The Association of Korean Adoptees (AKA) is a Southern California-based organization whose umbrella covers Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. Established in 1994, AKA is a non-profit, independent and secular group of adult, Korean-born adoptees and their associates. AKA is a 501(c)(3) California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation.
It’s time!!! Please come join us 
The location is at Yellow House coffee shop and the address is:
234 S Oxford AveLos Angeles, CA 90004
Support the Geographies of Kinship Campaign!
Geographies of Kinship – The Korean Adoption Story is the latest film from award-winning filmmaker, Deann Borshay Liem (First Person Plural and In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee). The film follows Korean adoptees from the U.S. and Europe on their journeys to reconnect with their birth country and piece together their past. Deann is raising funds for the production phase of the project. Please click here to view the trailer and help get this film made!
A Note from Deann
While traveling around the world with my previous films, I’ve met hundreds of Korean adoptees from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Canada and heard countless stories from adoptees of all ages – sometimes heartbreaking, oftentimes funny and ironic, always inspiring.
Geographies of Kinship presents a small handful of the amazing stories I’ve heard from around the world. We meet, for example, Estelle Cooke-Sampson, a bi-racial adoptee who revisits the orphanage where she grew up until she was adopted by an African American soldier. Emma Anderson is a Swedish adoptee who visits Korea for the first time and unexpectedly reunites with her birth mother. Meanwhile, Michael Holloway meets his birth family via webcam on a live television show. He is shocked to discover he has an identical twin.
We have already started development of the project and shot some interviews. We’re now asking for contributions via Kickstarter so that we can continue our momentum and complete the shooting phase of the film. Your support will help get all the elements we need for the film so we can start editing and make what I know will be a fantastic film.
There are all sorts of exciting prizes in exchange for your support. Please check out the Kickstarter campaign and pass this link along to all your friends!
Thank you in advance and happy viewing!
Deann Borshay Liem
Producer/Director/Writer
Visit www.mufilms.org
Contact info@mufilms.org
IN TWO WEEKS! OPEN TO THE USC COMMUNITY & THE PUBLIC! Join us for two
special events:
* A FILM SCREENING of “The Woman, the Orphan, & the Tiger” (2010), an
experimental film by Jane Jin Kaisen and Guston Sondin-Kung. As a
project that challenges the dominant narrative of transnational
adoption as a “humanitarian” effort, “The Woman, the Orphan, & the
Tiger” incisively articulates the ways in which children’s and women’s
bodies have been violently mobilized for the “national security” and
economic growth of the U.S. and South Korea.
Date: March 21st, Wednesday Evening, from 7-9 PM (light food included)
Location: Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) in Downtown Los Angeles
1145 Wilshire Blvd # 200 Los Angeles, CA 90017. FREE PARKING ON ROOF
AFTER 6 PM. FOR DIRECTIONS/TO RSVP to cbaik@usc.edu
* A CRITICAL DISCUSSION of “The Woman the Orphan, & the Tiger” (2010).
Our distinguished panelists will discuss the history and impact of
Korean transnational adoption– and the ways in which Korean adoptees
have critiqued and challenged the adoption industry through film, art,
and literary projects.
Panelists:
Jane Jin Kaisen & Guston Sondin-Kung, Visual Artists
Jodi Kim, Associate Professor, Dept. of Ethnic Studies, UC Riverside
Nicky Sa-Eun Schidkraut, Ph.D. in Literature & Creative Writing, USC.
(Organized by Crystal Baik, Ph.D. candidate in American Studies and
Ethnicity).
Date: March 22nd, Thursday, Noon-2 PM (light food included).
Location: Rosen Family Screening Theatre, USC Campus, Tudor Campus
Center 2nd Floor (TCC 227). FOR DIRECTIONS/TO RSVP to cbaik@usc.edu.
Co-sponsored by USC Dept. of American Studies and Ethnicity (ASE),
Peers in American Studies & Ethnicity (PASEO), Kaya Press, USC Asian
American Studies, and USC Korean Studies Institute (KSI).
When: Saturday, February 25, 2012
What time: 3:30-5:30pm and dinner to follow
Where: Hwa Sun Ji Tea & Coffee 3960 Wilshire Blvd (private room)
“Why don’t you speak Korean?”
“Where are you from? No, where are you really from?”
“Do you remember Korea?”
“Are you from North Korea or South Korea?”
“Oh wow you were adopted from Korea?! My friend’s cousin’s sister’s niece is adopted from Korea! Do you know her?”
Do you quotes sound all too familiar to you as a Korean adoptee? Why can’t we KADs jump on the “Sh*t People Say” bandwagon too?! How have these types of statements informed the person you are today?
Join us for a discussion on the journey of Korean adoptee identity development where we will engage in dialogue around what it means to be a Korean adoptee. Come out to share, learn, listen, and eat afterwards at a TBD location in Koreatown.
**dinner in Koreatown to follow
**free parking in the back from Ingraham St and also metered parking in the front on Wilshire
**http://www.yelp.com/biz/hwa-sun-ji-tea-and-coffee-los-angeles
“WHY WE FIGHT”
KUE’s 2nd Annual Banquet
Saturday, December 17, 2011, 6-8:30pm
Immanual Presbyterian Church – 3300 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
Dear Friends,
Koreans United for Equality (KUE) is excited to invite you to our second annual banquet. This year’s theme is “Why We Fight.” Since our formation in 2008, we have been fighting to increase the visibility of LGBTQ Koreans/Korean Americans, provide resources, and promote education of LGBTQ-related issues in the Korean community. Some of our achievements from the past year include:
As another exciting year ends, we would like to invite you to a night of celebration and reflection on why we fight. We are a grass-roots, purely volunteer-based organization and this event is our sole fundraising event of the year. Funds raised at our banquet will be used for continued programming through the end of 2012. Please help sustain the work we do!
