Lauren LoGiudice is an accomplished comedian, actor, and author of Amazon Kindle Best Seller Inside Melania: What I Know About Melania Trump by Impersonating Her. Her work has been featured by The New York Times, BBC, Bust Magazine, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Hyperallergic, among others. Her writing has been called “criminal.” Her TV and film credits include Veep, Brave the Dark and Galaxy360. Moth StorySLAM Champ. In addition to her comedy album, Misfits: A Comedy Album you can also hear Melania Trump’s Rockin’ Right-Wing Christmas Album, available on all major streaming platforms.

Lauren delves into deeply flawed and painfully idiosyncratic characters. She has embodied some of the world’s most mysterious cultural icons, including Greta Garbo, Melania Trump, Mary Poppins, and the women in her Italian-American family.

Currently, Lauren continues to work on creating comedy through the lens of her unique personal experience with videos on every platform that will let her while producing her podcast Reconcile the Aisle on Radio Misfits.

She lives in New York City where she downplays every great thing that’s ever happened to her.

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Instructor, Adoptee Speaker/ Educator. After reuniting with her birth family at age 43, Cathy found herself on an unexpected healing journey related to her own relinquishment. The process included yoga, through which she found significant healing, and a new career path.

As a yoga teacher since 2012, Cathy teaches others about the adoptee experience, strategies for unearthing and healing adoption wounds, and mind-body practices that help with adoption-related difficulties. She trained in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in 2014 with Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, and David Emerson, author of Overcoming Trauma through Yoga.

Cathy facilitates online adoption support groups for Celia Center and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Lia Mancao, a licensed clinical social worker based in Los Angeles, CA, holds a master’s in social work from the University of Southern California. As the owner of a group practice and a dedicated writer, Lia actively serves on the mental health advisory boards for Seek Her and POPSUGAR, advocating for mental wellness. In addition to her work as a therapist, she conducts corporate wellness workshops, guiding individuals through the intricacies of work-life balance.

In her therapeutic practice, Lia assists clients in making connections from the past to the present, offering coping skills to enhance symptoms and interpersonal relationships. Her approach combines psychodynamic modalities, cognitive behavior therapy, and EMDR, tailored to individual needs. Additionally, Lia’s insightful contributions span various publications including Vogue, Women’s Health, MindBodyGreen, The Knot, and other outlets, addressing mental health, relationships, and self-esteem.

Kara was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She married her high-school sweetheart and together they traveled for a number of years before attending college. Kara went on to receive a BA, MA, a law degree from the George Washington University, and later a LLM from the University of Washington. Her husband and sons constantly keep her on her toes. Any moment of free quiet time she can find is spent designing, reading, and cooking; but storytelling is her passion. 

In January 2018, she wanted to see where in Africa her father’s family came from. Her over-the-counter DNA test revealed she was 50% something, but she had zero African DNA. This meant the man on her birth certificate couldn’t possibly be her genetic father. She lost her bi-racial identity with the click of a mouse. Kara discovered she was 50% Jewish. The DNA pandora’s box she opened led to an identity crisis. Because there were few resources for people with misattributed parentage experiences, she co-founded Right to Know, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental human right to know your genetic identity through education, mental health initiatives, and advocacy. 

Kara is leading advocate for genetic identity rights and people impacted by misattributed parentage. She has appeared on many podcasts, in multiple television interviews and articles, and has been a frequent speaker on her DNA surprise, the right to know, and the complex intersection of genetic information, identity, and family dynamics. She recently published the “My Re-Birthday Book: This is My Story: for adoptees, donor conceived, and people with an NPE, who are misattributed, or who’ve had a DNA surprise” and “Cinematic Roots: Explore Assisted Reproduction, Adoption, NPE, and DNA Surprise Terms Through Movies.”

Jennifer Fahlsing, CPC, is a co-founder of NAAP now serving as President. Jennifer has spent the last 20 years in the employment industry and is a licensed real estate Broker. She holds a BS in Business Management and an AS in Accounting. Her background includes education, training, sales, operations, and public speaking.
Jennifer is an Adoptee and First Mother which provides her with a unique understanding of the challenges involved in search and the gamut of emotions experienced in reunion. In 2013, after three decades of searching she located both her mother and son within a 3-month period. In 2018, after years of rejection she finally reunited with her father days before his death.

