AK Connection

AK Connection AK Connection supports and empowers adult Korean adoptees by providing cultural, educational, and social programming designed by and for our community.

If you're a MN KAD, join our private group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/2hAsvULwovjWjmLD/

AK Connection invites all DoKAD's 18+ to join us for a special meetup designed by and for DoKAD's. This is just the begi...
08/27/2026

AK Connection invites all DoKAD's 18+ to join us for a special meetup designed by and for DoKAD's. This is just the beginning of programming geared towards DoKADs. Feel free to stop by for a little bit or stay the whole time; we'd love to see you!

What is a DoKAD? A Descendant of a Korean Adoptee (DoKAD) is the child, grandchild, or other descendant of a Korean Adoptee. While often used to refer to the children and grandchildren of overseas Korean Adoptees, the term encompasses all descendants.

🗓️ Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
🕔 Time: 12:00 - 1:30 PM
📍 Place: The Lobby Coffee & Leisure (Edina Location)
💲 Cost: Free / PWYC

Registration Required: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/dokad-meetup

[ What to Expect ]
This will be a casual and relaxed atmosphere to get to know fellow DoKADs. AK Connection will provide one beverage per DoKAD. Food and additional beverages are available for purchase at the Lobby Coffee & Leisure.

We're so excited for our first dedicated DoKAD meetup!

📣 Calling all DoKADs! 📣AK Connection is excited to announce that we're developing new programming to support the growing...
07/22/2026

📣 Calling all DoKADs! 📣

AK Connection is excited to announce that we're developing new programming to support the growing DoKAD community—and we need your input and help!

What is a DoKAD?
A Descendant of a Korean Adoptee (DoKAD) is the child, grandchild, or other descendant of a Korean Adoptee. While often referring to the children and grandchildren of overseas Korean Adoptees, the term encompasses all descendants.

Are you a DoKAD or know a DoKAD?
Please help us get this survey out to our DoKADs. We'd love to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete and/or share our community survey and help shape future programs and opportunities designed with DoKADs in mind.

Survey link down below 👇
Please note that this form will remain open until 11:59 pm on August 7, 2026.

Some Additional Information
Research led by Professor Oh Myo Kim in 2024 found that the adult children of Korean adoptees often experience their own challenges related to identity, belonging, and adoption. DoKADs also face unique barriers to accessing information, resources, and community—experiences that differ from those of their Korean adoptee parent(s) or grandparent(s). Professor Kim started a registry for DoKADs: https://www.childrenofadoptees.com/

A couple of DoKAD pages to check out: , .archive
As our Korean Adoptee community continues to grow and evolve, creating space for DoKADs is a natural next step in strengthening connection, representation, and belonging 🫰

👉.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1y9BXn_mE7HKfbcBthfkTvaXcC6fVAqQPZPpJ9jMp1ygCYw/viewform?zlinkid=2b657eac-7ab5-4d23-b663-d2da527c64b2

We're so excited that it's time for the Annual AK Connection Summer Picnic! Join AK Connection for a relaxed summer even...
07/21/2026

We're so excited that it's time for the Annual AK Connection Summer Picnic! Join AK Connection for a relaxed summer evening at the park where Korean Adoptees, families, and friends can connect, share stories, and enjoy time together outdoors. 🌳

AK Connection invites all Korean Adoptees, along with their friends and family, to join us for an evening of food and fun. This is one of our biggest events of the year that welcomes back many of our longtime regulars, as well as new faces in the community. Feel free to stop by for a minute, stay the whole time, we'd love to see you!

Registration Required: Please try to register by August 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM, to help us with our food preparations. All attendees are expected to adhere to our guidelines to ensure a respectful and welcoming environment.

🗓️ Date: August 22, 2026
🕔 Time: 5:00 - 9:00 PM
📍 Place: Jaycees Shelter in Central Park in Roseville, MN
💲 Cost: Pay-what-you-can

Learn more and Register - https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/summer-picnic-with-ak-connection

What a beautiful day of community! ☀️Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Korean Community Summer Market! Seeing ...
07/20/2026

What a beautiful day of community! ☀️

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Korean Community Summer Market! Seeing Korean adoptees, Korean American families, Korean immigrant community members, friends, and neighbors gathering together to celebrate, connect, and support one another reminded us why we do this work.

We made so many wonderful new connections, caught up with longtime friends, and celebrated the incredible creativity, talent, and generosity within our community. This market was more than just a hot summer afternoon at a market—it was another step toward building a stronger, more connected community. We can't wait to continue that momentum at our Chuseok Celebration on Saturday, September 26, as we grow this tradition together.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible vendors, performers, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and community partners. Your time, talent, and generosity made this event possible, and we're so grateful to everyone who shopped local, shared conversations, created art, and helped make the day so memorable. A HUGE shoutout to our community members who helped us set up and tear down!!!

