Raised in: Washington, Alabama and Wisconsin
Lives in: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Enjoys: Climbing rocks and lifting weights.
“I appreciate that I have made lifelong friends and feel like I always have a home to come back to.”
Read more about Scottie

Raised in: Manlius, New York
Lives in: Chicago
Enjoys: Music, tennis and watching K-Dramas.
“KAtCH changed my life for the better, and provided a community—family, even—that I didn't know I needed.”
Read more about Jimmy

Raised in: Wisconsin
Lives in: Wisconsin
Enjoys: Crocheting, knitting, sewing, and traveling.
“I appreciate KAtCH for providing a consistent place to connect with others.”
Read more about Sara

Raised in: Japan, Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee
Lives in: Madison, Wisconsin and Seoul, Korea
Enjoys: Throwing mud, sipping tea, and knitting.
“After many years of accepting my predicament as an outsider, I was finally in groups where I could just be me.”
Read more about Rosita

Raised in: Chicago suburbs
Lives in: Uptown neighborhood of Chicago
Enjoys: Snowboarding, basketball and improv.
“The KAtCH community is my safe-place to explore and open up about my Korean identity.”
Read more about Mike

Raised in: New Jersey
Lives in: Humbold Park neighborhood of Chicago
Enjoys: Traveling, biking and dancing.
“Growing up as the only adoptee in my family and peer groups was at times very isolating, and it has been a life-changing experience to discover that I am not alone.”
Read more about Taneka

Raised in: Detroit suburbs of Michigan
Lives in: Jefferson Park neighborhood of Chicago
Enjoys: Podcasts and performing in flash mobs with Ajumma Rising.
“There is something comforting in knowing that people in this group can relate to my KAD experience while having their own unique stories.”
Read more about Tarah

Raised in: New York and Virginia
Lives in: Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago
Enjoys: Golf and exploring new food spots in Chicago.
“I so appreciate the space that KAtCH provides all of us to make friendships, explore our pasts, and empower each other along this journey that we are all on.”
Read more about Tae

Raised in: Southwest Michigan
Lives in: Chicago
Enjoys: Climbing, playing pungmul and practicing/learning Korean.
“We are stronger together, and we can use our power to fight for our rights and records as adoptees.”
Read more about Danae

Raised in: Rural Western Wisconsin
Lives in: Chicago
Enjoys: Giggling, eating and connecting.
“Following the mini-gathering in Vegas in 2008, we were motivated to create a sense of community for adoptees in the Chicagoland area.”
Read more about Kimberly

Raised in: Kentucky
Lives in: Loop area of Chicago
Enjoys: Cooking, crafts, and trying new restaurants.
“At KAtCH event's I can be as Asian, as American, and as ‘adopted’ as I want to be.”
Read more about Bethany

Raised in: Southwest Michigan
Lives in: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Enjoys: Sports leagues, cooking and learning Korean.
“KAtCH is an invaluable hub for Korean culture in the Midwest, and I’m grateful for the intentionality with which KAtCH creates a safe space for us to be completely seen, heard, and understood.”
Read more about Paul

Raised in: Iowa
Lives in: Cedar Rapids/Marion Iowa
Enjoys: Writing, traveling and cooking.
“We travel 4.5 hours to attend KAtCH events but several of the KAtCH community became like another family and they also attended our son's wedding.”
Read more about Zhen E

Raised in: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Lives in: Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago
Enjoys: Reading, traveling and spending time with her dog Gibbs.
“I felt an unspoken understanding and acceptance that I had never felt in my life…I am grateful I found this community—better late than never.”
Read more about Becca

Raised in: Jackson, Michigan
Lives in: Blue Island, Illinois
Enjoys: Watching Korean Dramas, knitting and eating really good food.
“I love that connections are somewhat easier, because there’s that common part of one another that doesn’t have to be explained.”
Read more about Lisa

Raised in: Detroit area of Michigan
Lives in: Chicago
Enjoys: Riding her e-bike, crafting and listening to audiobooks.
“I've made countless friends through KAtCH and am very, very happy to say that my community is full of Korean Americans and can provide my son with a racially diverse upbringing.”
Read more about Jen

Raised in: Buffalo, New York
Lives in: Ravenswood/Uptown neighborhood of Chicago
Enjoys: Spending time by the lake, podcasts, and grabbing a meal with friends.
“I think it is our commitment to one another and both finding/receiving acceptance and support from one another that makes KAtCH so special.”
Read more about Jodi

Raised in: Farmington, Michigan
Lives in: Lakeview East neighborhood of Chicago
Enjoys: Anything active and reading
“It's extremely comforting and enriching to socialize and learn from others like me through a wide range of events.”
Read more about Josh

Raised in: Olympia, Washington
Lives in: Bucktown/Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago
Enjoys: Cooking Korean food and chasing her kids around.
“I've found that there is something about the shared KAD experience that allows me to feel free to embrace that part of my identity as a Korean adoptee, rather than feel defined and constrained by it.”
Read more about Kristen

Raised in: Wisconsin
Lives in: Chicago
Enjoys: Reading, music, and volleyball.
“Because of its nuances and rigid historical customs many KADs find traditional Korean culture to be challenging. KAtCH provides a safe place for us to build relationships and share experiences with others from our unique background.”
Read more about David