Event Archive
View a list of past events!
2024
3rd Annual Adoptees Unite | Worldwide Hike
WHEN: May 4, 2024 from 10AM – 12PM
WHERE: The Presidio
WHO: Everyone (including furry friends)
May is Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI) and Mental Health Awareness Month! To celebrate/bring awareness and recognition, AKA-SF is taking a moment to peacefully reflect via a nature hike. Please join our fearless trail leaders (Kim Langworthy and Lynn Murphy) as AKA-SF participates in the greater 2024 Annual Adoptees Unite Worldwide Hike! This will be a combination of a few trails, starting with the Ecology Trail and ending with a gradual incline up Lover’s Lane.
Board & Bond | A Game Day Social
WHEN: 20 April 2024 (1-4 PM)
WHERE: Next Level Board Games, 888 Villa St, Mountain View, CA, 94041
WHO: Adoptees only
Come join us for a low-key afternoon of socializing with your fellow adoptees and playing some fun board games! This is an adoptee only event that is geared towards folks who are new to the AKASF community (or have not been active in the AKASF community recently), who are looking to form meaningful connections with other adoptees. We’ve reserved a private room to promote a cozy atmosphere.
Three Moons of Biyangdo | Screening & Discussion
WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 2 PM to 7 PM*
*Attendees are welcome to attend part or all of the event
WHERE: Private Residence in Walnut Creek (RSVP for the address)
WHO: Due to the nature and structure of the event, the 4:30 PM Virtual Discussion will only be open to adoptees who identify as women or who are woman-aligned**
**Woman-aligned is intended to be inclusive of folks who do not identify as women, but who have been socialized to follow gender norms typically ascribed to women.
March is Women’s History Month and in celebration, AKA-SF has partnered with AKA-LA and AKA-SD to bring you this special screening and discussion (in April – Sorry! This is the earliest we could get it on the calendar)! San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego will simultaneously screen Three Moons of Biyangdo followed by a unified post-screening discussion via Zoom and in person focused on Korean tradition, history, and woman empowerment.
AKA-SF + Mandoo Club Cooking Class
WHEN: Saturday, February 24, 2024 4-7 PM
WHERE: 1539 41st Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122
WHO: Adoptees & Friends/Family
It’s that time of the year again! Seollal is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with food! Please join AKA-SF and Chef Judy with @mandoo.club to welcome the Lunar New Year by making good luck mandoos, the must have seollal rice cake soup, and japchae! At the end of the class, we will sit down to a delicious intimate group dinner paired with craft Korean inspired beer. Let’s ring in the year of the dragon honoring Korean culture and celebrate with our beloved community!
Seollal Drumming and Free Your Voice Workshop w/ Phoenix Song
WHEN: Saturday, February 10, 2024 2-4 PM
WHERE: Green Yogi Telegraph in Berkeley
WHO: Everyone
Music is medicine! Come sing and drum with us in community to ring in the new year, connect with your self and ancestors, and give your body a dose of endorphins and oxytocin. Playing music brings relaxation, energy and joy. Beginners welcome—especially if you have been told you can’t sing or have no rhythm. These classes are for you as well as experienced musicians. We all free our voices and rhythm together! Capacity is limited to 25 people, so make sure to reserve your spot! Hope to see you there!
Member Spotlight | Sun Ah Brock
WHEN: Saturday, February 3, 2024 from 5 – 6:30 PM
WHERE: North Beach Chinatown/Manilatown district (868 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108)
WHO: Adoptees only
Beginning in 2024, AKA-SF is excited to announce our first series of Member Spotlights! These Member Spotlights will allow our community to share their adoption stories and journeys in whatever way they feel most comfortable. Since the format of these Member Spotlights will be primarily driven by the guest speakers – the group space, size, and discussion of these Member Spotlights will vary from speaker-to-speaker. The ultimate goal with our Member Spotlights, is to create a platform for those who wish to share their adoption story, while also allowing others to engage and deeply connect with those shared journeys. Sharing this event for anyone who might be interested! See additional details about the event along with a special message from Sun Ah Brock in the event proper. Due to limited space and to ensure that we are keeping adoptee voices at the center of this discussion, this event will be for adoptees only. 🙂
Joy Ride – Screening and discussion
WHEN: Saturday, January 13th at 4:30 PM
WHERE: Private Residence in Walnut Creek. RSVP for address
WHO: Adoptees only please
Join us on Saturday, January 13th at 4:30 PM in Walnut Creek at a private residence to watch the film Joy Ride and have a discussion about the movie, as well as the portrayal of adoption in mainstream media. Because this will include a discussion about adoptee specific topics portrayed in the movie, this is an Adoptee only event. Please note this movie is rated R. The movie screening will be outdoors. Our host has lots of blankets but you should plan to bundle up and if you feel inclined to, bring your own blanket. We will most likely roll over into the dinner hour. Attendees are welcome to bring their favorite dish and join the potluck after the screening and discussion. 
