In Memory Of...

Hyun Sook Han, or Mrs. Han, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2021. 

She will be remembered for the thousands of lives she touched and for her strength and passion for Korean adoptees.

We are starting a memorial collection in Mrs. Han's memory. 

100% of the money collected will be sent to Eastern Social Welfare Society, specifically for their Post Adoption Services Center. Mrs. Han was passionate and dedicated to supporting Korean adoptees and was always looking for ways to assist Korean adoptees in their desire to learn about their birth culture and return to their birthland.

Mrs. Han never wavered in her support for Eastern Social Welfare Society and it is our wish to honor her legacy by supporting ESWS in her memory. 

To donate, please go to the following link and in the Message line, please indicate the donation is in honor of Mrs. Han.

Link to obituary and funeral service can be found here.

Let's cook together! 우리 같이 요리하자! -- Ddeok-bokki & fried chicken

Copy of Lunar New Year (1).png

Join AdopteeBridge as we learn to cook some more delicious Korean dishes! This time, we will learn how to make 떡볶이 ddeok-bokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes) and 양념 Korean fried chicken—two of Korea’s most popular snack foods!

Watch and learn from the comfort of your home!

We’ll prepare ddeok-bokki and fried chicken during this 1 hour class.

Image from My Korean Kitchen

Image from My Korean Kitchen

What is Ddeok-bokki?

Ddeok-bokki (sometimes spelled tteok-bokki) 떡볶이 are spicy, stir-fried rice cakes and is a popular Korean snack food, that is often found sold by street vendors. It is made with chewy, long, cylinder-shaped rice cakes, and has a spicy, yet sweet flavor to it!

Some people like to add a slice of cheese to the top of their ddeok-bokki!

What is Korean fried chicken?

Image from Korean Bapsang

Image from Korean Bapsang

Yang-nyeom chicken 양념치치킨 is a kind of Korean fried chicken seasoned with a sweet and spicy sauce made with gochujang (red chili paste), garlic, sugar, and other spices. It is a popular snack or appetizer that goes well with beer (if you’re of age!).

Registration is now CLOSED

Please check back for future cooking classes!

Asian American History Docuseries Watch Party

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Over the past year, hate crimes directed towards Asian Americans have risen at an alarming rate. Asian Americans are often perceived as "foreigners" who aren't really Americans. What many people do not realize is that Asian Americans hold a crucial role in our nation's history. Most schools do not educate their students about this history, so we want to open up a space where we can collectively learn about and discuss the history of our people. Come join us for 5 screenings of PBS's Asian Americans Film Series. We will have the opportunity to live chat as we watch, and then discuss and reflect on each hour-long video. You also have the option to watch these videos on your own, and then join us just for the discussion sections!

  • April 22nd

  • April 29th

  • May 13th

  • May 20th

  • May 27th

Please join us at 6:30pm Central / 7:30pm Eastern for a screening and discussion of PBS's Asian Americans Film Series

Series description:

"Asian Americans is a five-hour film series that delivers a bold, fresh perspective on a history that matters today, more than ever. As America becomes more diverse, and more divided, while facing unimaginable challenges, how do we move forward together? Told through intimate and personal lives, the series will cast a new lens on U.S. history and the ongoing role that Asian Americans have played in shaping the nation’s story."

Link:

https://www.pbs.org/weta/asian-americans/

Meet our Facilitator:

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Kate Davis (she/her) is a 26 year-old Chinese adoptee. She was adopted at the age of 6 months, raised in Upstate New York, and graduated from Wesleyan University. She works in the education industry and lived in Beijing for a couple of years. Like many, she has spent much of her life largely unaware of the impact Asian Americans have had in US history. She is excited to watch PBS's Asian Americans documentary series alongside the TRA (transracial adoptee) community. Given the hurtful and inaccurate belief shared by many bigoted Americans that people who look Asian are "foreigners" or "others", she hopes this event series will help reinforce that Asians/Asian Americans DO BELONG in America and are a crucial part of this nation's past, present, and future.

Register Today!

Response to AAPI Violence

I am absolutely heartbroken by the mass shooting that took place in the Atlanta-area on March 16th. Three Asian businesses were targeted by a gunman, who shot and killed eight people. Six of the eight people killed were Asian, and all but one were women. I cried myself to sleep that night. I cried for the victims and their families. I cried for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. I cried out of frustration, fear, and exhaustion.  

The mass shooting is part of a long history of anti-AAPI racism and hate in this country, however, there has been a dramatic increase since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Our community is traumatized as we continue to hear stories about hate crimes happening across the nation – a Chinese woman set on fire in Brooklyn, a Filipino-American man slashed across the face with a knife while on the NYC subway, a St. Paul woman threatening Asian guardians while driving along a school bus route. 

