KAAN 2024 Conference

Attending this event?

KAAN 2024 Conference

Join KAAN from June 21 – 23 for three days of keynotes, films, presentations, roundtables, performers, exhibits, support forums, and life-changing community. KAAN offers an Adoptee-Only track, as well as sessions for a general audience that are open to all. There are programs for adults aged 18+ and youth aged 8-17. Everyone is welcome, including adoptees, birth families, family members (adoptive parents, spouses/partners, siblings, and children of adoptees), service providers, and Korean Americans. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at tech@wearekaan.org.

Register now at tfec.org/kaan2024

Donate to KAAN
KAAN is a Project of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, fiscal sponsor. This permits KAAN to operate as a nonprofit under TFEC’s 501(c)(3) designation. The official registration and financial information of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, at 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. The Foundation for Enhancing Communities is registered in each state requiring such registration for charitable solicitation. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Thank you!

12:00am CDT

Note: Schedule, Presenters, and Information are Subject to Change

8:30am CDT

Leadership Summit (Invite-Only) Rosemont 2: 3rd FloorDr. Katie Bozek • Amanda Cho • Hollee McGinnis • Nathan Nowack

12:00pm CDT

KAAN 2024 Check-In Lobby Level Foyer KAAN 2024 Exhibitors Lobby Level Foyer

12:45pm CDT

First-Time Attendee Welcome: Ages 26+ (Adoptee-Only Session) Rosemont 2: 3rd FloorMimi Short • Michael Thielmann First-Time Attendee Welcome: LGBTQIA+ (Adoptee-Only) Rosemont 3: 3rd FloorCarly Zuckweiler (they/them) First-Time Attendee Welcome: Young Adult Adoptees Ages 18 – 25 (Adoptee-Only) Rosemont 4: 3rd FloorAli Koehl First-Time Attendee Welcome: General Session Open To All Attendees Lakeshore A: Lobby LevelDebra Yoo General Meet-Up: Regions and Academia (General Session) Lakeshore B: Lobby LevelAmanda Cho Youth Program: Meet & Greet Division: Lobby LevelWes Liu • Ben Oser

2:30pm CDT

Belonging in the In-Between Rosemont 3: 3rd FloorKalyn Bonn • Anna Ningjing Cohen Elephant in the Room: Mental Health Rosemont 2: 3rd FloorNicole Sheppard • Stephen Johnson Learn the Unique Korean Fiberart ... Bojagi Rosemont 4: 3rd FloorSara Salansky Adoptive Parents & Critical Thinking About Adoption Lakeshore B: Lobby LevelMaureen McCauley • Astrid Castro Art and Adoptee Solidarity: Intersectional Storytelling Renewal A: 2nd FloorLeah Cooper • Alan Berks • Megan Kim Crafting Conversations About Heritage and Culture Lakeshore A: Lobby LevelMargaret Jeong

4:00pm CDT

Conference Opening: KAAN Announcements Grand Ballrooms A and BDr. Katie Bozek

5:30pm CDT

Adoptee-Only Dinner (Offsite) (Separate Ticket Purchase) Dam No. 4 Woods - East Picnic GroveMichael Thielmann Community Dinner (Offsite): RSVP in Advance TBDJon Oaks (he/him) Dinner On Your Own NA

7:00pm CDT

KAAN 2024 Check-In Lobby Level Foyer

7:30pm CDT

Carve Your Dojang ... Stamp Your Heritage Rosemont 4: 3rd FloorSara Salansky Lost Lit Adoptee Writing Workshop Rosemont 2: 3rd FloorLynne Connor

8:00pm CDT

Games and Youth Activities Grand Ballrooms A and B Noraebang Grand Ballrooms A and B

6:30am CDT

Wellness Activity: Jog with Katie Bozek (Meet in Hotel Lobby) Lobby Level FoyerDr. Katie Bozek Wellness Activity: Midnite Townsend Lakeshore A: Lobby LevelMidnite Townsend

7:15am CDT

Warm Breakfast Grand Ballrooms A and B KAAN 2024 Check-In Lobby Level Foyer KAAN 2024 Marketplace Grand Ballroom C

7:30am CDT

KAAN 2024 Exhibitors Lobby Level Foyer

8:00am CDT

Mainstage: Adoptee Representation & Visibility in Research Grand Ballrooms A and BJaeRan Kim • Hollee McGinnis Youth Program: Field Trip (Departs 8:45AM) Division: Lobby LevelWes Liu • Ben Oser

9:00am CDT

Adoptees as Caregivers Rosemont 3: 3rd FloorKerry Bondy • Mimi Short • Chris Wodicka (he/him) Marrying Into the Motherland: Culture Clash? Rosemont 2: 3rd FloorMichael Mullen • A.J. Bryant • Melissa Guida-Richards • Amanda Cho Speaking With(Out) Words: Adoptees & Creative Expression Renewal A: 2nd FloorKJ Roelke • Jon Hurley Adoption (Mis)Representation in Entertainment Lakeshore A: Lobby LevelKira Omans • Nicholas Ramsey (he/him) Estrangement in Adoption: Preventing, Accepting, Healing Lakeshore B: Lobby LevelLiz Kwon • Astrid Castro • Maureen McCauley