2023
2023 CHUSEOK GATHERING
When: Saturday, September 30, 2023
Where: San Francisco, CA
2023 BAY TO LA
When: Friday, 9/8/23 – Sunday, 9/10/23
Where: Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA
Join us for our annual Bay to LA (B2LA) gathering in Koreatown, Los Angeles! We hope to see you there!
AKASF | 2023 IKAA GATHERING
When: July 10th – July 16th
Where: Seoul, Korea
CROSSINGS WATCH PARTY
When: Saturday, July 22, 2023 @ 7 PM
Where: Walnut Creek, CA
Please join AKASF for a Crossings watch party.
Film synopsis: Although the Korean War was halted by an armistice in 1953, the warring parties never signed a peace treaty. Seventy years later, North Korea and the United States remain adversaries, millions remain tragically separated from their family members on opposite sides of a closed and heavily militarized border, and the threat of renewed fighting and even nuclear conflict looms. In CROSSINGS, international women peacemakers set out on a risky journey across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), calling for an end to a war that has divided the Korean peninsula. The groundbreaking mission of Women Cross DMZ is framed with historic newsreels and punctuated with contemporary news coverage.
CHIMEK DAY
When: April 1, 2023 @ 1 PM
Where: Dolores Park
You bring beer 맥주 to share
Together we will have chimaek! 치맥
Veggie/vegan options will be available!
ED POPROPSKI | CASE 84 – ADOPTED IN THE U.S.A.
When: Saturday, February 4, 2023
Where: 446 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA
2023 SEOLLAL COOKING CLASS WITH MANDOO CLUB
When: Saturday, January 21, 2023
Where: San Francisco, CA
2022
2022 AKASF 25th ANNIVERSARY & WINTER GALA
When: Saturday, December 10, 2022
Where: Pa’ina Lounge & Restaurant
2022 BAY TO LA
When: Friday, 9/16/22 – Sunday, 9/18/22
Where: Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA
Caravan down to Koreatown and gather with adopted folks from LA and San Diego on 9/16-9/18. We’ll have discussion groups, dinners and karaoke! We’ll have the most up to date info here
POTLUCK @ GOLDEN GATE PARK
When: Saturday, August 20 12-6 PM
Where: Tables 10&11 at Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park
Come join us at Golden Gate Park for a potluck picnic and cool off from the heat 
on 8/20 from 12-6 PM.
We have tables 10&11 reserved at Lindley Meadow. We’ll be grilling up some food and ask that you bring a dish to share!
Parking is plentiful along JFK Drive. A reminder to those coming from out of town to take out any valuables from their car. Also it can get foggy and chilly towards the afternoon/evening so be sure to bring an extra jacket (or two!)
This is a family friendly event and pups are allowed too! We hope to see you there 
BEACH DAY @ HALF MOON BAY
When: Saturday, August 6 at 10 AM
Where: Francis State Beach in Half Moon Bay
It costs $10 to park. There is also parking along the street just before the paid parking lot. Public restrooms are located near the parking lot.Facebook event
POTLUCK PICNIC IN CASTRO VALLEY
When: Saturday, July 23 1-6 PM
Where: Castro Valley. Location to be provided on the signup sheet on 7/22
Stephanie Meyers has graciously offered to host a potluck picnic at her house in Castro Valley on Saturday, July 23rd from 1pm-6 PM. Come join the summer fun and share your favorite dish!
Exact address will be provided on the signup sheet on July 22.
KAPPY HOUR EVENT WITH KAPS & KACF
When: Friday, July 29 5-8 PM
Where: Thriller Social Club SF
Cost: 8$. Reserve your spot here or pay at the door (Venmo only)
We are partnering with Korean American Professional Society (KAPS) and Korean American Community Foundation -SF (KACF-SF) to host a super fun, super special fundraising event on Friday, July 29 from 5-8 PM at Thriller Social Club SF.
You can purchase your ticket(s) in advance here, or you can pay at the door (Venmo ONLY)! Tickets are $8.
What this will cover:
-Access to our special Kappy Hour Drink Menu
-Extended HH hours (5-8pm)
-A free can of Dokkaebier for the first 40 people that present their ticket!
