Meet Your AC: Michael Burlbaugh
Name: Michael Burlbaugh
Gender Pronouns: He/Him/His
Where do you call home? Annapolis, MD
Tell us a little about yourself. How do you spend your time outside of KAAN?
I'm a father of two boys adopted from Korea - Jacob and Lucas. I spend much of my time with them and my wife, Brenda, traveling and cooking. During the business week I work in residential real estate development.
What is your role on the Advisory Council?
I work with several other fantastic people working on fundraising for KAAN.
How did you hear about KAAN? How did you decide to get involved in the AC?
We heard about it through other adoptive parents before we adopted Jacob (our first). We attended our first conference before we brought Jacob home, and realized it was something that we needed to make a part of our lives going forward.
How many KAAN conferences have you attended?
7
What issues/topics related to adoption are you most interested in? (e.g., What types of topics have you presented on or attended at previous KAAN conferences?)
I'm most interested in the aspects of how our boys will form their own identities, and how they will internalize their "Korean-ness" as they grow up without Korean primary caregivers. The topics at KAAN that I am most interested in are those on white privilege and racism.
What do you love most about the KAAN community?
The connections with Korean Adoptees and their families around the Country. We've made so many friends and Jacob and Lucas are making connections that will help them throughout their journey.
What a fun or random fact people might not know about you?
I attended Penn State for my undergrad, Loyola for my Masters. Oh yeah, and I'm a huge Baltimore Ravens fan.
Anything else you'd like to share with the KAAN community?
Just my sincere wish that all Adoptive parents of Korean children do all that they can to attend KAAN with their children - it is life changing.
Nice to meet you and thank you for your good works. You have a lovely family.