Motherhood brought Alisha Bennett and Emily Flynn face to face with emotions rooted in early separation, adoption, and the fear of loss. Through friendship and community, they reflect on parenting as transracial adoptees and finding more intentional ways to love, heal, and support the next generation.

Heather Schultz Gittens reflects on a childhood shaped by adoption, the loss of her mother, and years of uncertainty about her identity and belonging. Through motherhood, somatic healing, and connection with fellow adoptees, she has found new ways to understand her past and support others on their own journeys.

Growing up in a predominantly white community, Emily Flynn spent years without the language to articulate what it meant to feel different. Her journey toward embracing her Korean identity, reconnecting with her birth family, and finding community has shaped her commitment to helping other adoptees feel less alone.

After returning to Korea and meeting her birth mother, Alisha Bennett began a journey of reclaiming her Korean identity and confronting the grief that had long gone unacknowledged. Her experiences as a Korean adoptee now inform her work as a therapist and her commitment to supporting others in the adoptee community.

Founded by Korean adoptees in 1996, Also-Known-As has grown from a mentorship program into a national community for international adoptees. Four former presidents reflect on the organization’s history, the importance of representation, and the lasting power of adoptee-led advocacy.

After discovering her adoption file as a teenager, Marissa Martin began a lifelong journey to understand her Korean heritage and the circumstances of her adoption. Her story explores reunion, belonging, and the complicated process of embracing an identity she hopes one day to simply call Korean American.

After returning to Korea and reconnecting with both her early memories and biological family, Hollee McGinnis began exploring the complex intersections of adoption, identity, and belonging. Her work as a scholar and community organizer focuses on preserving these histories and building support for intercountry adoptees and future generations.

A discovery about her adoption records changed Tanya Kaanta’s understanding of her own story and set her on a long journey toward understanding her identity. Today, she combines her experience as a transracial adoptee and social worker to support others through heritage travel and community building.

Spanning generations and vastly different eras of international adoption, Thomas Park Clement and Youngsun reflect on the shared complexities of the Korean adoptee experience. Their conversation explores trauma, identity, reunion, and the ways adoptees are creating new paths toward healing, advocacy, and community.

Through art and personal reflection, Youngsun explores the complexities of adoption, identity, and grief. Their story highlights the importance of self-compassion, honoring one's emotions, and finding healing on one's own terms.

Growing up as a Korean adoptee, Adam Goodman reflects on identity, belonging, and the emotional complexities of adoption. Today, he is dedicated to building community and mentoring the next generation of adoptees as they navigate their own journeys.

Coming from different Korean American experiences, Abby Smith and Maddy Park reflect on identity, belonging, and the journeys that shaped their connection to Korean culture. Their conversation explores how community, creativity, and storytelling helped each of them embrace what being Korean American means.

After growing up in rural Michigan, Abby Smith began exploring her identity as a Korean adoptee after moving to New York City. She reflects on finding community, embracing her heritage, and preparing for her first trip to Korea.

Through humor and honest conversation, Ed Pokropski and Kathy Kim explore adoption, loss, identity, and the importance of asking difficult questions. Their dialogue reminds us that meaningful connection begins when we're willing to listen and share openly.

As a comedian and writer, Edward Pokropski uses storytelling to examine identity, adoption, and what it means to feel truly seen. His journey reflects the power of humor to foster understanding and build community.