KAAN 2024 Conference: Full Schedule

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!

12:45pm CDT

Welcome: First-Timer Attendees: Ages 40+ (Adoptee-Only Session)

This session is geared for adoptees aged 40+. If you are an adoptee under 26, please see First-Timer Attendees Welcome: Young Adult Adoptees Ages 18-25 (Adoptee-Only). If you are an adoptee 26-39, please see First-Timer Attendees Welcome: Ages 26-39 (Adoptee-Only Session).

Whether you're new to the KAAN Conference or just want a refresher on the details of this year's gathering, please join us for an informational session about navigating the conference and experiencing any “firsts." There will also be time for Q&A.

Speakers

Nathan Nowack

Co-Host, The Janchi Show

I am a transnational, transracial Korean Adoptee living in Denver, Colorado. I am a dad of 3, avid lego collector, golfer, and co-host on a podcast called The Janchi Show. I am in reunion with my 6 biological siblings. I serve on the KAAN advisory council as well as the engagement... Read More →

Amanda Cho

Amanda (Assalone) Cho, PhD, is a Korean American transracial and transnational adoptee in Atlanta who is actively involved in civil rights and advocacy organizations that support communities of color, particularly Asian Americans and Asian American adoptees. She is the Policy Manager... Read More →

Friday June 21, 2024 12:45pm - 2:00pm CDT
Renewal A: 2nd Floor

Adoptee-Only Session

2:30pm CDT

Art and Adoptee Solidarity: Intersectional Storytelling

The graphic novel In My Heart: The Adoption Story Project was developed in collaboration with 200+ people in the adoption community, from adoptees to social workers, adoptive parents, to birth parents, and many more. Contributors age from 14 to 80 and include voices from the African American, Native American, and Korean American communities. This book explores adoption and its complexities--examining concepts of family and intersecting with issues in society related to law, class, race, and identity. Join us for a presentation of scenes from the graphic novel, followed by a facilitated discussion with two adoptee artists involved in the process.

Speakers

Leah Cooper

Co-Artistic Director, Wonderlust Productions

Hi, I'm a transracial adoptee from Los Angeles, CA now based in St. Paul, MN. I was placed in a closed adoption in 1968 at the age of 10 weeks. I've never had access to any of my birth records or family, and I was told that my mother was white and my father was not white, that I was... Read More →

Megan Kim

Megan Kim is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy-Los Angeles. She spent 9 years acting and singing in LA performing at various venues such as the Ford Amphitheatre and Fullerton Civic Light Opera, before returning to the Twin Cities. She is a company member with... Read More →

Friday June 21, 2024 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Renewal A: 2nd Floor

General Session (Open To All Attendees)

9:00am CDT

Speaking With(Out) Words: Adoptees & Creative Expression

We can’t advocate for more representation in media if we don’t know how to describe the type of representation we want to see. This session is about empowering adoptees to use their voice, understand that their voice matters, and how to give language back to our community. Featuring a live demonstration by Jon & KJ on guitar, this practical, hands-on roundtable session gives adoptees a safe space to play and experiment and collaborate with each other.

Speakers

KJ Roelke

K.J. is a Korean adoptee and creative raised in Dallas, Texas. With an undergraduate degree in Worship Arts, he has spent the majority of his life exploring how technology and the arts can help build bridges and bring people together with a sense of awe and fun. He is a multi-medium... Read More →

Jonathan Hurley

Co-Owner, Artist Relations / BDM, Production Chief, 3rd Power Amplification

Jonathan Hurley is a Nashville based, successful professional touring & session guitarist, and part-owner of legendary boutique guitar amplifier company- 3rd Power Amplification. Jonathan has shared the stage with industry greats like Brett Carslile (Great White), Tony Harnell (TNT... Read More →

Saturday June 22, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Renewal A: 2nd Floor

Fishbowl Session (Adoptee-Centered But Non-Adoptees May Attend To Listen)

10:30am CDT

Recovering People Pleasers – Reclaiming Nervous Systems

Please note: this session will repeat as an Adoptee-Only session at 9:30 AM on Sunday, June 23.