💛 Special thanks to:
Coalition of Asian American Leaders, Thomas & Wonsook Foundation, Arbeiter Brewing Company, Rose & Han Design, Tonz Kitchen, bb.q Chicken, K-Town Macaron, Small Box Market, Hanok Korean Eatery, Myonghee Kimchi, The Croffle Corner, Lydia Jung H, Sarah Shin Thorp-Realtor, Le Charm Cafe, Sim's Club, WunderPuff, Ara Bee Collective, Jangmi Arts – Project Huson, Chansoo Lee, Gina Choi, and Youngmi Chang.

📸: Kelly Palma

Thank you for being part of our community. We'll see you again soon! 😊

✨ Vendor Spotlight ✨We are just hours away from the Korean Community Summer Market, and we're thrilled to share this new...
07/19/2026

✨ Vendor Spotlight ✨
We are just hours away from the Korean Community Summer Market, and we're thrilled to share this new business joining us tomorrow: Sim's Club 🖊

​Sim's Club bridges the gap between trending Korean aesthetics and local everyday needs by providing high-quality, functional, and cozy lifestyle accessories. The brand focuses on creating a cultural connection by introducing popular items from Korea's vibrant culture to neighbors, Korean American families, and community members.

Stop by Yosub's booth on Sunday, July 19, from 12–4 PM at Arbeiter Brewing Company. This free, all-ages outdoor market celebrates the creativity and entrepreneurship of Minnesota's Korean Adoptee and Korean American community.

📅 Sunday, July 19, 2026
⏰ 12:00–4:00 PM
📍 Arbeiter Brewing Company
🎉 Free & open to the public

Along with incredible local vendors, you can:
🎨 Contribute to our community art project
🎟️ Complete a Vendor Passport for a chance to win raffle prizes
📸 Snap a photo at our community photo booth
🎲Try some traditional Korean games

✨ Vendor Spotlight ✨ The Korean Community Summer Market opens in just 24 hours! It is our great honor to share this next...
07/18/2026

✨ Vendor Spotlight ✨
The Korean Community Summer Market opens in just 24 hours! It is our great honor to share this next vendor: 💄

Ara Bee Collective is an AAPI- and adoptee-owned beauty and creative collective specializing in multicultural weddings and special events. They provide on-location hair and makeup with a personalized, inclusive approach that celebrates every culture, every shade, every style. Based in Minneapolis with a new San Diego expansion, Ara Bee Collective is a five-time recipient of The Knot Best of Weddings award.

You might recognize Laura from our spotlight. She is also the founder and lead hairstylist and makeup artist of Ara Bee Collective. Joining her at the market tomorrow is professional makeup artist Alyssa.

Stop by Ara Bee Collective's booth to hear more about their work and artistry on Sunday, July 19, from 12–4 PM at Arbeiter Brewing Company. This free, all-ages outdoor market celebrates the creativity and entrepreneurship of Minnesota's Korean Adoptee and Korean American community.

📅 Sunday, July 19, 2026
⏰ 12:00–4:00 PM
📍 Arbeiter Brewing Company
🎉 Free & open to the public

Along with incredible local vendors, you can:
🎨 Contribute to our community art project
🎟️ Complete a Vendor Passport for a chance to win raffle prizes
📸 Snap a photo at our community photo booth
🎲Try some traditional Korean games

🎬 July 18 – Tie A Yellow RibbonJoin us in two days at 2:30 p.m. at Washburn Library!Following each screening, attendees ...
07/18/2026

🎬 July 18 – Tie A Yellow Ribbon
Join us in two days at 2:30 p.m. at Washburn Library!

Following each screening, attendees will have the option to complete a brief anonymous survey about the film’s adoption content. Participation is voluntary, but RSVP is required via the Google Form.

We hope you'll join us for these important conversations and screenings!

Can’t attend a screening but saw one of the films within the past six months? You may still participate as a research respondent by contacting Dr. Park Nelson at [email protected].

Find more information on the research, Dr. Park Nelson, films, locations, and parking in the event PDF, available via the link below.

Screening Adoption RSVP Link - https://forms.gle/RgLLeFyxrb5AbaTX7
Screening Adoption Info PDF Link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/18CnU5tKtvKoLoBKpC-a1NU8TDFyoZtDn/view?usp=sharing

☀️ The Korean Community Summer Market is almost here!📅 Sunday, July 19, 2026🕛 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM📍 Arbeiter Brewing Compa...
07/17/2026

☀️ The Korean Community Summer Market is almost here!

