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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.

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!
Venue: Grand Ballroom A & B clear filter
Friday, June 20
 

3:30pm EDT

Conference Opening: KAAN Announcements
Friday June 20, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Speakers
KB
Friday June 20, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Mainstage Event

7:30pm EDT

Games, Stamp Making, and Youth Activities
Friday June 20, 2025 7:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Friday June 20, 2025 7:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Activities

8:00pm EDT

Noraebang
Friday June 20, 2025 8:00pm - 9:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Friday June 20, 2025 8:00pm - 9:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Activities
 
Saturday, June 21
 

7:00am EDT

Continental Breakfast
Saturday June 21, 2025 7:00am - 8:30am EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Saturday June 21, 2025 7:00am - 8:30am EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Meals

8:15am EDT

Mainstage: We Belong: Adoptees Leading Asian Spaces
Saturday June 21, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
How do you build a sense of belonging in a community where you might feel like an outsider? This is often an evolving journey for transracial adoptees embracing our racial identities. Three adoptees share how they’re not only building community, but leading projects that celebrate Asian American identity and culture (AAPI Heritage Month Cincinnati, Asian America @ the Crossroads, and Dallas Asian American Historical Society)…all while navigating their own journeys of belonging. Discover why adoptees bring a unique and powerful perspective to community building work, leading the way in places you’d least expect.
Speakers
avatar for Caitlin Jee Hae Behle

Caitlin Jee Hae Behle

Caitlin is a multidisciplinary storyteller based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Caitlin was born in Korea and grew up in Kentucky as a transnational adoptee, an upbringing that instilled a lifelong curiosity about the connections between people, places, and the systems that shape their lives... Read More →
avatar for Patrick Armstrong

Patrick Armstrong

Patrick Armstrong (he/him) is a transracial Asian American adoptee, award-winning podcaster, speaker, and community facilitator based in Indianapolis, known for hosting Conversation Piece and co-hosting Janchi Show and working with various clients including The Indianapolis Colts... Read More →
avatar for Stephanie Drenka

Stephanie Drenka

Stephanie Drenka is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society whose mission is to research, preserve, and amplify the legacy of Asian Americans in the Dallas area. She is a facilitator and coach with The OpEd Project and founding editor... Read More →
Saturday June 21, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Mainstage Event

12:30pm EDT

Buffet Lunch
Saturday June 21, 2025 12:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Saturday June 21, 2025 12:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Meals

1:15pm EDT

Mainstage: Citizenship 4 All & We Mean ALL!
Saturday June 21, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Adoptees For Justice (A4J) includes a diverse group of adoptees, adoptive families, grassroots organizing/advocacy groups, & allies, all of whom work together to amend a loophole in the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 that resulted in the exclusion of thousands of intercountry adoptees from receiving citizenship. A4J is the only adoptee-led organization advocating for an inclusive Adoptee Citizenship Act (ACA), & leads alternative relief efforts to support adoptees without citizenship, such as support groups, fundraising for mutual aid for legal/medical/living expenses, Pardon Campaigns, and Prosecutorial Discretion for deported adoptees. The session informs how to best support adoptees without citizenship.
Speakers
avatar for Amanda Cho

Amanda Cho

Amanda Cho is a Korean Adoptee and Policy Manager for Adoptees for Justice (A4J), a project affiliate of NAKASEC which advocates for the Adoptee Citizenship Act and supports adoptees who are without citizenship. Amanda volunteers for adoptee-led organizations and is a founding member... Read More →
avatar for Daniel Yoon

Daniel Yoon

Daniel Yoon (any pronouns) is a non-binary, transracial adoptee from South Korea. They are the Volunteer Attorney Coordinator for Adoptees 4 Justice and the Director of Compliance for the Metro Human Relations Commission in Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with his partner and... Read More →
avatar for Rachel Koelzer

Rachel Koelzer

Rachel Koelzer (she/they) is an organizer, writer, activist, and advocate passionate about healing and connection. Currently, she focuses on advancing systemic and structural equity for current and future generations as the Communications Manager for the National Korean American Service... Read More →
Saturday June 21, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Mainstage Event

6:15pm EDT

Interest Group Pictures/Pre-dinner entertainment
Saturday June 21, 2025 6:15pm - 7:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Saturday June 21, 2025 6:15pm - 7:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Activities

7:00pm EDT

Community Dinner & Program
Saturday June 21, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Saturday June 21, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Meals

8:00pm EDT

Mainstage: How to Answer Weird Adoption Questions
Saturday June 21, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
As an adoptee, I'm often asked the same questions when I meet new people. I've been touring around the country, addressing how media has misshaped our view of adoption. Adoptees have also shared questions they have received. This will be part show and part interactive session where we encourage adoptees to share the questions they have received. We will then invite them to improv how they would answer and push the convo further. Maybe they will use humor, or perhaps cause some discomfort but I will be there to guide them and act as the person asking the questions.
Speakers
avatar for Edward Yoo Pokropski

Edward Yoo Pokropski

Edward is a two-time Emmy nominated Senior Writer/Producer for Cable Entertainment Brand Creative at NBCUniversal. He is also a Co-Founder of The Asian Comedy Fest. The largest, longest running Asian led comedy fest in the country. He has been touring his solo storytelling show, Case... Read More →
Saturday June 21, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Mainstage Event

9:15pm EDT

Adoptee-Only Group Photo
Saturday June 21, 2025 9:15pm - 10:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Saturday June 21, 2025 9:15pm - 10:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Activities
 
Sunday, June 22
 

8:00am EDT

Continental Breakfast
Sunday June 22, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
Sunday June 22, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EDT
Grand Ballroom A & B
  Meals
 
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Friday, June 20
Saturday, June 21
Sunday, June 22
Azalea (Lobby)
Buckhead BR 1 (Lower lobby)
Buckhead BR 2 (Lower lobby)
Cascade (Lower lobby)
Grand Ballroom A & B
Highland 1 & 2 (Lobby)
Highland 3 (Lobby)
Highland 4 &5 (Lobby)
Ivy (Lobby)
Library (Lobby)
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TBD
  • Activities
  • Adoptee-Only Session
  • Check In
  • Fishbowl Session (Adoptee-Centered But Non-Adoptees May Attend To Listen)
  • General Session (Open To All Attendees)
  • Mainstage Event
  • Meals
  • Youth Program