Part of the proceeds from this fundraising event will be donated to both AKASF and KAC-SF organizations. Come out and support our community, have some fun, and just go crazy.
Hope to see you there!
SPRING SQUID GAMES
When: Sunday, May 1st 12-5 PM
Where: Holbrook Palmer Park – Atherton
AKA-SF is hosting the spring Squid Games at Holbrook Palmer Park in the peninsula from 12-5pm. Costumes are highly encouraged! The games will begin promptly at 1pm.
In order to get a headcount for food and other supplies REGISTER HERE.
Even if you will not be participating in the games. You can choose between participant or VIP spectator!
This will also be a potluck picnic. Potluck Picnic Signup Here
Do you have what it takes to survive the games??!
Please RSVP by Friday, April 29th.
)BOARD GAME DAY!
When: Sunday, April 24th at 1 PM
Where: The Game Parlour – 1342 Irving St SF, CA 94122
Time to roll the dice and get your (board) game on! AKA-SF will be hosting a board (and card) game day on Sunday April 24th at 1pm, at The Game Parlour in San Francisco (https://www.thegameparlour.com/) and covering the $10 registration fee.
RSVP by 4/10/2022 to save your seat here
[VIRTUAL] ASK A LAWYER: DUAL CITIZENSHIP WITH G.O.A’.L
When: Sunday April 10th, 2022 – 5 PM (PST)
Where: Online – Register here
Have you always wondered about the pros and cons of reclaiming Korean citizenship? Come join our [virtual] joint event with G.O.A’.L on Sunday, April 10th at 5pm to learn more about Dual Citizenship and have the opportunity to have your questions answered by a Korean lawyer.
Submit your questions and register for the virtual event here! https://goal.or.kr/ask-a-lawyer-dual-citizenship/
DISCUSSION GROUP [IN PERSON] AT LIVE OAK PARK IN BERKELEY
When: Sunday, Feb 20 from 12:30-2 PM
Where: Live Oak Park in Berkeley
We’re so excited to announce our first event of the year, a discussion group! Come chat and reconnect with each other at Live Oak Park in Berkeley on Sunday, Feb 20 from 12:30pm-2pm. We will be at the field next to the basketball court.
This first discussion group will be to get ideas of what topics everyone is interested in for future events. In the past we’ve picked podcasts to discuss, returning to Korea, the increase in anti Asian violence and so on.
Light refreshments will be served. Please feel free to bring snacks! Hope to see you there
2021
KAD BOOK CLUB | MINOR FEELINGS: AN ASIAN AMERICAN RECKONING
When: September – October
We will be reading Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong in the month of September and October and hosting a virtual book club and discussion in mid – October. Minor Feelings is comprised of 7 essays about growing up Asian-American in the US. In this book club and discussion group, we will have conversations about our experiences as adoptees growing up in a predominantly white society and the emotions that are felt by marginalized minority groups, aka ‘Minor Feelings’.
Session dates/times and Zoom links can be found here
2022 BAY TO LA
When: September 24, 2021 – September 26, 2021
We’re officially kicking off our Bay to LA trip. We’ll be meeting up with our friends in the AKA-So Cal group for dinner, drinks and a screening of Blue Bayou (and more dinner and more drinks!).
The official signup sheet and general itinerary is here. We hope you will be able to join!
As we finalize headcount, registration for this event will close 8/15. If you sign up after 8/15 you will be responsible for securing your own transportation and accommodations for the event.
PASTA PARTY
Where: The Great Impasta – 318 Sycamore Valley Rd West, Danville, CA 94526
When: Saturday, September 4th at 2PM
Come join us and support a KAD owned business by eating pasta at The Great Impasta in Danville. We hope to see you there!
VIRTUAL SOJU TALKS
When: Friday, August 20th at 6PM
Bring your beverages and chat with other KADS in this virtual happy hour.
MEETUP AT DALY CITY H-MART
Sunday, July 18th @ 12:00 PM PST
Where: Daly City H Mart
.🍾 SOJU TALKS 🍾
Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89118759372 (click this link at the time of the event)
When: Friday, June 11TH @ 6:00 PM (PST)
Bring your favorite beverages and chat with other KADS in this virtual happy hour. We’ll be joining with our friends down south in San Diego for some California fun 
Also since this is virtual – this event is open to all!! Hope to see you there 
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FOR YOU
Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85698788803 (click this link at the time of the event)
When: Sunday, May 23RD @ 2:30 PM (PST)
Join us on Sunday, May 23rd at 2:30pm PST to chat with Korean Adoptee and Clinical Therapist, Josh Heitzmann about how to find the right mental health professional for you. We’ll be going over what to look for, what questions to ask and how to get started!
