Educating and Advocating For Adoption Through the Written Word
The Annual KAAN Conference: A Don’t-Miss Event for the Korean Adoption Community
Here’s what comes to mind when I think about the annual KAAN Conference:
• Reconnecting with friends I see only once a year at KAAN
• Making new friends
• Learning from others’ adoption experiences
• Laughter, tears, and hugs
• Seeing the latest adoption films, often before they’re released to the public
• Buying the latest books, and sometimes finishing them before they make it home
• Late night drinks in the bar with friends
• The excitement of that first big session and the satisfaction of seeing another job well done
• Feeling like I belong to a community
I went to my first KAAN Conference in 1999 and have been to every one since. This annual conference is the only one of its kind: if you are living Korean adoption, are involved with it, or are interested in it, the KAAN Conference is the place for you to come together to share experiences, practices and camaraderie. It is indeed unique.
The first steps that led to the conference began in the late 1990s with the founding of KAAN, the Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network by a group of adoptees, adoptive parents and Korean Americans. They had the foresight to recognize the importance of working as a community, and the commitment to see their dream come true.
Since that first exciting conference in LA’s Koreatown, KAAN has brought the conference around the country and to Korea, giving adoptees, families and Korean Americans from coast to coast the opportunity to showcase their local programs and learn from one another. That local flavor makes each conference one-of-a-kind. The variety of venues offers interesting family vacation experiences, too.
Going to a KAAN Conference is a heck of a lot of fun. But more than that, it keeps my adoption perspectives grounded in reality. I heard a Korean birthmother speak for the first time at the KAAN Conference in 1999; through KAAN, my children’s phantom parents became real. I’ve met adopted people whose willingness to share their experiences has changed the way I parent my children for the better. And I’ve learned from the Korean Americans who come how important it is for adoptive families to make strong connections to this community.
This year, the KAAN Conference is in Denver, Colorado, home of Colorado Heritage Camps, the local sponsor. The program is terrific, with sessions for everyone and special activities for kids, teens, and adult adoptees. This year I’ll be attending with my daughter, who at 18 is developing her own voice and enjoys being able to exercise it at KAAN. We were at the 2008 conference together, too, and I could tell then how important the contact and new friendships were to her. It was particularly good to watch the other adult adoptees take her under their wing.
If you’ve never been, or even if you have, I hope you’ll consider joining us in Denver this year. Yes, the economy is a challenge. But the early registration fee of $199 for the full conference (partial registration options are also available) makes KAAN one of the best deals around; this fee will be available through July 15th, so don’t miss it. This year’s venue, the Sheraton Denver, is offering an excellent room rate, too. Every penny is worth it.
I hope I see you there!!
The 11th Annual KAAN Conference
Extending the Family of Korean Adoption
Sheraton Denver Hotel
Denver, Colorado
July 31 - August 2, 2009
Register online here
Conference details available at the KAAN Conference website
KAAN: The Korean American, Adoptee, Adoptive Family Network
P.O. Box 5585
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
916 - 933-1447
kaanet@aol.com
• Reconnecting with friends I see only once a year at KAAN
• Making new friends
• Learning from others’ adoption experiences
• Laughter, tears, and hugs
• Seeing the latest adoption films, often before they’re released to the public
• Buying the latest books, and sometimes finishing them before they make it home
• Late night drinks in the bar with friends
• The excitement of that first big session and the satisfaction of seeing another job well done
• Feeling like I belong to a community
I went to my first KAAN Conference in 1999 and have been to every one since. This annual conference is the only one of its kind: if you are living Korean adoption, are involved with it, or are interested in it, the KAAN Conference is the place for you to come together to share experiences, practices and camaraderie. It is indeed unique.
The first steps that led to the conference began in the late 1990s with the founding of KAAN, the Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network by a group of adoptees, adoptive parents and Korean Americans. They had the foresight to recognize the importance of working as a community, and the commitment to see their dream come true.
Since that first exciting conference in LA’s Koreatown, KAAN has brought the conference around the country and to Korea, giving adoptees, families and Korean Americans from coast to coast the opportunity to showcase their local programs and learn from one another. That local flavor makes each conference one-of-a-kind. The variety of venues offers interesting family vacation experiences, too.
Going to a KAAN Conference is a heck of a lot of fun. But more than that, it keeps my adoption perspectives grounded in reality. I heard a Korean birthmother speak for the first time at the KAAN Conference in 1999; through KAAN, my children’s phantom parents became real. I’ve met adopted people whose willingness to share their experiences has changed the way I parent my children for the better. And I’ve learned from the Korean Americans who come how important it is for adoptive families to make strong connections to this community.
This year, the KAAN Conference is in Denver, Colorado, home of Colorado Heritage Camps, the local sponsor. The program is terrific, with sessions for everyone and special activities for kids, teens, and adult adoptees. This year I’ll be attending with my daughter, who at 18 is developing her own voice and enjoys being able to exercise it at KAAN. We were at the 2008 conference together, too, and I could tell then how important the contact and new friendships were to her. It was particularly good to watch the other adult adoptees take her under their wing.
If you’ve never been, or even if you have, I hope you’ll consider joining us in Denver this year. Yes, the economy is a challenge. But the early registration fee of $199 for the full conference (partial registration options are also available) makes KAAN one of the best deals around; this fee will be available through July 15th, so don’t miss it. This year’s venue, the Sheraton Denver, is offering an excellent room rate, too. Every penny is worth it.
I hope I see you there!!
The 11th Annual KAAN Conference
Extending the Family of Korean Adoption
Sheraton Denver Hotel
Denver, Colorado
July 31 - August 2, 2009
Register online here
Conference details available at the KAAN Conference website
KAAN: The Korean American, Adoptee, Adoptive Family Network
P.O. Box 5585
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
916 - 933-1447
kaanet@aol.com
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