📅 Sunday, July 19, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Arbeiter Brewing Company (3038 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN)

What to Expect
Join us for an afternoon celebrating our vibrant community! Browse a wonderful lineup of 15 local Korean Adoptee, Korean American, and Korean immigrant artists, makers, and small businesses.

✨ Highlights include:
🥁 Korean drumming performance at 1:00 PM
⚽ The World Cup Final is streaming at 2:00 PM

Throughout the event, you can:
🎯 Try traditional games like tuho and jegichaggi
🌸Create a beautiful paper lotus
🎨 Hear vendors share the stories and inspiration behind their work
📸 Capture memories at our photo booth
🖼️ See a special curated exhibit from artist Youngmi Chang

🎟️ Be sure to pick up a Vendor Passport at the AK Connection booth! Visit participating vendors to collect stamps and enter our hourly raffle drawings at 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM, and 4 PM for a chance to win prizes from AK Connection and our vendors.

🚗 Parking Information
Free street parking is available on the surrounding neighborhood streets near Arbeiter Brewing Company. Please be mindful of posted parking signs, permit restrictions, and fire hydrants. Additional parking is available in the nearby City of Minneapolis public parking lot, just a short walk from the venue.

We'll be introducing more vendors as our countdown continues tomorrow, so stay tuned!

✨ Vendor Spotlight ✨ The Korean Community Summer Market is just 2 days away! We're honored to introduce another incredib...
07/17/2026

✨ Vendor Spotlight ✨
The Korean Community Summer Market is just 2 days away! We're honored to introduce another incredible vendor joining us: .andersonrealty 🏠

Sarah is an activist with a deep love for her Twin Cities and AANHPI community. She is an innate connector and industry professional with a long history of client success and has a reputation for executing high-touch events. Specializing in first-time homebuyers, relocation buyers and sellers, and right-sizers, Sarah knows that every real estate endeavor is unique and requires dedicated integrity, advocacy, and care. She is passionate about ensuring those around her are supported, informed, and empowered to achieve their goals of homeownership and making sound investments. Her representation and market knowledge extend to small business owners and commercial real estate.

ASSOCIATIONS:
AANHPI Advocacy and Legislation, AREAA Twin Cities (President 2026, Vice President 2025, Events Chair 2023 & 2024), Saint Paul City Council Assistant 2023, Bloomington Design Group 2023, CAAL 2022

Stop by her booth on Sunday, July 19, from 12–4 PM at Arbeiter Brewing Company. This free, all-ages outdoor market celebrates the creativity and entrepreneurship of Minnesota's Korean Adoptee and Korean American community.

📅 Sunday, July 19, 2026
⏰ 12:00–4:00 PM
📍 Arbeiter Brewing Company
🎉 Free & open to the public

Along with incredible local vendors, you can:
🎨 Contribute to our community art project
🎟️ Complete a Vendor Passport for a chance to win raffle prizes
📸 Snap a photo at our community photo booth
🎲Try some traditional Korean games

We'll be introducing more vendors as we continue our countdown, so stay tuned!

✨ Vendor Spotlight ✨The Korean Community Summer Market is officially just 3 days away! We're excited to share another on...
07/16/2026

✨ Vendor Spotlight ✨
The Korean Community Summer Market is officially just 3 days away! We're excited to share another one of the amazing vendors joining us: 📦

Small Box Market is an online marketplace of MN small brands, makers, and artists. Think Amazon but only for small businesses. Our goal is to make shopping local just as convenient as big-box retailers. Kelly also creates art as "a side hustle to her side hustle" and uses drawing as a way to explore her Korean roots and express the blend of Korean-ness and Midwestern-ness that many Korean adoptees can relate to.

Stop by her booth to learn more about her art and Small Box Market on Sunday, July 19, from 12–4 PM at Arbeiter Brewing Company. This free, all-ages outdoor market celebrates the creativity and entrepreneurship of Minnesota's Korean Adoptee and Korean American community.

📅 Sunday, July 19, 2026
⏰ 12:00–4:00 PM
📍 Arbeiter Brewing Company
🎉 Free & open to the public

Along with incredible local vendors, you can:
🎨 Contribute to our community art project
🎟️ Complete a Vendor Passport for a chance to win raffle prizes
📸 Snap a photo at our community photo booth
🎲Try some traditional Korean games

We'll be introducing more vendors as we continue our countdown, so stay tuned!

Address

3038 Minnehaha Ave.
Minneapolis, MN
55406

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