Board of Directors

“My work on the ASIA Families Board is motivated by my commitment to make sure ASIA Families is there in the future for any adoptee and any adoptive family who can benefit from our programs and our community.”

Leigha Basini is a Korean adoptee and attorney who has devoted her career to implementing programs and developing policies to improve the U.S. healthcare system. Her extensive state and federal health policy expertise, combined with her ability to build strong partnerships across the healthcare sector, have delivered powerful results throughout her career.

When he and his wife adopted their children from Korea, they were determined to provide them with as much exposure to their birth culture as possible. Joining ASIA Families has gone a long ways towards meeting that goal. Not unexpectedly, attending the culture school has awoken a renewed interest in Korean culture in Dae Sung as well. He is satisfying that interest by indulging in Korean dramas and reading fiction and non-fiction about his birth country.

Emily Schifrin has spent her career working to improve health care quality, with a focus on performance measurement and accreditation. She is currently the National Director of Accreditation and Evaluation at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she is responsible for the review and evaluation of PPFA’s nationwide member organizations.

“ASIA Families helped to build our family and enrich our lives. The program and services allow our adopted daughter and the rest of our family to stay connected to the culture and history of South Korea. It’s my honor to serve on the Board of an organization that greatly impacts families in our community.”

“After visiting Korea on my honeymoon, I wanted to get involved in an organization that provides young Korean adoptees with a strong sense of community and that is supportive of their families.  ASIA Families is an amazing organization that does just that and I’m so happy to be part of its mission as a volunteer and Board member."

“We are all grateful for the close community, many lifelong friends, and unconditional support we’ve enjoyed as part of ASIA Families over the years and look forward to many more.”

Kyle and his wife, Rachelle, are adoptive parents of two sons born in Korea, and the family has enjoyed connecting with other adoptive families and learning about Korean culture through participation in ASIA Families programming.

In 2013, she began volunteering with ASIA Families to share her knowledge and love of Korean culture with others. Within ASIA Families, she has found friends and such a strong sense of community and that is why she has joined the Board for the second time.

"We are so grateful to have ASIA Families in our lives, and I am honored to now serve on the board of this vital organization. When our son, who was born in Incheon, joined our family, it became especially important that he not only be a part of the Korean American community, but that he would also have the resources and unique understanding found within the lived experiences of the adoptee community. We are blessed to be a part of ASIA Families and I look forward to supporting the organization as it continues to grow and evolve, providing support for adoptees in all stages of life."

Before joining the ASIA Families Board, Chloe and her family participated in ASIA’s programs throughout her life. She believes the organization’s mission is vital to creating spaces where Korean adoptees and their families can explore and define their identities while connecting with others who share similar life experiences. Chloe feels honored to contribute to this invaluable organization.

A proud mother of two adopted children, Cynthia has been actively involved with ASIA Families since her daughter’s adoption from Korea, finding it an invaluable support system. She is honored to give back by serving on the ASIA Families board, helping other adoptive families build community and resources.

Joan worked in a volunteer capacity with ASIA for many years, serving as a member and then as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors.  She continued to serve on the Board of Directors once ASIA merged with Children’s Home Society of Minnesota.  Deeply interested in Korean culture, she was active on the agency’s Craft Sale Committee, which provided Korean art and crafts to families at the holiday sale and at Camp Rice for 25 years.