Leadership development is an essential function of IKAA. Our network organizations are volunteer-led and often face common challenges such as leadership turnover, retaining institutional knowledge, and accelerating the development of organizational capabilities. Leadership development helps us grow and collaborate together to address these challenges, enabling better long-term sustainability and continued impact. It also facilitates global collaboration across IKAA, our network organizations, and partners in the adoptee community. Strengthening leadership helps ensure we remain active and capable in continuing the work of connecting and supporting adoptees worldwide.
Leadership Development
Adoptee Leadership Exchange
The inaugural Adoptee Leadership Exchange was held in New York City from June 7th to June 9th, 2024. AlsoknownAs, Inc. and IKAA welcomed 17 organizations and 42 adoptee leaders from around the globe, representing a truly diverse group of adoptees. While the majority of groups were Korean adoptee focused, the Leadership Exchange brought together adoptee organizations representing China and South America as well. The event provided a unique opportunity for adoptee leaders to connect, learn, and grow together.
Adoptee-led organizations attending include:
- IKAA
- Also-Known-As, Inc.
- Asian Adoptees of Canada
- China’s Children International
- IAMAdoptee
- Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington
- Chinese Adoptee Alliance
- KAAN – Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network
- Adoptees For Justice
- KAtCH – Korean Adoptees of Chicago
- Adoptees of South America + Extended Latin America
- KAIAN – Korean Adoptees In Australia Network
- Korea Klubben Denmark
- KAD e.V. Deutschland
- Racines Coréennes
- Soft Gong
- Korean Adoptees in Belgium
The leadership exchange was intentionally designed to bring together a diverse group of adoptee leaders representing communities from not only Korea, but also from China and South America. Not all IKAA organizations were created as solely Korean adoptee organizations. We are also seeing more Chinese Adoptees step into leadership roles and drive community building efforts in the international adoptee community. This was an exciting opportunity to not only drive IKAA’s leadership development but to also collaborate with and share our learnings with the next generation of international adoptee organizations and leaders.