Our Asian American adoptee community has the added dynamic of a majority of us having been adopted into and raised by Caucasian families. It has been difficult to experience the world so differently than my family during an already isolating year. The hardest element for me has been the lack of personal safety I have felt, to the point where I have not been going anywhere after dark.  

While the past year has been filled with many challenges, I have been grateful for the slower pace of life that was forced upon us. It has allowed me the opportunity to reflect and reprioritize. I now see being a Korean American woman as a gift, which has not always been the case. I see the importance in using my voice to speak up for my community. We cannot continue living this way, but we cannot fight this fight on our own. Everyone needs to join together and unite in the fight against racism and hate so we can work towards justice and much needed healing for all.   

To my AAPI community, you are not alone. I grieve with you. I stand with you. You are valued and you belong here. Find your voice and continue to use it. Surround yourself with those who support you unconditionally. Prioritize self-care and make time to do the things that bring you joy. Remember to give yourself grace.  

To our allies, please check in with your AAPI loved ones and continue to do so. I encourage you to educate yourself on the history of anti-AAPI racism and stay informed about the hate crimes impacting the AAPI community. Speak up and act when you witness racism or hate. Support local AAPI-owned small businesses and donate to organizations fighting anti-AAPI hate. Stand in solidarity with us. 

Please remember, AdopteeBridge is always here to support adoptees and adoptive family members. The organization’s resources can be found online at www.adopteebridge.org and AdopteeBridge can give referrals for additional services, as needed.  


In solidarity,

Sarah Cook (she/her/hers)

AdopteeBridge Board President + Proud Korean American Adoptee

Let's cook together! 우리 같이 요리하자!

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Join AdopteeBridge as we prepare for the Lunar New Year by learning how to cook 떡국 ddeok guk (tteok guk) rice cake soup*, live on Zoom!

Watch and learn from the comfort of your home, so you can prepare this traditional soup that is eaten in celebration of the Korean New Year—Seollal 설날!

We’ll prepare ddeok guk and one side dish (banchan 반찬) during this 1 hour class.

To receive the Zoom registration link, please contact info@adopteebridge.org

What is Ddeok Guk?

is a traditional Korean dish eaten during the celebration of the Korean New Year. The dish consists of a broth/soup (called guk 국), with thinly sliced rice cakes (called ddeok/tteok 떡). It is tradition to eat this dish on New Year's Day because it is believed to grant people good luck for the year and gain a year of age.

Ddeok Guk has many important symbols, thus why it is eaten on the New Year. The white ddeok signifies purity and cleanliness – a fresh start for the new year. The round, coin-like shape of the rice cakes, resembles Korea’s old coin currency, yeopjeon, is believed to symbolize prosperity.

Image from Seonkyoung Longest

Image from Seonkyoung Longest

Another important event that happens on Seollal 설날 (Korean Lunar New Year) is one year is added to each individual’s age. It is said that one cannot become a year older until they have had a bowl of ddeok guk. It’s not uncommon for children to ask for extra servings of the soup in hopes of becoming older more quickly. This custom is so wide-spread, in fact, that many Koreans often use the expression, “How many bowls of ddeok guk have you eaten?” to ask a person’s age.

This is a relatively easy dish to make, made with thin, chewy rice cake, and traditionally made with beef broth and garnished with cooked, julienned egg, meat, and seaweed.

Information from Wikipedia

Sign-up here to receive cooking link!

**This cooking class is for adoptees and adoptive family members (parents, siblings, partners/spouses of adoptees), ONLY.

Wellness and Healing Workshop

Unfortunately, the OurHistory Retreat has been placed on HOLD, due to Gov. Tim Walz’s “Dial Back” order. While we are saddened to delay the retreat, we feel it is for the best and safety/well-being of all those involved. In the meantime, we are excited to announce a 90 minute writing/drawing workshop! While it does not replace the OurHistory Retreat, it does represent some of the components/activities that take place at the retreat.

Writing and Art Therapy Workshop: Healing from the Inside Out
Date: Thursday, December 17th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. CST (7:00-8:30 p.m. EST)

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While adoption is the link that connects us, we all have our own unique personalities, backgrounds and experiences. Join Heather Schultz and Leah Garlock on Dec. 17th for a writing and art therapy workshop that explores how creativity and self-expression can be used to help us process, heal, and celebrate our identities as adoptees. This event includes a heart-opening meditation, writing exercises and self-portrait activity.

