Police Officer Helps Young Korean Adoptees Adjust To Madison
Bielski Works To Answer Questions About Heritage, Background
Posted: 1:55 am CDT April 6, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Imagine finding yourself in a new family half a world away from your home. For adopted Korean children living in Madison, that situation is a reality.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportNow, a local group and a police officer are looking to unite and support those children, WISC-TV reported.Madison Police Officer Dave Bielski, a Korean adoptee, not only delights in explaining to children what it is like to be a police officer, but he also enjoys trying to help young Korean adoptees figure out who they are and where they came from."I'm adopted as well," said Bielski. "I came here when I was 7 years old. So I definitely have a connection with the kids I'm trying to help. I know what it's like, and it's really cool that they're interested in their Korean heritage and their Korean culture."Bielski said that he decided he wanted to try to help after connecting with a group called Families Through Korean Adoption several months ago.Miya Cox, the president of Families Through Korean Adoption, said she was supportive of Bielski's participation."I met Officer Dave and being a Korean adoptee myself, I had not met a lot of other Korean adoptees. And so when I found out what he did, I asked him if he'd be willing to do it," she said."I feel really honored to be kind of like a spokesman for them, to be like their role model-type," he said.John Hausbeck said his 6-year-old son Zach, whom Hausbeck adopted as an infant, looks up to officers like Bielski and has a lot of questions about his heritage.Hausbeck said, "He has that recognition. He knows. Obviously he realizes, 'I look different from mommy and daddy. Why is that?'"Although group meetings are casual, Bielski hopes to help Korean adoptees to one day address some tough issues."It's definitely challenging for someone that looks different and comes from a different background to come into an area where people don't look like you, and people don't do the things that you're comfortable doing," Bielski said. "And it takes you a lot of time get you assimilated."Families Through Korean Adoption offers many services, including language and culture classes year-round for those who have adopted or for those who are looking to adopt.Organizers said that for more information on Families Through Korean Adoption, call 608-663-2784.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportNow, a local group and a police officer are looking to unite and support those children, WISC-TV reported.Madison Police Officer Dave Bielski, a Korean adoptee, not only delights in explaining to children what it is like to be a police officer, but he also enjoys trying to help young Korean adoptees figure out who they are and where they came from."I'm adopted as well," said Bielski. "I came here when I was 7 years old. So I definitely have a connection with the kids I'm trying to help. I know what it's like, and it's really cool that they're interested in their Korean heritage and their Korean culture."Bielski said that he decided he wanted to try to help after connecting with a group called Families Through Korean Adoption several months ago.Miya Cox, the president of Families Through Korean Adoption, said she was supportive of Bielski's participation."I met Officer Dave and being a Korean adoptee myself, I had not met a lot of other Korean adoptees. And so when I found out what he did, I asked him if he'd be willing to do it," she said."I feel really honored to be kind of like a spokesman for them, to be like their role model-type," he said.John Hausbeck said his 6-year-old son Zach, whom Hausbeck adopted as an infant, looks up to officers like Bielski and has a lot of questions about his heritage.Hausbeck said, "He has that recognition. He knows. Obviously he realizes, 'I look different from mommy and daddy. Why is that?'"Although group meetings are casual, Bielski hopes to help Korean adoptees to one day address some tough issues."It's definitely challenging for someone that looks different and comes from a different background to come into an area where people don't look like you, and people don't do the things that you're comfortable doing," Bielski said. "And it takes you a lot of time get you assimilated."Families Through Korean Adoption offers many services, including language and culture classes year-round for those who have adopted or for those who are looking to adopt.Organizers said that for more information on Families Through Korean Adoption, call 608-663-2784.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