Back by popular demand! Did you learn to appease others growing up? Do you still feel trapped in a cycle of people-pleasing and blame yourself for not breaking the cycle? We’ll explore the intricate web of people-pleasing by exploring how it's propagated through media and mainstream adoption narratives and learn how it's connected to trauma. We’ll then share ways to reclaim our voices and shift our nervous system. We hope to build community through sharing personal stories, understand the roots of people-pleasing behaviors, and equip participants with tools and resources to break free from these patterns.

Speakers

Midnite Townsend

Midnite Townsend (she/they) is a movement enthusiast and recent recipient of a masters in somatic social justice counseling. With 20+ years of performing and teaching everything from circus arts to pilates to burlesque/drag, Midnite believes in building community, healing trauma... Read More →

Grace Clark

Grace Clark is a Korean transracial adoptee living in Denver, Colorado. Grace is currently in graduate school at Naropa University, where she is studying Somatic Body Psychotherapy. Eventually, she plans to get her P.hD in clinical sexology, specifically examining paraphilia. Grace... Read More →

Jamie Barnett

Hello! My name is Jamie, she/her/hers. This is my third year attending KAAN. I am a Chinese Adoptee living in Boulder, Colorado. I am currently in my third year of Graduate School to obtain my Masters in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on Somatic Dance/Movement Therapy!

Saturday June 22, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Renewal A: 2nd Floor

Fishbowl Session (Adoptee-Centered But Non-Adoptees May Attend To Listen)

2:00pm CDT

Adoptee-Only Quiet Space is Open

This is an adoptee-only quiet space. Adoptees can use this space to reflect, take a break, and recharge. Please be respectful and move loud conversations to other areas of the hotel.

Saturday June 22, 2024 2:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Renewal A: 2nd Floor

Adoptee-Only Session

8:45am CDT

Debrief: First-Timer Attendees: Ages 40+ (Adoptee-Only Session)

This session is geared for adoptees aged 40+. If you are an adoptee under 26, please see Debrief: First-Timer Attendees: Young Adult Adoptees Ages 18-25 (Adoptee-Only). If you are an adoptee 26-39, please see Debrief: First-Timer Attendees: Ages 26-39 (Adoptee-Only Session).

Reconnect with the cohort from your first-timers session and discuss KAAN next steps.

Speakers

Nathan Nowack

Co-Host, The Janchi Show

Amanda Cho

Sunday June 23, 2024 8:45am - 9:15am CDT
Renewal A: 2nd Floor

Adoptee-Only Session

9:30am CDT

Youth Program: Bojagi activity

Bojagi is a classless art that was once passed on through the generations of Korean artist and has no longer been passed on … especially to Korean Adoptees. It has now become an elite-est art and very much unknown artform even among the Korean nationals. This is an artform that is very unique to Korea and it needs to be rejuvenated among any Korean who loves to learn about Korean culture and has a pride in learning and doing something that is very uniquely Korean. With the completion of your project you can proudly display Korean culture.

Moderators

Wes Liu

Wes is a Chinese adoptee who grew up in Dallas, TX, and currently lives in Denver, CO. He has spent the past few years directing his energy towards community building within adoptee spaces as well as outside of them. He enjoys cooking, working with children, the outdoors, and nurturing... Read More →

Ben Oser

Speakers

Sara Salansky

Freelance Cultural Educator

I am one of the second wave of Korean Adoptees to arrive to the United States. I never grew up learning or experiencing anything Korean. And, now in my retirement years, I have been truly drawn to the arts aspect of the Korean culture. Arts is very exclusive and elite-ess in Korea... Read More →

Sunday June 23, 2024 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
Renewal A: 2nd Floor

Youth Program