Materials Needed

  • Multiple sheets of blank paper (ideally 5+ sheets or a sketchbook)*

  • Pencils, pens and eraser*

  • Colored pencils, colored markers, colored paints (watercolor or acrylic) or crayons*

  • Mirror or recent image of yourself

  • Favorite pictures (most treasured memories)

    *If you don't have these materials available, please use one of these digital art alternatives during the workshop:

  • Sketchpad: https://sketch.io/

  • AutoDraw: https://www.autodraw.com/

Please note:

  • This event is open to adult, transracial adoptees ONLY

  • We are asking a small fee of $15 per person to help cover the costs*

*We do not want the cost to prohibit anyone from participating. If you have any concerns regarding this cost, please contact info@adopteebridge.org

Presenter Bios

Heather Schultz (She/Her/Hers) is the Founder of Huh Healing Hub LLC, a Certified Usui Reiki Master, and Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at Baruch College. She teaches Speech Communication, Business Communication and Public Relations Writing. Before her teaching journey, Heather held multiple positions: freelance journalist for The New York Times,​ ​New York Daily News​ and NBCNews.com; Content Marketing Specialist at LivePerson, and Communications and Development Manager at The Donaldson Adoption Institute.

Heather received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Master of Public Administration from Baruch College. She earned her Usui Reiki Master Certification from Lily Rubinstein at The Center of Inner Wisdom. Feel free to follow Heather’s Reiki practice (@huhhealinghub) on Instagram or connect with her via email at heather@huhhealinghub.com.

Leah Garlock (She/Her/Hers) is a Korean American Adoptee. She recently moved from NYC back to her hometown in Rochester, NY, and is planning on moving to South Korea in January 2021. As an experience designer and illustrator, she takes a multimedia lens to explore social issues, cultural identity, and narratives on personal growth. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications Design and Photography from Syracuse University where she received a grant to explore the cultural identity of Korean American adoptees.

Outside of work, Leah volunteers as the Communications Manager for Asian Womxn in the Arts (AWA), an organization that creates celebratory and healing spaces centering the work of womxn and LGBTQIA+ cultural workers in the Asian diaspora. Feel free to connect with her on Instagram @leah.chi.grace or via email at lggarlock@gmail.com.

National Adoption Awareness Month 2020

National Adoption Awareness Month is a month-long event to encourage people to not only learn about adoption, but to recognize people who have been impacted by adoption.

Throughout November, we will be offering a variety of events specifically for adoptees, as well as adoptive family members and the community.

We are also excited to announce the following events during this year’s National Adoption Awareness Month. All activities will meet via Zoom/online:

  • Thursday, November 5th @ 6:30-8:00pm Central—OurJourneys Discussion & Bingo Night!

    • OurJourneys is a time for pre-teen (middle school and up) and teen adoptees to meet via Zoom to have facilitated discussions, followed up by a fun Bingo night!

    • Open to any pre-teen/teen transracial adoptee

    • Please RSVP to info@adopteebridge.org

  • Sunday, November 8th—Discussion Groups—OurFamily, OurHistory, and OurConnections

    • OurFamily meets @ 1:00-2:00pm Central—open to all adoptive family members

    • OurHistory meets @ 3:00-4:30pm Central—open to all transracial adult adoptees

    • OurConnections meets @ 5:00-6:30pm Central—open to any transracial adoptee who has started the search process, who has reunited, or is interested in initiating a birth family search

  • Sunday, November 8th—Learn More Webinar!—Bridge to Korea Birthland Tours

    • 7:00-8:00pm Central—Learn more about the Bridge to Korea Birthland Tours!

  • Thursday, November 12th* @ 6:30pm Central—Who We Are: Adoptees as Immigrants and the Adoptee Citizenship Act

    • Open to adoptees, adoptive family members, adoption professionals, and community members

  • Sunday, November 15th @ 1:00-3:00pm Central—Who We Are: Adoptees as Adoptive Parents

    • Open to adoptees, adoptive family members, adoption professionals, and community members

  • Friday, November 20th @ 6:30pm Central—Movie Night with discussion

    • Viewing of the documentary "Forget Me Not” (trailer can be found at the following link)

    • Open to adult transracial adoptees and adoptive family members

  • Sunday, November 22nd @ 7:00pm Central—discussion with Korean first mothers (birth mothers)

    • Open to transracial adoptees ONLY

Please be sure to follow AdopteeBridge on Facebook and Instagram, as well as to sign up for our newsletter for more updates!

To register for any of these events, please click on the links above or contact info@adopteebridge.org

Forget Me Not .png

A message from AdopteeBridge regarding racial injustice

May 25, 2020. A son, a brother, a father, fiancee, a friend, a community member was murdered. A life was cut too short. Time and time again, our news is flooded with the death of an unarmed BIPOC. With each death, communities are left feeling deeply saddened, angry, frustrated, betrayed, and in mourning.

