Ties Program Blog

Preparing for Heritage Travel | Ties Travelers Reflect | Hear From Our Team

Elizabeth Kwon 6/4/26 Elizabeth Kwon 6/4/26

Summer 2027 Tour Dates Are Here!

The Ties Program's 2027 summer heritage tour dates are officially live! China Ties, Guatemalan Ties, Kazakhstan Ties, and Korean Ties are all open for registration — with both Signature and Lite options available for each destination. Register by September 30, 2026 for the best pricing. Whether you're returning to your birth country for the first time or the fifth, our experienced team is with you every step of the way.

Elizabeth Kwon 3/19/26 Elizabeth Kwon 3/19/26

Returning to China: A Heritage Trip with My Sons

Adoptive mother, Jen Decker-McMillen shares her summer 2025 experience returning to China with her adopted teenage sons through The Ties Program. A powerful story of heritage travel, identity, and connection.

Elizabeth Kwon 1/22/26 Elizabeth Kwon 1/22/26

Ties Traveler: Meet Liz

Meet Liz Sevigny (they/them/她). Liz is a Chinese adoptee from Yueyang in Hunan Province and a participant in our inaugural China Ties Adult Adoptees Age 21+ heritage journey. Liz shares reflections on returning to their birth country, traveling alongside fellow adult adoptees, and the meaningful experience of meeting with their birth family during the journey.

Autumn Ackerson 6/14/25 Autumn Ackerson 6/14/25

Ties Travelers: Meet Wen

Follow Wen's journey back to China on the 2024 China Ties trip as she visits her birthplace in Ningdu, reconnects with her roots, and reflects on identity, belonging, and the power of traveling with fellow adoptees.

Autumn Ackerson 6/9/25 Autumn Ackerson 6/9/25

Returning to China as an Adoptee: The Trip That Opened the Real Journey

China Ties Program Manager Autumn Ackerson reflects on her personal journey as a Chinese adoptee returning to her birth country—and how leading others on their own return trips has shaped her path.

Autumn Ackerson 5/20/25 Autumn Ackerson 5/20/25

AANHPI Heritage Month Spotlight: Lacey Jeffrey

Chinese adoptee Lacey Jeffrey shares her journey of identity, heritage travel, and cultural connection as part of the AANHPI adoptee community. Read her story of heritage travel and finding belonging.

11/14/24 11/14/24

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