STOP ASIAN HATE | DISCUSSION GROUP (CONTINUED)
Who: Adoptees
When: Saturday May 1st | 2 PM
Where: Zoom
🍾 SOJU TALKS 🍾
Who: Adoptees, Family members, friends
When: Friday April 16th | 6:30 PM (PST)
Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87243516171
Kick back and join us for another round of virtual Soju Talks. Bring your favorite soju, alcoholic beverage, korean beverage, or even water as we talk about anything you would like to share with fellow Korean Adoptee
🗣 VIRTUAL TOWN HALL 🗣
When: Saturday, Feb 6th @ 12 PM (PST)
Facebook: Event link
Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84384820156?pwd=WXhwUUNvdzliS2lLS1MvZHFWbWR0UT09
Calling all KADs in the Bay Area: we want to hear from you! Come meet your new 2021 AKA-SF Board Members in this Virtual Town Hall. We’ll be sharing upcoming events planned for the year as well as getting feedback and ideas from you for future events and content you’d like to see.
🇰🇷✈️ Return to the Motherland | Discussion Group ✈️🇰🇷
Who: Adoptees
When: Saturday, February 13th | 2:30 PM (PST)
Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81935475655
Feeling home sick for Korea? These shelter in place orders and quarantine have got us feeling landlocked, but we don’t have to do it alone. Come chat with other Adoptees missing the homeland or wanting to go to Korea in this Discussion Group.
🍾 SOJU TALKS 🍾
Who: Adoptees, Family members, friends
When: Friday February 26th | 6:30 PM (PST)
Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81935475655
Kick back and join us for another round of virtual Soju Talks. Bring your favorite soju, alcoholic beverage, korean beverage, or even water as we talk about anything you would like to share with fellow Korean Adoptees!
2020
KOCKTAIL & KANAPÉ (KOREA CENTER – CHUSEOK FESTIVAL 2020)
Date: 11 October 2020 | 4pm – 5 PM (PST)
Description: Celebrate the final day of the Chuseok Festival with professional chef Brett Gabby as he demonstrates how to make his unique kimchi cocktail & a Korean-inspired canapé — squash & Asian pear fritter with perilla honey mustard. Cheers to everyone!
Brett received his culinary degree at the International Culinary Center in New York City, graduating top of his class. He worked under talented restaurant chefs in Manhattan before moving to the private sector, where he has since cooked for high-profile clients in NYC and the Bay Area for the last 10 years. Brett was born in Korea and raised in Idaho by his adoptive family. He lived and worked in Hawaii and NYC before moving to the Bay Area and lives in Berkeley with his wife and their two boys. In his free time, he loves learning and cooking traditional and modern Korean cuisine.
Register here
Check out more events and details of this year’s Bay Area Chuseok Festival hosted by the Korea Center. https://koreancentersf.org/chuseok2020/
VIRTUAL POTLUCK
Date: 18 Oct 2020 | 6 PM (PST)
Who: Anyone who wants to join
Description: Join other adoptees in the group for a virtual potluck. Bring your favorite food or snack (or takeout!) and share a story behind your favorite dish. AKASF is hosting this potluck to allow adoptees to meet, connect and share a meal with those they haven’t gotten a chance to see in person. This is a great opportunity to meet and connect with other adoptees in the Bay Area community.
Zoom Link: link
GETTING REEL WITH DEANN BORSHAY LIEM
Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) invites you to our next member event Getting Reel with Deann Borshay Liem on Saturday, September 12, 2020. This program is part of a year-long series of events celebrating CAAM’s 40th anniversary. As we reflect on CAAM’s impact to date and into the future, we are honored to present this conversation between CAAM Executive Director Stephen Gong and acclaimed filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem. Purchase your ticket here.
Deann’s work has focused on advancing more authentic representation in public media through supporting and sharing the untold stories of underrepresented communities. As a filmmaker, community leader, and our former executive director (1993-1996), she lends a unique perspective from which we can examine CAAM’s legacy and impact on the future of Asian American storytelling
This is your chance to learn more about Deann’s portfolio of groundbreaking documentaries and valuable insights on how her work has deeply affected the community. In addition to the conversation, all participants will receive a link to watch several of Deann Borshay Liem’s documentaries for a limited time. This also marks the 20th anniversary of the Emmy Award-nominated documentary, First Person Plural, which follows the story of an 8-year old girl who is adopted by an American family, only to discover years later that she has a birth family in Korea. The film explores themes of race, identity, assimilation, and birth family reunion.
