1:00 PM to
5:30 PM

Ballroom Foyer

Sign in and pick up conference materials

3:00 PM to
5:00 PM

Room C

Session Confirmation Pending

5:00 PM to
7:30 PM

Restaurant of your choice (for an additional charge).  An optional adult adoptee-only dinner is being planned for this evening. Contact Michael Stanley at Michael_stanley@ml.com for cost and times. Please sign up by June 30.

7:30 PM to
9:30 PM

Room A

Tammy Chu, Brent Beesley, Jessica Windt

This documentary follows a Korean birth mother and her American son who reunite after thirty years. It is a personal story that explores the themes of separation, loss, and family ties. The film also raises questions about the situation of single mothers in Korea, international adoption policy, and the complexity of reunion amidst obstacles of language, culture, distance, and loss.

7:30 PM to
9:30 PM

Room C

Session Confirmation Pending

7:00 AM to
8:45 AM

Ballroom

8:00 AM to
8:15 AM

Ballroom

8:15 AM to
9:15 AM

Ballroom

Take My Baby To His Mother!   As a young Korean woman, Ms. Bae had a love affair with an American man in Korea. She learned that she was pregnant, and found that the relationship would not end in marriage. She chose to deliver the baby and reached out for help. As a result, she moved into a convent.  While she was living at the convent, she chose adoption for her child. 28 years later, Ms. Bae found her son in Australia -- Peter Bell, the famous football star! Ms. Bae tells the story of her journey from bleak hopelessness to profound joy and peace.

9:30 AM to
10:45 AM

Room A

The experience of adoption is often not understood. We will deepen our understanding of the experience it self, the outcome for each person involved in the process, and the ability to create sanctuary in life today, regardless of our history, our roles as children and the struggles we may even face today. Peace is possible, we will begin the process toward peace in this workshop for every participant.

9:30 AM to
10:45 AM

Room B

Come along for a journey to see why Meghan Shepherd labeled herself a "Seoul Survivor" after spending a year in Seoul, Korea. Through pictures, stories, and videos, you will enjoy an in-depth look at the Korean culture and how Meghan's relationship developed with her biological family. It'll make you laugh, cry, say "awww" and "ewww."

9:30 AM to
10:45 AM

Room C

Grace Song, Mrs. Hye Kyung Kim, Ms. Soo Yeon Lee, Ms Eun Hee Seol, Ms Myung Hee Cho, Ms Young Mee Nam

Representatives from Holt, Eastern Social Welfare Society, and Social Welfare Society will introduce the post adoption support programs offered by the adoption agencies in Korea.

9:30 AM to
10:45 AM

Room D

Monica Mesics, John Chong, Pastor Jacob Kim

This will be a discussion on the importance of bridging the gap amongst Korean Americans and Korean Adoptees. This discussion will provide a safe place for other adoptees and adoptive parents to ask the Korean American panel questions/concerns that they have with introducing their child(children) to Korean culture, etc. It's a way to show support for bridging the cultural gaps between adoptees and their birth culture.

9:30 AM to
10:45 AM

Room E

Mark Hagland, Becky Cioppa, Sara Smith

Adult transracial adoptees who become parents inevitably face new questions and issues that arise out of becoming parents themselves, whether biologically or through adoption. Having children brings up or brings back numerous issues, including around one's own racial identity, thoughts about the possibility of birth search, physical and emotional self-image, and relationships, among other issues. It can be difficult for those who are not transracial adoptees to understand such issues and their importance to the adult transracial adoptee.

11:00 AM to
12:15 PM

Room A

Jacey Norton, Becky Cioppa, Sara Smith

Hallyu or Korean Wave is described by Wikipedia as "the significantly increased popularity of South Korean culture around the world since the 21st century." It includes Korean dramas, K-pop, food, and language. The phenomenon provides adoptive families and adoptees the opportunity to experience Korean culture and language in their own living rooms. But, it is hard to know where to start or where to go next once you are hooked. This workshop will focus on different dramas, music, and performers to help the beginner embark on the Hallyu highway and inspire the enthusiast to share their experiences and deepen their passion for these art forms.

11:00 AM to
12:15 PM

Room B

Kim Stoker, Jenny Na, Tammy Chu

ASK will give a brief history and report on the events surrounding the currently proposed revisions of the Special Adoption Law in Korea. The revisions of this law are slated to be presented to the Korean National Assembly in February of 2010. ASK will give a summary of the proposed revisions in addition to opening the floor for discussion on how these changes might affect adoptees, birth families, adoptive parents, and adoption agencies.

