Book Event to Raise Awareness of Asian Adoptee Experiences
Writer: Margie Andreason
On August 28, 2008, AdopSource welcomed Marilyn Lammert, co-editor of Once They Hear My Name: Korean Adoptees and their Journeys toward Identity, to the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul. The book portrays the stories of nine Korean adopted individuals which gives readers insight around diverse and common experiences faced by adoptees across the U.S.
 More than 30 adoptees, friends and family members came together to hear both Marilyn and AdopSource’s Executive Director, Ami Nafzger, read parts of the book and to answer questions about their experiences and how the book came together. AdopSource secretary, Aron Spiess, provided the audience with a brief introduction of Marilyn’s biography. Marilyn is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Maryland and runs a psychotherapy practice which specializes in working on adoption issues, such as parenting, adoptee search, open adoptions and international adoptions. Marilyn herself is the adoptive mother of Korean-born son, Adam. And it was through her experiences of helping Adam search for his birth family and his own identity that inspired Marilyn to help Korean American therapist Ellen Lee, bring the journeys of other Asian adoptees together in this book.
 Ami’s story is one of nine featured in the book. She shared some of her challenges growing up in rural Wisconsin & Minnesota and not wanting to be “different.” Her experiences led her to Korea and to become ever more active in the Korean adoptee community.
During the Q & A session that followed the book readings, one audience member asked how the title of the book was developed. Marilyn explained that the title refers to a very common theme that Asian adoptees have which is the experience of catching people off guard once they hear their name and then see them.
Throughout the event, attendees were treated to various Asian appetizers and were given the chance to purchase a copy of the book that evening with Marilyn graciously signing each copy. AdopSource was pleased to host this event that brought adoptees, parents, and friends together to highlight issues that are still affecting the Asian adoptee community. The organization will continue to provide space like this in the future and to highlight those like Marilyn that bring awareness to Asian adoptee experiences.
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