ANTI-RACISM | ACTIONABLE FRAMEWORK FOR THOUGHTFUL ALLYSHIP
Who: Open to all adoptees
Date: 13 September 2020 | 2 PM (PST)
AKASF will also be hosting a virtual workshop discussing tools and resources for anti-racism specific to Asian Americans with a
focus on how this relates to our experience as Korean adoptees. We’ll begin with one small exercise as a group including an open discussion allowing us to share our own narratives, personal feelings and stories. Through the use of the Asian American Racial Justice Toolkit, we’ll begin with breaking down the many constructs of American society such as identity, power and oppression and race. We hope you’ll join us to discuss how best we can integrate our own experiences as Korean adoptees as part of this model and look forward to having meaningful conversations with all of you. If you would like to support our efforts in this area, please reach out to us directly via Facebook Messenger or email us at info@aka-sf.organd we will be happy to discuss collaboration on resources, virtual events, etc.
Join us on Zoom: link
PARENTS FORUM (VIRTUAL)
Who: All adoptee parents
Date: 09 August 2020 | 2 – 3:30 PM (PST)
Brett Gabby will be facilitating an online forum for adoptee parents. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the lives of many. AKASF is hosting this forum to allow parents to share experiences, questions, and advice. This is a great opportunity to meet and connect with other adoptee parents in the Bay Area community.
Registration: link
APRIL DISCUSSION GROUP (VIRTUAL)
Date: Sunday, April 19, 2020, 1:00-2:30 PM (PST)
Location: Online Zoom Video call – link to come!
In these strange times of the COVID-19 pandemic, shelter-in-place orders, and all the ripple effects, let’s get together (virtually), to discuss topics including, but not limited to: social vs. physical distancing and isolation from activity groups. Currently open to AKASF members.
AKA-SF MARCH DINNER
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2020, 7-8:30 PM (PST)
Location: Daol Tofu, 4301 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA | Map it!
AKA-SF members, spouses, and families, come join us for dinner together on Saturday, March 14th at 7:00 pm at Daol Tofu & Korean BBQ in Oakland. We will be meeting to share company, laughs and good food together. Hope to see you there!
“AN ORPHAN FOR YOU” | THE RISE OF KOREAN ADOPTION IN THE 70’s & 80’s
Date: February, 22-23, 2020
Location: Berkeley (David Browser Center) and Oakland (Oakland Asian Cultural Center)
In cooperation with Mu Films, Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies (U.C. Berkeley), and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Me & Korea is pleased to announce it will co-host “An Orphan for You”: The Rise of Korean Adoption in the 1970s and 80s, a free conference in Berkeley and Oakland, CA. The conference will take place over two days, from February 22-23, 2020.This conference will explore how Korean adoption, which began primarily as a rescue operation for mixed race children immediately following the Korean War, radically expanded in the 1970s and 80s. The goal is to shed light on the powerful economic, social and cultural forces that led to children being separated from their birth families and relinquished for adoption by families in the West. For more information, visit the event page.
Cost: Free to attend; optional lunch add-on
KOREAN KNOTTED BRACELETS WORKSHOP & OPENING RECEPTION
Date: January 31, 2020 (reception); February 1, 2020 (workshop)
Location: International Art Museum of America, 1023 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 | Map it!
Join artist Kumjoo Ahn and experience bojagi, the art of Korean wrapping cloth, hand embroidering and knotting jewelry, at the International Art Museum of American in SF. An opening reception for her exhibit will be held on January 31 from 5-8 pm. Then, on February 1 from 10am-12pm, sign up to attend a 90 minute workshop where you can learn bojagi and leave with your very own Korean knot bracelet.
More Info: Maedeup, the traditional Korean knot, developed into a distinctive decorative art and practical use through its long history. It was used in not only fashion, household and ritual items but also court ceremonies, the lives of the common people. It was also used to adorn musical instruments, fans, dresses, flags and palanquins. Today, knots are widely used as modern ornaments in accessories and for art.
Cost: Reception is free to attend; workshop is $35 per person, which includes all materials
2019
GEOGRAPHIES OF KINSHIP | WORLD PRMIER
KOREAN FOOD MEET-UPS
SAN FRANCISCO CHUSEOK FESTIVAL | VOLUNTEER EVENTS
AKASF | 2019 IKAA GATHERING
HOLIDAY DINNER & SHOWCASE