11:00 AM to
12:15 PM

Room C

Are you leader? At some point in life, we all assume positions of leadership and followership. This workshop provides attendees with relevant leadership models conducive to the unique abilities of transracial, international adoptees. Through discussion and activity, this interactive session will offer attendees practical applications and confidence in aspiring to leadership. The world needs better leaders and followers. Are you ready?!

11:00 AM to
12:15 PM

Room D

Pastor Jacob Kim, John Chong

Pastor Jacob Kim and John Chong of the Antioch Church of Philadelphia offer support to adoptees for the wounds that they still carry from their relinquishment and the continuing process for self identity, searching for one's birth family, etc. Monica Mesics has attended this church since December 2008 and has found a nurturing, accepting, spiritual environment. The discussion will be non-denominational.

11:00 AM to
12:15 PM

Room E

Suzanne D'Aversa LCSW-R, Marlene Kennedy

Prior to the adoption, adoptive parents had a dream of what they would bring to parenting, and what life would be like with their children. They had hopes and dreams for their children's future. However, many parents find that the reality of life does not resemble their dreams. This workshop will be a panel of parents of adults who were adopted, who will share their experiences, and how they have come to embrace their realities, even if they are different from their dream.

12:30 PM to
2:00 PM

Ballroom

Session Confirmation Pending

2:15 PM to
3:30 PM

Room A

Mirim Kim, Martha Crawford LCSW

This panel discussion co-moderated by an adult adoptee and an adoptive parent, will be an examination of the adoptee's developmental journey and the function of the (defacto) adoptive parents in sacred texts, mythology, folktale, fairytale and children's literature. (Modern children's literature as well as historical texts such the story of Moses, Oedipus etc.) The purpose of this discussion is not academic, but practical - many of these narrative themes offer simultaneously deep and pragmatic advice and parental guidance to adoptees and their parents as to how to negotiate conflict together, respond to developmental changes and challenges, and to support the development of a consolidated identity. Since many of these narratives emerged at a time in history when a substantial portion of the population was actually, or likely to be orphaned at any time due to adult mortality rates, these stories are examined as speaking directly, not symbolically, to adoptive family members experience.

2:15 PM to
3:30 PM

Room B

Sara Campbell LLMSW, Kerry Bondy

This session will educate adoptees on the potential mental health disorders that have been found to be linked with adoption and adoptees. We will also discuss personal experiences of adoptees who have gone through various mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and abandonment issues.

2:15 PM to
3:30 PM

Room C

This session will discuss the opportunity adoptees have to participate in diversity related programs. Diversity enhances both the educational and workplace environment and many places offer programs to increase their diversity. Diversity does not just relate to ethnicity, but also encompasses people with disabilities. As adoptees, we offer a unique experience that can contribute to a diverse environment. We have a lot to be proud of and this is one way to make people award

2:15 PM to
3:30 PM

Room D

Adoptive parents will hear first hand the emotional journey experienced by a birthmother in choosing to place her child. Hearing this honest account will help adoptees and adoptive parents to understand a birthmother's choice and respect her experience. Patricia shares her journey in building a trusting relationship with her son's adoptive parents, creating a roadmap for others to follow. Facing fears in adoption is emphasized and participants will learn how to take those first steps of trust. Understanding a birthmother's loving choice will also help adoptees and adoptive parent's in closed adoptions by giving them the information they need to talk about the love behind the choice to place a child for adoption and eliminate any feelings of abandonment by the child.

2:15 PM to
3:30 PM

Room E

Mark Hagland, Suzanne Switzer, Terra Trevor

In this session, a panel of four adoptees and adoptive parents will discuss the imponderables that have followed them through their adoption journeys. While all human beings inevitably face "what if?" types of questions regarding choices they've made and paths they've taken in their lives, transracially adoptive parents and adult adoptees face special issues having to do with major turning points in their lives. What if the transracial parent had chosen not to adopt transracially? What if the transracial adoptee had chosen to do or not do birth search? In some ways, only those involved in transracial adoption can fully relate to these special kinds of questions. This panel discussion will delve into such issues.

3:45 PM to
5:00 PM

Room A

Eileen Sullivan-Thompson, Karen Sprouse

Over twenty years ago, two moms of different cultured bonded together due to a Korean infant named Park Jee Sook. Adoptive Mom named Eileen and her Korean friend named Karen discuss their relationship raising and mentoring Eileen's daughter from Korea. They also discuss their missionary work together in a Korean orphanage and a program Karen formed called Hopeful Vision which helps them continue their missionary work with homeless Korean adolescents in Seoul. It's a story of "giving thanks and giving back."

