FCC teens...come join our new FCC-SoCal leaders Sarah Koff and Priscilla Hefley for an informal teen (& parent) potluck picnic. Sarah and Priscilla are two adult China adoptees interested in forming a leadership group for teenage adoptees and their parents. The goal is to build a supportive community of teen adoptees; one in which teens have the opportunity to form friendships, share experiences, stay connected with one other, and have fun.

We'll be meeting once a month or so. Our first get-together will be at the park adjacent to LACMA. Click through to the full post for all the juicy details.

-- From the Vista Del Mar announcement --

Our objective is to help you create your personal Adoptive Family Social & Support and Play Groups.  We will help families to connect with one another based on the ages of their children as well as by location and interests.

Experienced Adoption/Play Group Coordinators & Facilitators (including Jeri Floyd and Susan Robinson) will provide insight into the benefits of Adoption Friendship groups, give instruction on how to get started, offer suggestions for activities and programs, answer questions, and share informational hand-outs.

RSVP to Elizabeth at earkin@vistadelmar.org or 310-836-1223, ext. 482.

FCC-SoCal had a stellar turnout for the “Friends of FCC” activity to march in the Golden Dragon Parade on Saturday, February 20 in Chinatown! We more than doubled our participation from last year, with over 50 parents, children, and friends. 

Despite the threat of weather challenges (this was during the peak of the rainy season!), we had a nice, sunny day!  Click through to the full post to see additional photos of the memorable event.

The Year of the Tiger roared into town with two banquets for FCC SoCal members and their guests on Feb 6th and 27th. Our annual tradition of gathering to celebrate and re-connect continued for its 13th year, though this time with a new committee at the helm. Many thanks to Jeri, Susan and Lee for making this a favorite event for so many years and giving the new bunch an easy template to follow.

Though the first banquet was smaller than in recent years with about 250 people, it was lovely to have a bit more elbow room and the opportunity to mingle with friends and actually hear them. The Lion Dance topped off the evening with a particularly thrilling performance with lots of interaction with the kids. Their high voltage energy led us all onto the bubble wrap for the loud dance of joy. Everyone had a huge grin on their faces watching the kids let loose with glee.

The Catalina Island "Dark of the Moon" Weekend was great fun for the three families who participated - 3 little girls, 2 big brothers, their happy parents and one doting aunt.
 
Activities included a birthday celebration, volleyball, card games, endless relaxed conversations sitting on benches at Isthmus Harbor, walking all over the isthmus, and yes, stargazing on a very clear night.

It was an absolutely perfect and relaxing weekend - one that will be repeated next year along with, we hope, FCC Moon Festival mountain camping.

On Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Beeman Park in Studio City the SoCal Friends - Chinese the Fun Way group met to do crafts and learn Chinese with WeiWei. Luckily, they didn’t get blown away with all the wind! The children had fun making turkey headresses and Thanksgiving cards. They also learned how to say and give thanks in Chinese. Pumpkin pie was among the assortment of treats!

The group meets monthly with a different theme. The next event will be Christmas in Chinatown on Saturday, December 12. Event details will be posted shortly. Other upcoming events will include Chinese New Year and Huntington Gardens.

Contact Arlene Balkin at arlene@levyaffiliated.com for more information. And look for information of upcoming events here on this website. Come join WeiWei and friends to learn Chinese the fun way.

At its 18th Annual Image Awards on October 2, OCA-Greater Los Angeles bestowed its Community Service Award to out-going FCC president Jeri Okamoto Floyd.  The award honors Jeri’s leadership in guiding FCC–Los Angeles from a fledgling chapter to a thriving nonprofit charitable organization. Jeri helped integrate the FCC adoption community with the broader Asian Pacific American community by establishing cultural interactive programs such as the award-winning FCC-SoCal/China Care Bruins Buddy Program, which pairs FCC kids (6 to teens) with UCLA student mentors for monthly activities.