These are historic times but sadly, they represent years of oppression and racial violence towards the Black community across Minnesota and the United States. Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, Dante Parker, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Alston Sterling, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Michelle Cusseaux, Bettie Jones, Dominique Clayton, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. Elias Clayton. Elmer Jackson. Isaac McGhie.

Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie are three names that are many times not discussed in recent conversations...June 15, 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of the murders of these three Black men who were falsely accused of a crime and lynched by a white mob in Duluth, Minnesota.

So much pain and discrimination has built up and has not been addressed. This needs to be addressed in order to heal and fight for justice and equality.

We cannot sit silently. We need to stand together to fight systematic racism, inequalities, and discrimination. If we sincerely wish to create a better future, we must examine our past and confront the problems within our society that have escalated over hundreds of years. This needs to be done in order to understand the events of today. By doing this, it will challenge ourselves and our community to not only take action, but to create an all inclusive society.

The work of a just and equal society is not done by one individual or by one group. However, if everyone contributes and works hard, together, we can do better. We MUST do better. Our future depends on this.

AdopteeBridge understands the unique experiences and challenges transracial adoptees may face when exploring their identities. At AdopteeBridge, we are committed to providing a safe environment with support and resources to the adoptees we serve and for our community during not only this difficult time, but throughout the year.

Stay safe, stay strong, and stay hopeful.

AdopteeBridge's Response to COVID-19

July 30, 2020

Hello AdopteeBridge Community!

As the world continues to battle COVID-19, we have slowly seen a new normal emerge. Masks are now the new fashionable trend and we are getting more and more used to various social-distancing measures in our everyday lives.

AdopteeBridge is planning in-person activities, beginning in the fall—including the OurRoots Mentorship Program!. We completely understand if families and individuals might not feel comfortable joining us for these activities, but we hope you’ll consider joining us for one of our many online programs.

We will continue to post updates and hope that soon this pandemic will be over and that we’ll be all back together again!

From all of us at AdopteeBridge, thank you for your continued support.

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May 1, 2020

Did you know there are 1,683 children under MN state guardianship? 778 of these children are in pre-adoptive families, usually with relatives or foster parents who plan to adopt them. However, 905 of these children are in need of adoptive families immediately.
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May is National Foster Care Month and AdopteeBridge invites you to participate in our "Super Masks for Super Kids" drive! Let us help protect children in foster care and let them know they are not forgotten!
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We are collecting cloth masks for children in MN foster care. Our goal is to collect 300 masks and to donate them to local organizations providing services to children in foster care.
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Contact info@adopteebridge.org org for more questions or if you would like to participate. If you would like to support this project, but don't have the time to sew masks, please consider making a financial donation.

Please indicate the donation is for the project "Super Masks for Super Kids."

April 7, 2020

Hello AdopteeBridge Community!

We hope all of you are well, safe, and healthy, during these uncertain times. 

How rapidly times change. Unfortunately, we have cancelled our summer birthland tours, but remain hopeful and because of that, we continue to plan our fall tour! If you know of anyone interested, but worried because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus), please have them contact us! And of course, we are excited to think ahead to summer 2021!

As times have changed, we have had to think creatively as to how to connect as a community. We had begun to think of this before COVID-19 (coronavirus), but when the virus came, as well as the stay-at-home orders, these were the pushes for us to expand programming. We are thrilled to announce more discussion groups and activities which allows us to remain connected with our community--especially to those of you outside of Minnesota!

Our current programming—OurHistory (adult adoptee) and OurFamily (adoptive family) discussion groups, along with OurRoots Mentorship Program have all moved online and we have started discussion groups for youth adoptees (OurFriends) and tweens/teens (OurJourneys). We understand how vital it is to remain in contact with the adoption community during these times. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the programs mentioned.


From all of us at AdopteeBridge, thank you for your continued support.

March 23, 2020
Hello AdopteeBridge Community!

This is the first of several planned updates from AdopteeBridge regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) and its impact on the adoptees, their families, and the communities we serve.

We realize this is a rapidly developing situation and is creating much uncertainty as well as is adversely affecting our community in a myriad ways. With this in mind, we will continue to provide updates as to how we are committed to providing quality post adoption support services

Like the rest of the world is doing, the State of Minnesota has issued orders for "social distancing," and has canceled school and other large gatherings for the remainder of this month. Because of this, AdopteeBridge has decided to cancel in-person programming for the remainder of this month (March). We have already communicate with OurHistory Discussion group participants regarding an alternative (remote) form of meeting. 