She served on the board for the ISSA for 8 years in a variety of roles including President and was the Secretary and managed the Social Media for Indiana Adoptee Network for four years. She joined Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records in 2015 and testified in 2015, 2016 and 2021 in support of OBC access legislation for Indiana Adoptees. Jennifer is a Sister on the Ground for Saving Our Sisters.

A 2014 Huffington Post article was written, by Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy, about her struggle to obtain a Passport; US Adoptees Have Trouble Getting Passports Due to Seal Records Law. Jennifer was the recipient of the Angel in Adoption award in 2018.

Jennifer resides in NE Indiana and enjoys spending time with her family and husband of 37 years, renovating investment properties, outdoor adventures, and traveling.

Leslie Pate Mackinnon has maintained a private psychotherapy practice for four decades. She resides in Atlanta and presents both nationally and internationally on issues that impact families conceived through adoption and third-party reproduction. She’s been on GOOD MORNING AMERICA w/ Robin Roberts, and on CNN discussing the impact of the internet on adoption. She was featured in DAN RATHER’s investigative report; ADOPTION OR ABDUCTION and was most recently on the Katie Couric show along with her oldest son Pete.

Leslie’s story is included in the book; The Girls Who Went Away, and the documentary A GIRL LIKE HER. Drawn to the field by placing her two firstborn sons for adoption when she was a teenager, her passion today is to educating as many therapists as possible, before she drops! She currently serves on the Evan B. Donaldson’s Board of Directors. For fun she reads voraciously, listens to jazz and sings in a gospel choir.

For more information about Leslie, please visit www.lesliepatemackinnon.com.

Senator Steve Fenberg is a prominent political figure from Colorado, known for his influential role in the state’s legislative processes. Representing the Democratic Party, Fenberg has made significant contributions to various legislative efforts, particularly in areas concerning the welfare of donor-conceived individuals and families.

A notable achievement in Fenberg’s career is his pivotal role in the passage of the “Donor-Conceived Persons and Families of Donor-Conceived Persons Protection Act” in Colorado. This groundbreaking legislation, which Fenberg introduced and co-sponsored, is the first of its kind in the United States. It focuses on protecting the rights of individuals conceived through sperm, egg, or embryo donations from unknown third parties.

Key provisions of the act include allowing adult donor-conceived individuals to obtain the identity of the donor who contributed to their conception. The act also sets a limit on the number of families that can be established per gamete donor, with a maximum of 25 families either within or outside of Colorado. Additionally, it mandates gamete agencies, banks, and fertility clinics to obtain a Colorado license and periodically request updates from donors on their medical history and contact information. Records on sperm and egg donors are subject to permanent retention under this act, ensuring that donor-conceived persons have ongoing access to their updated family medical history.

Senator Fenberg’s commitment to this cause was evident as he worked closely with the U.S. Donor Conceived Council to draft the bill, build support with various stakeholders, and gather expert testimony. His efforts led to the bill passing unanimously in the Colorado Senate and with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House of Representatives.

Fenberg’s involvement in this legislation highlights his dedication to addressing complex social issues and advocating for the rights and well-being of individuals affected by modern reproductive technologies.

For more information about Senator Steve Fenberg and his work, you can visit his official website and explore further details about his legislative efforts and priorities​

Rich serves as president of the Coalition for Truth and Transparency in Adoption (CTTA) and Adoption Search Resource Connection (ASRC). He is part of an advocacy team that has seen over 15 Colorado bills signed into law since 2014 to the benefit of adult adoptees, foster youth, birth/first parents, and donor conceived persons. A frequent presenter at digital and in-person conferences, Rich’s interviews and writings have been published in various news outlets and peer-reviewed books.

www.adoptiontruthandtransparency.org

 Barbara Robertson, LMSW, is an Ohio-born, New York Adoptee. She always knew that she was adopted. However, she was raised during the “closed records” era, when identifying biological information was lawfully inaccessible to her. 

Her life changed when she received a copy of her Original Birth Certificate (OBC) after updated Ohio legislation took effect in March 2015. Since then, she has been able to discover her origins and establish contact with both sides of her family. 