10:30am CDT

Embrace Intersectional Adversity: Own Your Story Rosemont 2: 3rd FloorMaddy Ullman • Ava Busto Schiff Finding Identity Within the Adoptee Narrative Rosemont 3: 3rd FloorLindsay Pluger • Katherine Wald • Mari Arneson Reimagining Intimacy in Adoptee Centered Relationships Rosemont 4: 3rd FloorEugene Rush • Anna Inazu • Laura X. Williams • Mikaela Smith • Mai Li O'Keefe Recovering People Pleasers – Reclaiming Nervous Systems Renewal A: 2nd FloorMidnite Townsend • Grace Clark • Jamie Barnett Family, Culture, Identity: Generational Adoption Impacts Lakeshore A: Lobby LevelClaire Magenheimer • Jolie Magenheimer Stories Adoptees Rarely Tell Lakeshore B: Lobby LevelGlenn Morey • Melinda McCulloch

12:00pm CDT

Buffet Lunch Grand Ballrooms A and B

12:45pm CDT

Mainstage: Critical Conversations About Adoption Media Representation Grand Ballrooms A and BDr. SunAh Laybourn • Kira Omans • Patrick Armstrong • Nicholas Ramsey (he/him)

1:30pm CDT

Author Booksigning & Marketplace Grand Ballroom C

2:00pm CDT

Creating & Losing Family – BIPOC Adult Adoptees Rosemont 4: 3rd FloorLiana Soifer • Mai Li O'Keefe • Alisha Bennett • Danni Mar • Lisa MacLellan • Maze Felix • Matthew Fetzer • Stefanie Henning Managing Birth Family Reunion and Relationships Rosemont 3: 3rd FloorSara Engelhardt (she/her) • Amanda Cho No One Who Looks Like Me Rosemont 2: 3rd FloorJulayne Lee • Kerry Bondy KAAN 2024 Exhibitors Lobby Level Foyer Beyond Assimilation: Ghost Kingdoms & Korean Adoption Lakeshore A: Lobby LevelEryn Mei Fēng Cutoffs, Estrangements, and Complex Adoptive Families Lakeshore B: Lobby LevelAmanda Baden • Rebecca Randall • Meggin Nam Holtz Youth Program: Bowling Renewal A: 2nd FloorWes Liu • Ben Oser

3:45pm CDT

Complexities in Post-Reunion Relationships Rosemont 2: 3rd FloorNicole Sheppard • Chris Shepard • Colleen Ziph Decentralizing Adoptee Grief, Reclaiming Ourselves Rosemont 4: 3rd FloorJas Strong • Laura X. Williams Stories We Tell Ourselves & Others Rosemont 3: 3rd FloorGlenn Morey • Melinda McCulloch Contextualizing KAD Identity in IBPOC Communities Lakeshore A: Lobby LevelDeLa Dos The Wrath of K(H)AAN Lakeshore B: Lobby LevelJean Gou

6:30pm CDT

Community Dinner Grand Ballrooms A and B

8:00pm CDT

Mainstage: Community Dinner Entertainment Grand Ballrooms A and BJamie Barnett • Grace Clark

8:00am CDT

KAAN 2024 Exhibitors Grand Ballroom C Continental Breakfast Grand Ballrooms A and B

8:45am CDT

Adoptee-Only Debrief Rosemont 2: 3rd Floor General Debrief Lakeshore A: Lobby Level

9:30am CDT

Community: A Conversation About Community Rosemont 3: 3rd FloorDaniel Price • Maddy Ullman • Jean Gou Let Me See the Little Potsticker Rosemont 2: 3rd FloorAmy Lee Scott Recovering People Pleasers – Reclaiming Nervous Systems Rosemont 4: 3rd FloorMidnite Townsend • Grace Clark • Jamie Barnett Love Cannot Be Color(Blind): Part II Lakeshore A: Lobby LevelDr. Katie Bozek • Dr. SunAh Laybourn Contextualizing KAD Identity in IBPOC Communities Lakeshore B: Lobby LevelDeLa Dos Youth Program: Bojagi activity Renewal A: 2nd FloorWes Liu • Ben Oser • Sara Salansky

11:00am CDT

Mainstage: Community Conversation about Representation & Visibility Grand Ballrooms A and B

12:15pm CDT

Mainstage: Conference Closing Remarks: Katie Bozek, Executive Director Grand Ballrooms A and BDr. Katie Bozek Youth Program Closing Division: Lobby Level, Dearborn: Lobby LevelWes Liu • Ben Oser