FCC-SoCal member Linda Goldstein Knowlton's documentary film "Somewhere Between" will be screening in competition at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June.  (Congratulations Linda!)

Click through for full details -- please note Linda advises that this film is NOT RECOMMENDED for children under the age of 14 due to the emotional content.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, May 31st.  You're getting an early heads up. Buy Tickets Here

Screening dates:
Sat. Jun 18, 3:10pm, Regal Cinemas/LA LIVE
Tue. Jun 21, 7:30pm, Regal Cinemas/LA LIVE
Wed. Jun 22, 4:30pm, Regal Cinemas/LA LIVE

The Regal Cinemas/LA Live are downtown by the Nokia/Staples Center Complex.

Somewhere Between tells the intimate stories of four teenaged girls. They live in different parts of the US, in different kinds of families and are united by one thing: all four were adopted from China, because all four had birth parents who could not keep them, due to personal circumstances colliding with China's 'One Child Policy'. These strong young women allow us to grasp what it is like to come-of-age in today's America as trans-racial adoptees. At the same time, we see them as typical American teenagers doing what teenagers everywhere do…struggling to make sense of their lives.

Your all-volunteer Orange County Planning Committee has assembled an exciting calendar of events for the remainder of 2011. Review the calendar and mark the dates so your family can plan to participate in as many activities as possible. Please note that event information is subject to change - be sure to check back to this site for the latest postings, and look for electronic invitations and updates in your email as the year progresses.

More volunteers are always needed to help with events. Please contact the committee at ocfccsocal@gmail.com.  Help build and sustain our nurturing, fun and enriching community that celebrates, empowers and advocates for adoptive families in every stage of the lifelong adoption journey. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed over the years to Families with Children from China!

The Orange County Regional Group had a busy end to 2010.  Here's the wrap-up:

In October the OC Regional Group inaugurated a new event - the China Book and Story Group.  This 2-in-1 family event opened with a fun children's session on Chinese folktales taught by Ms. Shawna Lai, instructor at South Coast Chinese Cultural Center. In the second hour, the remaining adults enjoyed a discussion of the book Factory Girls: from Village to City in a Changing China by Leslie T. Chang. Everyone took part in the conversation and got to know each other better.  In the adjoining room, two of our teenage girls took charge of the younger kids and led a "make your own book" craft.  Patty Uy organized and numerous volunteers helped with set up and clean up.  Thanks everyone!  Expect to see this kind of event again in 2011!

Additional events include the annual art workshop and the Holiday Dance Party. Click through to read more.

This autumn marked another memorable Moon Festival banquet in Orange County. The event was once again held at Ten Ten Seafood Restaurant in Artesia. Everyone enjoyed the delicious food and interactive cultural entertainment.

Co-organizer Susan Tschabrun introduced a mooncake dice game from Fujian province. The game originated about 350 years ago by a Chinese general trying to stave off homesickness among his troops during this family-centric holiday. The total of 63 prizes, based on various dice combinations, was named after the six titles earned in the imperial civil service exam.  Mooncake Dice Game proved to be a big hit with all participants and will surely become part of our annual tradition.

Patty Uy writes:
We saw this film last Friday and both thought it very well done.  Ed found it slow during the first half, but for me that helped the viewer experience the physical as well as emotional discomfort experienced by the migrant workers in their lives and travels.

We recommend it.  People who have read Factory Girls may have even greater interest in the related subject matter of this film.  It's playing in several venues around the greater LA area.

Click through to the full post to read about the film and watch the trailer.

Sunday August 22 was a picture perfect summer day, much to the delight of the FCC families and friends gathered at Crystal Cove State Beach.  Around 20 families, or 60 individuals, turned out for the event, which was expertly organized and executed by Sandy Draper and husband Joel Warner (who lugged a ton of stuff down the steep path).  Many thanks to both!

Our group congregated around an extra large shade canopy sheltering cold drinks and a variety of snacks, even watermelon!  Each family brought their own lunch and beach gear.  There was no shortage of sand toys, and a few of the older kids braved the chilly ocean water on boogie boards.  Some folks took a short walk to check out the tide pools.  All the girls (and even a few boys) had hours of endless play in the sand and the waves, and all the parents enjoyed visiting.  A wonderful time was had by all!

Check out our gallery of Beach Day photos. Our thanks to Ann Marie Rousseau and Patty Uy for contributing the photos.