3:45 PM to
5:00 PM

Room C

This workshop will present a framework for understanding connection in couples and explore how the attachment experience of each member of the couple influences the relationship. This workshop will look at how adoption may impact a person's approach or needs in a relationship and themes that couples have presented where one or both of the members of the couple are adopted. I will present a theory of connection based on attachment models, discuss themes that may arise in couples based on this framework and present vignettes of couples where adoption and attachment needs have impacted the couple.

3:45 PM to
5:00 PM

Room D

Sook Wilkinson PhD, Hana Thomas, SungHo Suh

Hana Thomas and her birthfather, SungHo Suh, will candidly discuss the joy and peril of navigating a new relationship.

3:45 PM to
5:00 PM

Room E

Jen Hilzinger, Mark Hagland, Michelle Hughes

Parenting in a multiracial adoptive family is different than parenting in a monoracial adoptive family, or in a monoracial family composed of all biologically related family members. It can be challenging but also exhilarating. There is no one right way to do it, but there are definitely tools and strategies that can be used to help in parenting happy healthy children in multiracial adoptive families into happy healthy adults. It includes recognizing race, racism, colorism, adoptism and how to use this knowledge to parent children to have a healthy self identity, racial identity, and family identity. This seminar will provide attendees with specific tools to do just that.

6:00 PM to
8:30 PM

Ballroom

Stacy Schroeder, Paull Shin, Mark Hagland, Carolyn Scholl

Join us in welcoming special guests and supporters of KAAN and in celebrating twelve years of service to the community. Our evening keynote will be Senator Paull Shin, whose subject will be "Korean Adoptees Today and Tomorrow." He will talk about the need for Korean Adoptees to have a dream and a purpose in their lives. Adopted from Korea and also an adoptive parent, his inspirational speeches touch the hearts of everyone who hears him. This dinner also includes a tribute to founding president Chris Winston, who has announced plans to retire after this year's conference. Expect some spectacular musical performances and a glimpse of what lies ahead for our organization.

8:30 PM to
10:00 PM

Room A

KAAN Workshops can stir up many feelings for parents and leave them feeling very emotional. This is an opportunity for parents to share some of their hurts, knowing that they are not alone and developing a sense of resiliency, so that they can accept their reality and know that they are good parents and did the best they knew how as parents.

8:30 PM to
10:00 PM

Room B

Martha Crawford LCSW, Amy Horowitz

8:30 PM to
10:00 PM

Room C

KAAN Workshops can stir up many feelings for adoptees and leave them feeling very emotional. This is an opportunity for adoptees to share some of their feelings, knowing that they are not alone and developing a sense of resiliency.

8:30 PM to
10:00 PM

Room D

KAAN Workshops can stir up many feelings for parents and leave them feeling very emotional. This is an opportunity for parents to share some of their feelings, knowing that they are not alone and developing a sense of resiliency, so that they can accept their reality and know that they are good parents and are doing the best they can as parents.

7:30 AM to
8:00 AM

Room D

This conference stirs up deep emotions in many. We have provided a quiet place for prayer, meditation, and/or reflection for those who would appreciate it this Sunday morning. Come and go as you want during this time ... candles will be available, but there will be no specific service or structured gathering.

8:00 AM to
8:45 AM

Ballroom

8:45 AM to
10:00 AM

Room A

Inhabiting a unique positionality in American society as ethnic Asians and transracial adoptees, the Asian American adoptee operates at the intersections of race, gender, and class with white privilege. The session will (re)locate the Korean adoptee within Asian American discourse, through the examination of the (re)articulation of the Asian American narrative. In the examining the positionality of adoptees, the session will critically examine (im)migration, citizenship, and the authentic " Asian experience."

8:45 AM to
10:00 AM

Room B

8:45 AM to
10:00 AM

Room C

Adam Carlson, Katharine Carlson Psy.D, Paul Carlson, Marilyn Lammert

Siblings Katie and Adam are seven months apart in age and are in their late twenties. Katie learned at age fourteen that she was 3/8 Cherokee on her birth father's side. Adam was adopted from Korea and both parents are Caucasian. Together with their parents, they will describe their experiences of racism, implied and otherwise, in themselves as they see each other in their white liberal suburban community. Discussion will include the positive and negative aspects of celebrating differences vs. Highlighting or "othering" as well as Adam's reaction to experiences of "whitey bashing" in Asian-American groups in college. Dialogue with members of the audience about their experiences and that of their family will be welcomed

8:45 AM to
10:00 AM

Room D

The loss of the mother /child relationship can feel like a death of the other, an unresolvable "death"; partly because we usually know that the mother who is "dead" is also alive. An exploration of how can we best cope with this before reunion, and then after (hopefully) a reunion, deal with the aftermath of the resurrection of the "ghost". At the end of this workshop, attendees will be able to recognize and describe the psychological death that they endured and be able to describe ways of grieving their losses. The audience will be encouraged to participate in an open discussion during and after the presentation.

