AKA Adoptive Parent Series: Birth Country Cultural Identity Development

How important is it for international adoptees to be familiar with their birth country’s culture?  In this event, we will hear from two past and present Also-Known-As mentorship program parents about their experience and insight into helping their children develop a healthy awareness of their roots.  Martha Crawford and Marjorie Williams will share their methods, challenges, successes, and reflections on the role that they, as white parents, played in trying to impart a sense of being Korean and Chinese, respectively, to their children.  Bring your own experiences and questions to share, such as “My child didn’t want to have anything to do with their birth culture,” “Is this nice-to-have or something critical?” and “How involved should the family be as our child explores their culture?”  Former Also-Known-As president Mee Hyun Gerstein will facilitate the discussion.