Barbara is a strong advocate for adoptee rights, devoting her time providing online education and support to all members of the adoption constellation worldwide. 

To this end, Barbara currently serves as a Co-Facilitator for Adoption Network Cleveland’s (ANC) monthly Virtual Webcam General Discussion Meeting. She serves as a Board Member of the National Association of Adoptees & Parents (NAAP), a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization founded by Marcie Keithley and Jennifer Fahlsing in 2021. 

Barbara has also written a piece for the Dear Adoption blog and is a contributing author to the book, Black Anthology: Adult Adoptees Claim Their Space, edited by Susan Harris O’Connor, MSW; Diane Rene Christian; & Mei-Mei Akwai Ellerman, PHD. 

Barbara is a New York based Social Worker who provides trauma aware general therapy as part of a private practice. Her lived experience growing up as an adoptee combined with graduating from the accredited Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) through the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) allows Barbara to help others navigate through complex journeys towards effective healing. 

My clinical work as a psychotherapist, consultant, and researcher all begins with my love of working with people who, through their unique struggles, demonstrate a desire to grow and thrive. I approach my professional life in the same manner I move through my personal one; the foundation of any relationship is built on empathy, integrity and collaboration. Every individual is unique, every family is unique, and every organization is unique… I see it as my imperative to listen, to share insights, and to partner with you to identify and achieve your goals. I aim to create a safe and creative framework for developing or expanding insights not just at an individual level, but to appreciate your individuality in the context of your environment and societal norms. This framework is relevant during times of crisis and/or illness, as well periods of relative stability when the work may be geared toward deeper understanding and building resilience. 

I provide therapy to adolescents, adults and families who are coping with school, work, life transitions and other stressors. My consultant and research activities are aligned with my therapeutic work and are designed to build healthy communities that can appropriately support mental health and wellness. My expertise spans a broad range of areas including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, sexual orientation, gender identity, unexpected DNA discoveries, behavioral concerns, school and work challenges, relational conflicts, parenting, trauma, and loss.  

I have been clinically trained in utilizing diverse evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Based Therapy (MBT), Relational Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Care. I consider myself a life-long learner which means that the expertise I have built over the last few decades continues to be informed by professional development experiences, both as an educator and lecturer. I participate in training and seminars that inform my work and assure that I am providing the most relevant and evidence based interventions. 

My work settings are diverse which keeps me connected to interdisciplinary and inter-institutional models of care. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed my private practice work in offices in both NYC and Greenwich, CT. I recognized long ago that this work is complemented by leadership roles I have held in a medical and mental health community health center, and most recently, through my appointment as the director of Psychological Services at The Spence School, an Independent day school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. 

https://www.michelegrethel.com/

Megan Hunter, MBA, is co-founder and CEO of the High Conflict Institute along with author and speaker, Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. who developed the high-conflict personality theory. Megan developed the concept of the Institute after 13 years in policy, legislation and judicial training with the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts and 5 years with the Dawes County Attorney’s Office in Nebraska. She is also founder of Unhooked Books Publishing. She leads a team across three continents to bring training and resources on high conflict disputes worldwide.

Megan has trained professionals across a wide spectrum of industries in the U.S. and in eight other countries. Megan holds an MBA and a B.S. in Business and Economics. She has served as President of the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, and the Arizona Family Support Council and Nebraska Child Support Enforcement Association. She served 5 years on the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners and is currently on the Stepfamily Magazine Advisory Board.

She is the author and/or co-author of several books on high conflict interactions.

High Conflict Institute

Peter J. Boni credits his disruptive childhood, a college education from The University of Massachusetts@Amherst, decorated on-the-ground service as a US Army Special Operations Team Leader in Vietnam (coined his “Rice Paddy MBA”), love of his family and friendship circle, plus luck-of-the-draw DNA with making him the person he has become today…a best-selling author, senior advisor, keynote speaker, fun-loving grandfather, and an advocate for the rights of the donor-conceived. 

In his most recent book, Uprooted: Family Trauma, Unknown Origins, and the Secretive History of Artificial Insemination, Peter shares both an intimate memoir as well as a tell-all expose` of scientific, legal, and sociological history and evolution of the Assisted Reproductive Technology industry, through the lens of someone who had experienced the trauma of discovering later in life that he was misattributed ; in his case via an anonymous sperm donor.

