KAAN 2025: Full Schedule

The KAAN 2025 Conference will take place at The Grand Hyatt in Atlanta, GA, on June 20-22. The theme this year is Growth and Change. As always, we offer an adoptee-only track alongside our general breakout sessions, which are open to all. We also offer programs for adults and youth (ages 8-17). All are welcome, including adoptees, birth families, family members (adoptive parents, spouses/partners, siblings and children of adoptees), service providers, and Korean Americans. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at tech@wearekaan.org.

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10:30am EDT

KAAN 2025 Orientation: Adoptees Ages 40+ (Adoptee Only)

Friday June 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Highland 3 (Lobby)

Friday June 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Highland 3 (Lobby)

Adoptee-Only Session

12:00pm EDT

NaviGAYting Queer Adoptee Experiences*

Friday June 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:15pm EDT

Highland 3 (Lobby)

This session will give attendees an opportunity to meet other LGBTQ+ adoptees and provide a space to talk about navigating the adoptee experience. Once out of the fog, how do we come out as adoptees? How do we manage the co-existence of multiple chosen families? How do we work through internalized racism, and how does that impact our dating preferences? How does our queer identity impact the relationship with our birth countries? How can we challenge heteronormativity and contribute toward building a more inclusive adoptee community? Let’s learn from each other and strengthen our collective voice.

This session will also be held on Saturday at 2:45 - 4:00 PM.

Speakers

Jimmy Byrne

Jimmy Byrne (he/him) is a Korean adoptee who grew up in Central New York and currently lives in Chicago. He has served on the boards of KAtCH (Korean Adoptees of Chicago) and Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, and he is currently the Director of Development at a Korean-led immigrant justice... Read More →

Friday June 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:15pm EDT
Highland 3 (Lobby)

Adoptee-Only Session, Repeat Session

1:30pm EDT

Naming and Navigating Adoption Microaggressions*

Friday June 20, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Highland 3 (Lobby)

In this interactive session, presenters will share key research on adoption microaggressions and facilitate a dynamic conversation for adoptees to reflect on personal experiences. Through guided dialogue, attendees will explore the impact of these microaggressions and work together to strategize empowered, proactive responses. This session creates a supportive space for adoptees to share stories, gain insight into common experiences, and leave with practical tools for navigating future interactions.

This session will also be held on Saturday at 9:30 - 10:45 AM as a Fishbowl session.

Speakers

Aeriel A. Ashlee

Dr. Aeriel A. Ashlee (she/her) is a Korean American transracial transnational adoptee scholar and speaker. Her work focuses on amplifying adoptee voices, facilitating expansive (re)imagining of power, and advancing collective liberation by cultivating inner healing. Dr. Ashlee has... Read More →

DeLa Dos

DeLa Dos is the senior director, Learning + Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Association of Research Libraries—a nonprofit membership organization of research libraries in major public and private universities, federal agencies, and large public institutions in Canada and... Read More →

Friday June 20, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Highland 3 (Lobby)

Adoptee-Only Session, Repeat Session