Events

Also-Known-As is able to provide free/discounted events through the generous support of our members. Please consider making a donation by clicking HERE or (Venmo) @also-known-as (search businesses)

Also-Known-As, Inc is thrilled to welcome Dr. Juli Fraga to NYC, visiting from San Francisco to share insights from her new book Parents Have Feelings, Too, which is a deeply practical guide to identifying, naming and working with emotions to teaching emotional intelligence to the next generation. Juli will be lovingly cared for and in conversation with Heather Schultz Gittens, who currently serves on the Also-Known-As Advisory board and has a knack for creating a warm, welcoming environment to explore hard conversations.

This much-needed discussion, "Adoptee Parents Have Feelings, Too" will demystify and center "feelings" as the key to unlocking the overwhelm of the parent identity with the added complicated, and at times conflicting/competing layers, of the adoptee identity. We’ll explore real-life strategies for parents to process their own feelings, break cycles of guilt, and cultivate emotional resilience in their children. This conversation is a continuation of last year’s Also-Known-As event on the unique lens of parenting as a transracial adoptee.

While we’re excited to give adoptee parents space for their voices to be heard, all adoptees are welcome. This event is really about emotional intelligence, breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and how understanding your feelings and regulating emotions will make you a better human being.

As conversations around citizenship and immigration enforcement continue to surface complex emotions within adoptee communities, Also-Known-As is offering a virtual space to come together in care and solidarity. This call is not intended to provide legal advice, but rather to acknowledge the emotional weight many adoptees are carrying and to create safe-space for shared reflection and support. This call will be facilitated by Alisha Bennett (LCSW) and CS Wright (Adoptees United).

Adoption documentation and legal status differ significantly depending on country of origin, era of adoption, and individual circumstances. While we will do our best to share high-level resources and emerging best practices gathered from adoptee-led organizations who are experts in this space, these resources may shift as policies evolve. Above all, this gathering prioritizes holding space, community connection, and mutual support.

Open forum discussion for LGBTQIA+ adoptees. We’ll be making Valentine’s to ourselves or friends in the room. Light refreshments will be provided.

Join us as we gather around the table to welcome another lunar cycle during peak soup season. We’ll share a warming meal, celebrate new beginnings and connect with fellow adoptees in a space rooted in cross-culture, comfort, and community. Whether you come for the soup, the stories, or the company, there’s always room at the table.

The third session of our Cryin' with Ryan: Exploring the Masculine Self Through Adoption series again aims to confront the often hidden and painful truths that many male-identifying adoptees face: intense feelings of loss, identity confusion, depression and anxiety, suicidality, and substance use.

These challenges are often ignored or silently suffered in isolation. This session intends to create a safe, supportive space where male-identifying adoptees can come together to share their stories, find understanding, and exchange observations. It is a call to acknowledge the severity of these struggles and to ensure that we are not overlooking the urgent mental health crises impacting our community.

Adoptee Vision Lab is an intimate journaling and vision-boarding workshop where we explore identity, belonging, and future dreams through art and reflection. Together, we’ll pause, breathe, and map out how far we’ve come and what we hope to cultivate in the year ahead—whether it’s healing, connection, clarity, or courage. 🌱 💛

No artistic experience needed. Just bring yourself, your story, and your curiosity. 1 drink requirement per attendee.

‘Tis the season for some holiday cheer! You may have come to our holiday parties in the past and this year we can guarantee you it’ll be a total blast! We’re teaming up with our friends at TapHaus33 and inviting adoptees and allies to join us for some festive fun!

TapHaus33 will be the ultimate one-stop shop of festive fun — good food, good drinks, and even better company. Let’s close out the year laughing and celebrating everything we’ve built together.

🥘 Food will be catered.

🍻 Drinks are pay-your-way (outside of a 1 hour open bar)

🎶 Let’s rejoice in end of year community toasts!. You’re not going to want to miss this one!

NOTE: This event is for individuals who are 21 years of age or older.

We are so looking forward to being in community for our Feast Among Friends: An Also-Known-As Friendsgiving event!

The weather is crisp and friendship is in the air! Join us for a cozy afternoon of connection, gratitude, and delicious food as we celebrate Friendsgiving, with our Also-Known-As community!

🥘 Bring a dish to share, and your appetite for both food and friendship

✨ Feel free to bring along any crafts you’re working on. Knitting, sketching, beadwork, you name it!

🀄 And if you know how to play or teach mahjong, we’d love for you to share your skills with the group!

In recognition of National Adoptee Awareness Month, the second session of our Cryin' with Ryan: Exploring the Masculine Self Through Adoption series will aim to confront the often hidden and painful truths that many male-identifying adoptees face: intense feelings of loss, identity confusion, depression and anxiety, suicidality, and substance use.

These challenges are often ignored or silently suffered in isolation. This session intends to create a safe, supportive space where male-identifying adoptees can come together to share their stories, find understanding, and exchange observations. It is a call to acknowledge the severity of these struggles and to ensure that we are not overlooking the urgent mental health crises impacting our community.

Join us for never-before-seen footage and behind-the-scenes gems from the award-winning documentary Between Goodbyes, followed by a Q&A with the brilliant filmmaker, Jota Mun! This beautifully crafted film has captivated audiences worldwide with its raw and powerful storytelling of the queer adoptee experience and the complex journey of reunion.

This exclusive event is open to adoptees, friends, and allies. For a discounted ticket rate, become an Also-Known-As member today; just head to the membership page on this site.