Tickets are $25 and the evening will include delicious Korean food, musical performances (including a special guest performance by SKIM, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoEpT765hs0), a play about Queereans and special guest speakers (including a keynote by Jules Sohn). Please RSVP your ticket(s) today by emailing info@kue-la.org. If you can’t attend the event, but would like to make a donation to KUE, please email info@kue-la.org. Also, please contact us if if you would like to attend, but don’t have $25 — maybe you can help us set up or clean up for a free ticket? :)
We thank you for your commitment to equality, social justice, and helping to build the LGBTQ movement in the Korean community.
Please feel free to forward any questions about this year’s banquet to info@kue-la.org.
On behalf of all of us at KUE, thank you for your continued support!
–
Koreans United for Equality
www.kue-la.org
info@kue-la.org (General)
qksafespace@gmail.com (Safe Space)
(818) 660-5835
KUE FB
Posted in Uncategorized
What: Korean Adoptee Post-Reunion Discussion
When: Saturday, November 19 · 4:00pm - 6:00p
Where: Meet in private, reserved room at Hwa Sun Ji Tea & Coffee;
3960 Wilshire Blvd Ste 100, LA, CA 90010
(Metered street parking and parking lot in back with free validation)
PLEASE RSVP ON FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=291508497543970
At this meeting we plan to hold a unique discussion for Korean adoptees who are curious about the reunions between Korean adoptees and their birth families as well as post-reunion experiences. A common misperception around adoptee/birth family reunions is that the reunion itself represents a successful conclusion to an emotional and often long journey—a happily-ever-after ending. Through this discussion, we aim to help others who encounter similar situations, questions, emotions, and concerns as well as engage in a discussion that explores the many facets of post-reunion issues in relation to the adoption triad—adoptee, birth family and adoptive family. Join us for our next discussion to examine and explore the following topics:
• Searching for birth family and the initial reunion
• Navigating new terrain: managing family expectations and creating boundaries
• Cultural differences, language barrier, etc.
• Dealing with a long distance relationship with your birth family
• Balancing the relationship between your birth family and adoptive family
Hope to see many of you there!
Cheers,
Andrea & Robyn
Posted in Uncategorized
I’d like to inform you about a tremendous opportunity to become part of the team here at Visual Communications as a full-time staff member: We’re now accepting applicants for the Director of Development position.
The best candidates for this position will care about film and media arts as methods to promote cross-cultural connections. They’ll also be familiar with L.A.’s Asian Pacific American community and organizations including the Association of Korean Adoptees of Southern California. You’ll find the job listing below and also on our site at: http://www.vconline.org/alpha/cms//index.cfm/get-involved/jobs/director-of-development/.
We appreciate your dedication to Visual Communications and look forward to your continued support.
Sincerely,
Daina Solomon
________________
Daina Beth Solomon
Development & Marketing Intern
Visual Communications — Connecting Communities Through Media Arts daina@vconline.org | p: 213.680.4462 | f: 213.687.4848
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS JOB DESCRIPTION: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT http://www.vconline.org/alpha/cms//index.cfm/get-involved/jobs/director-of-development/
Summary:
The Director of Development position is responsible for Visual Communications fundraising efforts as a mid-size, full service media arts organization focused on serving Asian Pacific media arts and artists. S/he plans, directs and implements a comprehensive development program that generates individual donors, foundation, government and corporate support.
The job includes fund development, information management, marketing, research, grant writing and reporting. S/he will develop VC’s major donor plan in line with the Strategic Planning goals for the organization. S/he will also work closely with Program Staff in implementing fundraising and evaluation activities for our regular programs and will be a part of the core team during our annual L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival. The Development Director reports directly to the Executive Director.
Primary Responsibilities:
1. Directs a fund development program that includes government, foundation and corporate gifts, special events and individual giving, and will develop major donor and planned giving efforts;
2. Oversees and implements strategies that will grow annual revenue, writes proposals and secures funding from corporate and foundation donors ;
3. Research new grants and foundation initiatives, keeps current of funding trends;
4. With the Executive Director and Board, builds and sustains relationships with current, new and potential grant-giving organizations and individuals;
5. Experience managing and coordinating annual fundraising events;
6. Maintains an accurate grants calendar and transmits this information monthly to the Executive Director;
7. Manages individual donor campaigns, including membership renewals and special appeals;
8. Manages organizational membership database – creates profiles and tracks donors and prospects;
9. Develops, markets and implements a planned giving program to ensure VC’s long-term financial health;
10. Assists with content development for the website, marketing materials, e-newsletters and social networking sites to ensure inclusion of donor-focused content;
11. Assist with marketing of VC programs, implement marketing strategies, generate audiences and increase memberships;
12. Works with with the VC Board to enhance development efforts and individual giving campaigns;
11. Represents VC at public events, conferences, and screenings as necessary.
Qualifications:
* Personal commitment to goals and mission of Visual Communications
* Minimum three years experience in charitable fund development with proven results
* Experience working with mid-size organizations with annual income of approximately $1M
* Demonstrated success in successfully soliciting and securing major gifts from individuals
* Demonstrated success in securing major annual gifts from foundations and corporations
* Demonstrated success with grant writing, sponsorships and special events
* Demonstrated success in working as a member of a team and developing effective working relationships with staff, volunteers and donors
* Excellent written/oral communication skills
* Computer literacy and competency with electronic donor tracking systems
* Contacts in the Asian Pacific and California philanthropic community desired
Salary: commensurate with experience
Hours: full time, 40 hours
To Apply: Email resume and cover letter to: Shinae Yoon, Executive Director, Visual Communications Shinae@vconline.org
Deadline: Please apply by August 26th, 2011
Posted in Uncategorized
