/workshop
CEU’s For LMFT’ sand LCSW’s Associated Counselors Provider No.: PC
3161

*Reserve your space by March 20, 2011 – The fee increases by $10 after this date

Contact Karen Wride to register and for further information karenwride@att.net or phone (408) 886-7143

AAC Conference - Orlando, FL - April 13-17, 2011

In addition to many well-known keynote speakers, we offer enriching workshops presented by a wide range of people in the adoption community.

Click here for brochure: http://www.americanadoptioncongress.org

Transracial Parenting - Portland, OR - April 30, 2011

When: April 30, 2011
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Where: OHSU, Portland, OR
Cost: $90 per person

Race matters
Development of racial identity
Cultural competence
Tools for creating positive outcomes
Talking to your child about race
Confronting racism
Personalizing culture

Race: Are We So Different? - Boston, MA - Through May 1, 2011

Kip Fulbeck exhibits in film, photography, spoken word, and drawing, combining these media in his solo performances. Current exhibitions of The Hapa Project come from over 1200 portraits photographed throughout the country, and range from a classic black & white series to a striking full color editioned series.

Museum of Science, Boston, MA http://www.seaweedproductions.com

Race: Are We So Different? - Charlotte, NC - Through May 8, 2011

Discovery Place Museum Charlotte, NC http://www.seaweedproductions.com

Race: Are We So Different? - San Diego, CA - Through May 15, 2011

Museum of Man, San Diego, CA http://www.seaweedproductions.com

Camp Rice - Emmitsburg, MD - July 8-10, 2011

2011 Camp Rice
July 8-10, 2011 (Friday 5 p.m. through Sunday afternoon 2 p.m.)

Summit Lake Camp

7610 Hampton Valley Road

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

All Services for International Adoptees and Adoptive Families would like to invite you to our second annual family/teen camps. This year’s theme will be ‘festivals of Korea.’ We will be creating activities and classes to learn about Korean culture by exploring modern and traditional festivals in Korea.

Who should consider coming?

All adoptive families with Korean children of all ages and their siblings are welcome to participate. We are planning two separate camps –family camp and teen camp. There will be nursery programs for infants and toddlers, as well as programs for school-age children, and adults. Special attention will be given to birth children and children from countries other than Korea. Our Teen Camp will be operated in the same facility but in a different section of the retreat center. While adults and younger children stay in a room with a separate shower with their parents, teen campers will stay with their adult adopteecounselors.

What age is considered as a teen camper?

Teen campers are students who have completed 5th grade through 11th grade by Summer of 2011. If you are 18 and older and have graduated from a high school by June, you can apply to become a volunteer camp counselor. Teen campers can be dropped off at camp alone for the weekend. If you are a family with three children with one child’s being 14 years old, your whole family can participate as family campers, but your 14 years old will be considered as a teen camper. It is recommended that your teen campers stay with other teens if your family will be staying overnight at the camp.   We have had birth siblings who came to our camp in the past. It is their choice if they would like to join the teen program or family camp program.

Accommodations and location

Summit Lake is a year-round conference & retreat Center located near Emmitsburg, MD approximately 23 miles north of Fredericks, MD. There are many outdoor activities you’re your family can enjoy during your stay. Just to mention a few, you could enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, ball games (indoor and outdoor).      Accommodations for family campers are rooms which are located in four different lodges. Most of the lodges offer a private bathroom with a shower. There are a few rooms that have a joint bathroom between two rooms.   We plan to give this kind of rooms to families who are related or close. Please indicate your preference in the registration form if you would like to be placed in rooms with one bathroom and a shower with another family. Each room can sleep up to 4 people and has 3-4 twin sized bunk beds. All campers will need to bring their own linens, pillows, blanket or sleeping bags. All lodges are air-conditioned. Teen campers will be staying in cabins sharing their rooms with other teen campers. Although cabins are not air-conditioned, temperature during overnight is controlled by fans and it will be comfortable. All meals will be served by the Summit Lake Camp this year. Summit Lake Camp serves delicious home-cooked meals, including homemade bread & cookies. For more information about our camp facility visit http://www.summitlake.org.

Registration Fee

The full camp registration fee includes accommodations, 6 meals, a camp t-shirt, snacks and camp programs.

*$225 per adult, child (3 and over) , or teen

We lowered the camp fee from $265 to $225 while shortening the camp days to make the camp more affordable so that more adoptive families can join this fabulous program. $50 discount per family will be applied if there are 4 or more campers. If your teenager is participating in the teen camp, you can still receive this discount. Child under 3 pays $100 to use the camp facility. If you need daycare for your child under 3, please let us know. We will plan to offer daycare for the time for toddlers when older family campers participant in cultural classes. Teen campers It is recommended that your teenager stay with their counselors for most of the time during the camp if your whole family participates in the family camp. Parents of teens will have a chance to be briefed about their achievements before the end of the camp. *$225 per camper is a discounted rate, ASIA plans to do significant fundraising activities to be able to offer this rate.

Financial assistance for teen campers

If your family recently experienced unemployment and financially cannot afford sending your teen ager to Camp Rice, please write to us. We will be doing some fundraisers and will be able to offer a few scholarships for teen campers.

Would you like to sponsor an adult adoptee counselor to come to the camp?

Camp Rice is a place where adult adoptees get together once a year to give their time and energy to mentor younger adoptees.   They are a great asset to Camp Rice program. In order to host one counselor, it costs us $225. If you can make a donation of $225, we can bring more adult adoptees to join the camp. Help us continue this valuable tradition.

How to register

To reserve your spot, fill out the registration form and send it with a non-refundable pre-registration fee of $200. Contact Mary Anne Wylie to request a registration form at walker.wylie@verizon.net. Checks should be made payable to ASIA, Inc.   Though there is no deadline to receive registrations, it is likely to be fully booked soon due to the number of people who have expressed interest previously.

Contact us

If you have a question related to camp registration or medical forms, contact Mary Ann Wylie at walker.wylie@verizon.net.    Medical form will be emailed to you after receiving your registration.

All other questions such as financial assistance, counselor application form, camp curriculum, accommodation, volunteering, sponsorship, donation and etc, contact Grace Song at hwakangsong@gmail.com or 703-999-4206

Pact Family Camp - North Lake Tahoe, CA - July 17-21, 2011

July 17-21st, 2011

We've planned an exciting program that includes a rich blend of education, community-building, sharing and recreation. Enjoying group activities together in the woods, in the pool, and at mealtimes will provide wonderful opportunities to connect. Many of the families who attend camp are transracial (parenting children across racial lines) but we welcome all families, whether your adoption was domestic or international, and whether you have birth kids along with adopted kids. We especially encourage parents of color to join us at camp.

For more info or to register visit: http://www.pactadopt.org

KAAN's MISSION is: To Support Networking And Build Understanding Among Adoptees, Adoptive Families, Koreans And Korean Americans. Visit KAAN's website at http://www.kaanet.com/ .

KAAN does not endorse or take responsibility for the opinions or programs presented in the newsletter. Please send us information about events in your area, articles, personal requests etc. so that we may share them with others.

Send information about events, interesting articles or websites, personal requests and questions, as well as other items of interest to us at mailto:kaanet@aol.com