Mothers' Day is around the corner, and will be marked by women in many countries, some with joy, others with painful memories and sorrow. In Korea, TRACK, Truth and Reconciliation for the Adoption Community of Korea, is marking the day with events on May 8 and 11 that together make up the 4th Annual Single Moms' Day: Single Moms are Parents Too! From Abandonment to Child-rearing. From TRACK's webpage:

Single Moms’ Day is an event that was started by TRACK in 2011 to challenge the government’s Adoption Day. We were inspired by the First Nations people in the U.S. who celebrate “Native American Day” on Thanksgiving in order to challenge the dominant narrative and draw people’s attention toward a different center of gravity. 

Since we started four years ago, we have gained more support from Korean society and have used the annual event to:

• Reduce discrimination against unwed mothers and their families
• Push for legislative changes
• Invite scholars to research our issues
• Raise awareness about the factors that pressure unwed mothers to abandon or relinquish their children for adoption.

This year's schedule, altered slightly from past out of respect for the victims of the Sewol Ferry tragedy and their families, will include two main events:

International Conference
Thursday May 8, 12:00 - 3:30 (Registration 12:00 noon, Conference 12:30-3:30)
National Assembly – Lawmakers Office Building #2 Small Seminar Room, 2nd Floor (국회의원회관 제2소회의실) 

Human Library & Documentary Screening
Sunday, May 11, 12:00 - 4:00
Registration 12:00 noon
Panel Discussion 12:30-2:30
Documentary Screening 2:30 - 4:00
5th floor of Catholic Youth Center
Admission: Freewill donation

Panel Discussion
Host: Lee Yeong-ho, Director of Single Parent Family Support Center
Speakers: Overseas adoptee Andrea Kim Cavicchi, adoptive American mom Margie Perscheid, single moms and moms who lost children to adoption TBA. Featuring Olympic medalist and U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famer Toby Dawson.

Documentary Screening
Mother My Mother by Park Sang-mi – a critical look at Korea’s international adoption system.

I have wanted to attend a Single Moms' Day event since TRACK and their partners KoRoot and KUMFA began them four years ago - and you bet I'll be sharing the experience when I return (and even as it happens, network connectivity allowing).

But I know that participating in person is something that not everyone can do, once or every year, myself included. So I'm making a strong pitch today for adoptive parents to show our support by donating to the event itself and to the organizations that make it happen. I'm also asking you to make a monthly donation: these organizations will thrive when we stand by them throughout the year, not just once in awhile.

Here's how you can donate:

• Support the Single Moms' Day event by contributing to the shared KoRoot-TRACK-KUMFA account. Add a note to your donation indicating that it is for Single Moms' Day.
• Make a donation to TRACK via PayPal. Or if you use Bitcoin, you can find directions for donating that way on TRACK's webpage.
• Support the moms at KUMFA here: scroll down to mid-page, where you will see links to the donation options.
• Contribute to KoRoot at the same link at which you can support Single Moms' Day, just don't add a comment earmarking your donation for the event.

Adoptive parents absolutely must support Korean women in their efforts to change the Korean adoption policies and attitudes toward women's rights. The very best way for us to do that is to put our money where our mouth is and donate.

Also important is for us to speak out. It's humbling to know that just two weeks from today I'll be in Seoul joining moms and adoptees who are living the hard part of adoption and doing the hard work to change the paradigm.

Join me by showing your support via a donation to the event, and to each of the organizations doing this important work. Thank you!