We completely understand how these times of uncertainty, especially for those who meet with our in-person groups, may cause anxiety. Please know that we are working hard to create alternate programming, via virtual methods and will communicate those to all of you, soon!

As the situation with COVID-19 (coronavirus) evolves, AdopteeBridge understands we may need to reassess programs (both in-person and our new virtual programs), but we are dedicated to make well-thought decisions, and communicating these decisions in a timely and thoughtful manner.

We will continue to be in contact with all of you via email and social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram), along with our website.

We thank you in advance for your patience during these times of change and uncertainty. Please stay strong during these uncertain times and know that you can continue to reach out to AdopteeBridge at any time!

From all of us at AdopteeBridge, thank you for your continued support.

Reporting Hate & Discrimination During COVID-19

In moments of fear and uncertainty, it's unfortunately common to see heightened incidents of discrimination, bias, and hate crimes occur. And right now we’re hearing from our Asian American community that it is experiencing backlash due to COVID -19. This is not acceptable (MN Department of Human Rights).

Here are some resources/organizations to report hate and discrimination during these times of uncertainty—COVID-19, along with some tips. Please note: this is not an all encompassing list and in an emergency, please dial 911!

  1. MN Department of Human Rights

    If anyone is a victim of a hate crime because of fear around COVID-19, please contact the police. 

    If anyone experienced discrimination in their job, housing, or in a public place, contact our office. We enforce the Minnesota Human Rights Act that prohibits discrimination based on someone’s race, ethnicity, or other protected classes.

  2. Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council
    Asian American and Pacific Islander groups have launched a reporting tool for people to report coronavirus-related racist acts.

    The Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) along with the Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) on Thursday announced the creation of the online reporting center where people can fill out a form — currently available in English, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese and Korean — to report the location and type of discrimination experienced and other details…

    The groups say they plan to use the information to create targeted education and media campaigns, provide resources to those affected and advocate for policies to curb racial profiling. The collected data will also allow the organizations to figure out the scope of discrimination nationwide and determine the best solutions from there, CAA Co-Executive Director Cynthia Choi said.

    The site stresses that information will be used collectively, not individually, and that privacy will be protected. People are also urged to call 911 for actual emergencies.

    The groups also plan to offer resources, including pro bono legal work and direct assistance, including referrals to resources like human relations commissions, school districts and law enforcement, A3PCON Executive Director Manjusha Kulkarni told NBC Asian America in an email. (NBC News)

  3. MN Asian Peace Officers Association

    Via Facebook, this organization has issued the following statement: As the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is affecting our nation and spreading across the world at a concerning rate, we want to reach out to our members who have been affected by this. If you or your significant other has been diagnosed and in need of assistance, please reach out to us via messenger/call/text/email. As an Association we will do our best to help our members during these difficult times.

    As the majority of our members are of Asian descent, We have been monitoring crime trends across this country in relation to the Asian Community. Many are reporting a high rate of racism towards the Asian community due to the coronavirus. There has been videos surfacing on Facebook and reports of violent crimes against people of Asian descent. It is concerning to our Association to hear of such hate crimes. If you or any of your family experience any crime related to your race, gender, sexual orientation and/or religion, make sure you are reporting this to your local authorities. If you are afraid of retaliation or if language is a barrier, please reach out to us and we will do our best to find the right people to make sure they are brought to justice.
    Facebook Page
    Contact information: mnasianpeaceofficersassoc@gmail.com

  4. Share Accurate Information
    Don’t rely on every social media post you see or every news article you read. Now is the time to utilize your State’s Department of Health resources and the information that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is issuing. There is so much wrong information being spread—not only about Asian Americans, but about the disease, COVID-19, in general. Staying accurately informed and sharing this accurate information is so very important.

  5. Amplify on Social Media
    Help spread the word on social media so the world will know that racism and discrimination is not welcome. We welcome anyone who is comfortable participating to do the following…

    1. Take a picture of yourself with the words “I am not a virus” in English or your native language

    2. Send to AdopteeBridge via email, social messenger, etc. (please let us know if you give permission for us to post your photo as well!)

    3. Post it with hashtag #IAmNotAVirus and/or #WeAreNotAVirus

    4. By doing this, you are helping raise awareness of the current prejudice and discrimination and coming together as a global community to stop racism and hate.

For any emergency, please call 911!

“AdopteeBridge will always put the wants and needs of the adoptee first, because they genuinely care for you and your family. They have an incredible amount of experience leading birthland tours to Korea and are also passionate about what they do.”

—Adult Adoptee