Growing Up Transracially Adopted in Wooden Shoes

31 West 10th Street,Holland MI 49423

18 November, 2021

Description

Join Robyn Afrik and Rebekah Bakker as they discuss their transracial adoption stories and their experiences growing up in Holland, MI. Robyn Afrik (she/her) was born in Seoul, Korea, and placed in the Koreann foster care system before being adopted at 6 months by a Dutch-German family in Holland, Michigan. Rebekah Bakker (she/her) was born in Icheon, South Korea, naturalized at the age of 4, and was also raised by Dutch adoptive parents in Holland. Join us as Robyn and Rebekah share the historical context for international adoptions in West Michigan and their stories of origin, identity, and activism, growing up as transracially adopted Korean females in Holland. If situations change, this program may move to Zoom. Free Program, donations appreciated. Rebekah Bakker was born in Icheon, South Korea, adopted to a family in Michigan, and naturalized at the age of 4. She was raised in Holland, Michigan and worked at various nonprofits in the private sector after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with an International Relations focus.  She is the Business Development Partner for Disher and is actively involved in the community, building strategic partnerships, relationships, and connecting meaningfully one on one. Her passion to build a more just and loving world stems from her lived experience as a transracially adopted Korean female. Rebekah volunteers as a mentor for Korean youth adoptees, as Treasurer and Finance & Sustainability chair on the Board of Directors of Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates and also as a Development & Communications, and Nominations & Distribution Committee member for Women of Color Give.  Robyn Afrik was found abandoned on a street in Seoul, Korea and placed in the Korean foster care system for 6 months. She was adopted in the 70's to a Midwest, Caucasian, Dutch family who could not have children biologically, and was raised in Holland, Michigan with one dog, a rabbit, a handful of pheasants and chickens and one sibling; a younger brother who was also adopted from Korea but is not blood related. Robyn attended Holland Christian, went on to pursue a Bachelor, Master’s and four different certifications in subjects ranging from Business, Social Work, Cultural Intelligence, Workforce Development and Non-profit Boards. She is a speaker, facilitator, author, and advisor on topics of diversity, disability, equity, multi-cultural leadership/families, cultural intelligence, and inclusion. In 2004, she returned to Korea in search of her biological family and her adoption story was aired live on a national television show produced by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) dedicated to locals searching for long lost relatives.