During February, Black History Month, I take this time to ask myself how we at Adoption Mosaic are honoring and supporting our communities of color. One way we support our community is by listening to the stories of others. This month we offer two events that are looking at and exploring the depths of racial identity and our lived experiences. Our upcoming We the Experts: Adoptee Speaker Series will feature four transracial adoptees sharing their experiences as people of color adopted into white families. Whether you are a transracial adoptee or not, chances are you are in close proximity to someone who has a personal lived experience of exploring their racial identity. In addition, our We the Experts: Adoptee Ally Speaker Series will feature four adult children of adoptees and their own journeys with racial identity. Adoption is a legacy passed on through the generations. The more we understand about these experiences, the better we can support our adoption constellation.
Another example that comes to my mind is our recently begun six-weekConscious Adoption: Transracial Parenting course. It has been uplifting to work with transracial adoptive parents who are joining the conversation about the intersection of race and adoption alongside my adoptee co-facilitators, Jordan, Saiming, and Shelise.
I hope you all can join me in these spaces to help honor and support our communities of color, especially adoptees of color.
As always, thank you for your continued support of Adoption Mosaic!
Identities are ever changing. For transracial adoptees race and adoption add a complex layer to our experiences. This panel will explore how transracial adoptees met the challenge of forming their racial identities:
In the absence of racial mirrors
With parents who did not know how to guide them in the complexities of race
Without meaningful connections to their communities of origin
Lacking allyship from their families - immediate and extended
*No adoptee is turned away due to financial hardship. Contactevents@adoptionmosaic.comor call 971.231.7184 for scholarship details.
We once again highlight the experiences of adult children of adoptees to gain a greater understanding of the legacy of adoption. This panel will focus on the intersection of adoption and racial identity in this next generation of people shaped by adoption.
Shelise Gieseke, assistant director of Adoption Mosaic, had the pleasure of speaking on two podcasts recently. Please give them a listen and support our fellow adoptees!
