Our Story
Adult Korean Adoptees of Portland (AKAP) was organized in 2001 as a place for Korean adoptees in the Portland metropolitan area to meet and network. Initially, it was called American Korean Adoptees of Portland, but was later changed to Adult Korean Adoptees of Portland, as it is known today.
Our Mission
Build community for Korean adoptees and provide support, resources, and a connection to our Korean heritage.
The Board of Directors
Krista Caniparoli-Goodwin
President
Krista has lived in Portland for over 13 years.
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When Krista is not working her business as an independent skincare and active wear consultant, you can find her either spending time with her husband and dog, family, finding new restaurants, traveling or time in her craft room!​
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Krista is passionate about the Korean adoptee community and enjoys meeting new people while making meaningful connections.
Sojin Rank
Vice President
Sojin was born in Taegu, South Korea and was adopted at 4 months old. She was raised in Dayton, OH and moved to Portland, OR in 2019.
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She is currently working as the Director of Brand & Design for a SaaS company focused on making websites accessible for people with disabilities.
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Sojin loves watching movies, playing video games, eating ice cream, and spending time with her husband, Jake, and Australian Shepherd, Zissou.
Erin Andy
Secretary
Erin lived in the Portland/Metro area for 20 years before relocating to Coos Bay.
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Before her involvement with AKAP, she volunteered for Shriners Hospital for Children and OMSI.
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She is passionate about the disabled and Korean adoptee communities. Her hobbies include art, traveling, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.
Hannah Hitz
Treasurer
Hannah has been in and out of the Portland metro area for her whole life.
Hannah currently works in higher education at a local university. She lived in Korea for 2 years and the majority of her work experience is with student engagement and multicultural spaces.
Hannah loves studying languages, traveling, trying new things, and spending time with friends (new and old).
Chelsea Rook
Board Member
Chelsea has lived all over Oregon, including Portland, where she raised a special needs son who has been her guiding light on Earth and now in Heaven. While she currently is not a resident anymore, she still considers Oregon home.
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Chelsea has been working and involved with healthcare for the past 24+years and has also been involved and working with special needs children off and on most of her life. Her passion for life is caring for others.
When she is not busy serving others, she is a home chef, a creative artist, a lover of performing arts, and getting lost on hikes. A person who enjoys travel, making memories and spending time with those closest to her.
Jennifer Fresh
Board Member
Jennifer was adopted from Seoul to the Pacific NW as an infant and has been here ever since.
She is a mental health professional with specific interest in indigenous populations and substance use disorders.
She loves to travel, read, sew, paddle board, bowl, hike, cook and considers herself an amateur foodie. If you run into her, please recommend your favorite restaurant in the Portland area. She has an amazing middle schooler and two mini poodles.
AKAP Advisors
