About AKASF
The Association of Korean Adoptees San Francisco (AKASF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the San Francisco Bay Area Korean Adoptee community.
Our mission is to support, educate, and foster community, inspiring adoptees on their life journeys.
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Our History
Founded in 1997, AKASF began connecting adopted Koreans with one another and their Korean heritage, culture, and birthland. Early activities included sharing experiences through panel discussions, “Playshops” with adopted children, dragon-boating, and co-sponsoring screenings of influential films, including those by local filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem.
In 2017, AKASF joined the International Korean Adoptee Associations (IKAA) and celebrated its 20th Anniversary by hosting the IKAA Annual Convention, welcoming over 230 participants from around the world.
Today, AKASF continues to support and connect adoptees through meaningful programs, events, and leadership, fostering community locally and within the broader Korean adoptee network.
What we do
1) Monthly meet up events, which have included:
Korean Culture: Cooking classes, Film Screenings, SF Giants Korean Heritage Night
Socials: Happy hours (Soju Talks) and dinners
Workshops: Korean Citizenship and Writing Workshops
Discussion Groups: Focused conversations on topics in the adoptee community (adoptees only)
2) Collaborate and participate with local organizations who support the adoptee and/or the Korean American community. Examples include:
Korea Center’s Bay Area Chuseok Festival
CAAMFest (Asian American Film Festival)
It doesn’t matter whether you are new to the community or have been involved for many years—we hope to see you at a future event soon!
2025 AKASF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Christy Zaragoza
Co-President
(she/her)
Christy Zaragoza joined the Board in 2021. She joined the board to be able to contribute to the community and create a space for adoptees to have for themselves. She is interested in hanging out with her dog, doing ceramics, trying new foods, seeing new places and going for long walks at GGP. She hopes to see AKASF continue to be a vibrant and safe community for KADS in the greater Bay Area.
Emily Shewmaker
Co-President
(she/her)
Emily Shewmaker joined the AKASF Board in 2022. Growing up in rural East Texas, she didn’t have many opportunities to engage with or be part of adoptee communities/conversations. When moving to the greater San Francisco Bay Area, the warmth of the AKASF community offered her the solace, space, and connections to dive deeper into her identity and Korean heritage. She hopes to address issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion while also creating meaningful spaces where others who may feel a sense of isolation can feel that they belong.
Song Lee
Board Member
(she/her)
Song Lee joined the Board of AKASF in 2024. A passionate artist and advocate, she began her journey into exploring her identity as a Korean adoptee earlier that year. Discovering a sense of community for the first time, she was inspired by the Association of Korean Adoptees San Francisco (AKASF) and felt a deep desire to contribute to the organization. Her goal is to help others feel the belonging and connection that she has found. Committed to fostering bonding, positivity, and raising awareness of the Korean adoptee experience, Song is eager to use her passion for painting and the arts to empower others along their journey.
Seonah Iverson
Board Member
(she/her)
Seonah joined the Board of AKASF in 2024. She began dabbling in the Asian adoptee community during the pandemic and the spike of anti-Asian hate, which led her to AKASF. From attending her first event early 2024, Seonah recalls experiencing an immediate sense of belonging. This experience fueled the processing of her identity and of being in reunion with birth family - her "coming out of the fog". The AKASF community has made an everlasting impression and has gifted invaluable lessons. She is devoted to creating safe space for other Korean adoptees to learn - from embracing Korean culture in the Korean adoptee way to sharing her own learnings and reflections.
Keelin Davis
Board Member
(she/her)
Keelin joined the board in 2025. After moving to the Bay Area, she was excited to connect with the local Korean adoptee community. AKASF has allowed Keelin to explore her own adoptee identity while also providing her with the opportunity to connect with fellow adoptees in a safe and positive environment. From her background in classical music, Keelin hopes to incorporate the arts as a vehicle for building community and belonging. She looks forward to contributing to AKASF’s mission of supporting Korean adoptees and fostering community.
Zack Fraser
Board Member
(he/him)
After spending ten years living and working in South Korea, he returned to the Bay Area in 2023, grateful for the new chapter taking shape. His immersion in South Korean culture sparked profound personal reflection and fueled conversations and activism centered on adoption. Those experiences continue to guide his dedication to building connections and offering support within adoptee and Korean American communities.
Keri Nelson
Board Member
(she/her)
Keri Nelson joined the AKASF board in 2025, after years of admiring the group from afar, and getting to know the vibrant adoptee community in the Bay Area. Keri spent a childhood participating in Korean adoptee culture camps in Minnesota, and later participated in the first big international gatherings of Korean adoptees in Washington DC and Oslo. She is passionate about contributing to this unique community, and doing what she can to keep it strong and visible so other adoptees can find it when they need to. She encourages anyone interested in making a difference in this group to look for opportunities to volunteer and build community along with us - reach out and get involved!
Amanda Lecher
Board Member
(she/her)
Amanda’s first trip back to Korea opened up a deeper curiosity about identity, culture, and connection. She joins the board with a hope to help create spaces where adoptees can learn, grow, and feel a sense of community together. She also enjoys exploring Korean cooking and loves sharing food as a way to bring people together.