Friday

• Ice breakers

• Dinner

• Large group conversation

Sunday

• Breakfast

• Workshop #4

• Closing

• Lunch

Saturday

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided

• Small & large group discussions

• Workshops #1, #2, #3

Cost

• Full Retreat (overnight)—$325

• NO overnight (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)—$200

• Saturday ONLY—$175

location

MN Humanities Center
987 Ivy Ave E.
St Paul, MN 55106

Network of Politicized Adoptees (NPA)

NPA is now comprised of transracial & transnational adoptees from various countries of origin representing a variety of professional backgrounds working in Minneapolis/St. Paul. We meet bimonthly to move a larger agenda forward. NPA’s mission is to strengthen, cultivate, and improve the lives of adoptees by supporting critical discourse. Through solution-focused action, we advance adoptee justice by telling our own stories and collectively working towards systemic change. NPA's vision is that adoptees feel empowered and have access to history, knowledge, fair policy, records, and positive health & relationships.

Merrily Young-Hye Sadlovsky, MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers) is the co-owner and therapist at MindBalance Mental Health Care in Minneapolis and an adjunct faculty member in the MSW program at Augsburg University. As a transracial Korean adoptee, Merrily is deeply committed to supporting BIPOC, QTBIPOC, adoptees, immigrant communities, and college/grad students through individual therapy and support groups. She is certified as an Adoption Competent Therapist, an EMDRIA-certified EMDR therapist, and a MN Board-approved clinical supervisor. An experienced clinician, supervisor, and leader, Merrily has held key roles in various organizations, always with a passion for empowering new and seasoned clinicians and clinicians of color. Practicing in both Minnesota and California, she brings a wealth of experience from large county mental health systems, college health, and community agencies.

When she’s not working, you might find Merrily lacing up her running shoes for a new adventure or race, exploring uncharted destinations, or hanging out with her senior blind dog, who’s always up for a cuddle. She also cherishes time spent with family and friends, making memories and enjoying life’s little moments.

Basanti C. Miller

Basanti Miller (she/her), Ed.M., is a Twin Cities creative writer, free-thinker, and arts educator. She is dedicated to amplifying historically silenced voices, particularly transracial adoptees, through artistic expression, reflection, and community building.

Kimara Gustafson, M.D., M.P.H. (she/her/hers)

Kimara Gustafson is a transnational Korean Adoptee. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota, Department of Pediatrics. Her professional areas of interest include special health care needs of adoptive children and children who have experience in the foster care system, socio-emotional trauma impact on development, and racial and cultural social identity development for children. Outside of work, she is a mother to 3 children who enjoys running, traveling, handcrafts and cheering on her kids from the sidelines for various little league baseball and soccer games.