8:45 AM to
10:00 AM

Room E

Mark Hagland, Glen Hilzinger

It is often difficult for white adoptive parents to understand the unique pressures faced by their male Asian adopted children. Perceptions of Asian males in both the media and popular culture, as well as longstanding racial stereotypes of Asian males in general, can make an adoptee's journey challenging in particular and specific ways. What do parents need to know? How can they best support their male children? And what can be learned from the experiences of adult adoptees in this area? An adoptive dad of a male Korean child, and an adult Korean adoptee, will lead a discussion of issues around masculinity, interracial dating, self-image, and other questions that particularly face male Korean and Asian adoptees growing up in this society.

8:45 AM to
10:00 AM

Room F

Selahart, a team of international students from Korea, who live and study in central PA will lead cultural programs and activities.

10:10 AM to
11:35 AM

Room A

Keziah Park, Aieree Jung, David Winston, Nayoung Lee

Airee Jung and her daughter Keziah will be presenting the services InKAS offers to adoptees returning to Korea.   David Winston will share his perspective as an adoptee living in Korea who has been a recipient of InKAS services, living in their guesthouse, taking Korean on a Korea University scholarship, and teaching English.  Nayoung Lee will tell why she volunteers for InKAS.

10:10 AM to
11:35 AM

Room B

Aimee Babcock-Ellis, Kevin Smith

This session will be a panel discussion of issues adoptees face when it comes to relationships, both family and dating relationships. Some adoptees may be serious daters or have trouble forming close relationships. They may not be able to commit to relationships, possibly out of fear of abandonment. Others may stay in unhealthy relationships out of fear of being alone. Whatever you have experienced, someone else has probably had a similar experience.

10:10 AM to
11:35 AM

Room C

Becky Cioppa, Jacey Norton, Sara Smith

Homeopathy is a safe and effective way to help adoptees and adoptive parents find balance in their lives. Adoption can be a wonderful blessing , however adoptees and adoptive parents can also experience some difficulties in trying to come together and grow as a family. Through our own personal experiences homeopathy has helped us and the members of our families with deep emotional issues. We will use our own personal experiences as well as clinical information to show the innate power of healing through the use of homeopathy.

10:10 AM to
11:35 AM

Room D

Mark Hagland, Martha Crawford LCSW

When children are adopted transracially, they begin a special lifelong journey of hope and promise. But they also inevitably find themselves having to explain their families' histories and composition. Some in the transracial adoption world have come to refer to this as the "narrative burden" of transracial adoption, and it can prove especially burdensome to transracially adopted children as they grow up. The "Who are you really?" "Are those really your parents?" and other similar questions come at an early age, and adoptees find themselves having to negotiate complex issues at a very early age. This workshop will give teens the tools to address the constant and often-intrusive questioning from strangers and acquaintances alike? This session is aimed at addressing some of the relevant issues.

10:10 AM to
11:35 AM

Room E

Join founder and teacher Dr. Sungun Lee as he shares how his NYC language school expanded and created a program specifically for adoptees and their families. This program celebrates Korean language. culture, and history and can serve as a model for others interested in forming or selecting a language school.

10:10 AM to
11:35 AM

Room F

Session Confirmation Pending

11:45 AM to
12:30 PM

Ballroom

Exploring "America's Attic" : APA Treasures and Resources at the Smithsonian Institution  Terry Hong, Media Arts Consultant for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, will provide an overview of the Asian Pacific American resources and opportunities available throughout the 19 museums and programs that make up the Smithsonian Institution. Inserting our stories into "America's Attic" is crucial to a more accurate understanding of the full American experience -  in all shades and colors, from all walks of life, with histories as diverse as our citizens. To that end, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program strives to better reflect the APA experience through exhibitions, public programs, and ongoing research. Come share stories from the Smithsonian trenches, check out Terry's Smithsonian book blog BookDragon, and ask Terry questions about your next trip to "America's Attic."