Name: Matt Fetzer

First KATCH event:
The 10th Anniversary KAtCH (KAtCH10) event in 2018. It was my first multi-day adoptee event. It’ll always be very memorable to me for both the people that I reconnected with and met there.

Where did you grow up/Where do you live now?
I’m proud to say that I grew up in Minnesota, near Minneapolis and St. Paul. These days, you’ll find me traveling the country in my converted van. Most recently, you’ll find me in the Seattle area, often in close proximity to a large moving body of water.

Tell us about yourself:
I started my adoption journey later in life, about eight years ago. I feel incredibly fortunate to have met many knowledgeable, kind, and welcoming adoptees early in my journey. Since then, I’ve been active in the community through volunteering, organizing, and attending events. The community has been, and continues to be, a big part of my life.

I enjoy learning and trying new experiences. I prefer company, but I don't mind being alone. I often focus on self-improvement, but I also try to accept my own humanity.

You’ll likely KATCH me doing the following:
Riding a bicycle on roads or trails. When I’m not biking, you’ll often find me at the theater, at the cinema, reading, at a restaurant, gaming, singing at Noraebang, hiking, or traveling. Lately, I’ve also been working on the right side of my brain, taking painting and photography classes and editing videos.

Why do you enjoy being involved in the KATCH community?
After KATCH10, I started driving from Minnesota to KATCH events, where I would meet up with friends from Michigan. Unsurprisingly, I met lots of folks from the Chicago area at these events, and they quickly became additional reasons for me to make the drive. While some have moved, there are still many people in the area that I look forward to seeing.

Besides the people, I’ve always appreciated the consistency and quality of KATCH events. The KATCH community has always felt warm, inviting, and safe. Also, KATCH events are usually really fun!

Favorite Restaurant(s) in Chicagoland:
I like Seollangtang, so I almost always stop at Han Bat.

Find me/Social Media:
Matt Fetzer on FB
mfetzer26 on IG