During his accomplished business career (high-tech CEO, venture capitalist, board chairman, non-profit leader, award-winning entrepreneur), Peter has applied “lessons of leadership through adversity” from his life-altering experiences–themes found throughout his first book, All Hands on Deck: Navigating Your Team Through Crises, Getting Your Organization Unstuck, and Emerging Victorious. 

An inspiring public speaker with a storytelling, audience-participation style, Peter enjoys an active physical regimen, entertaining and boating with friends and family while at his Cape Cod residence, and traveling with his wife to, among other locales, San Francisco and New York City, to visit their growing family.

Sheridan Anderson (she/her), a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and trained family mediator, is the heart behind Sliding Doors Counseling. 

Her journey into the world of high-conflict relationships, life transitions, and DNA surprises is not just professional—it’s deeply personal. Growing up, she believed her father had died by suicide, a narrative that shaped her early life. However, a DNA test in 2018 revealed a different truth: the man she thought was her father wasn’t her biological parent. This revelation reshaped Sheridan’s understanding of mental health and identity, fueling her passion to help others on similar paths.

Sheridan has shared her insights on DNA podcasts and as a public speaker, addressing topics such as the impact of perceived genetic history on personal identity and her own mental health journey and the importance of coping skills to manage anxiety. She is also on the RTK board.

Sheridan is also a regular human—sometimes anxious, occasionally awkward, and mostly funny. For more insights and updates, follow Sheridan on Instagram @slidingdoorscounseling and on Facebook at Sliding Doors Counseling. 

Dr. Abigail Hasberry is a transracial adoptee, executive leadership coach, and licensed marriage and family therapist associate. With a background in education as a former teacher and principal, she has experience in private, traditional public, and charter schools. Dr. Hasberry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in African American studies and sociology, a Master of Arts in teaching, K-12, a Master of Education in counseling and development, and a Ph.D. in curriculum & instruction. In addition, she is currently completing a Master of Science degree in industrial/organizational behavior.

Dr. Hasberry’s research and publications focus on identity development, diversity, and the experiences of black teachers in private, affluent, and predominantly white schools. She is also actively involved in training therapists on adoption informed practices and has been a guest speaker on adoption, identity development, and trauma in various podcasts and webinars. She is in the process of publishing her memoir, Adopting Privilege.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Hasberry is married and has raised three children. Her personal journey as an adoptee and birth mom fuels her dedication to supporting adult adoptees and birth mothers in their own paths of healing and growth.

Maria Leonard Olsen is a biracial attorney whose parents were forbidden by law to marry in their home state of Maryland in the 1960s. She practices law as a commercial litigator in the Washington, D.C. area, covering a variety of matters, including contract disputes, employment discrimination and government relations.  Maria is an author, podcaster, journalist, TEDx speaker and mentor to women in recovery.  Her latest book, 50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life, has helped thousands of women thrive in midlife. She has written books on self-care and the new American family.  Her children’s books, Mommy Why’s Your Skin So Brown? and Healing for Hallie, have been widely used as teaching vehicles on diversity and the importance of processing feelings. 

On her podcast, “Becoming Your Best Version,” Maria amplifies the voices of inspiring women each week.  Maria graduated from Boston College and the University of Virginia School of Law, served as a political appointee for legislative affairs and policy development in the Clinton Justice Department, fostered newborn babies awaiting adoption, and has been on the boards of Children’s National Medical Center BOV, the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Washington and other nonprofits.

While in private practice in one of D.C’s then-largest law firms, Maria was awarded Pro Bono Coordinator of the Year by the D.C. Bar Association and, in 2023, was named Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the Academy of the Holy Cross. She has written for The Washington Post, AARP, Parents Magazine, Authority Magazine and others, and joined Meer and The Midst as a contributing writerin 2023.

Her next book will cover the unintended consequences of consumer DNA testing. Maria has spoken at numerous schools and corporate and nonprofit events, including the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, the Mixed Remixed Festival, HerStory Circle and the National March to End Rape Culture. One of her book talks was featured on C-Span’s Book TV show. She spoke at TEDx CUNY on “Turning Life’s Challenges into a Force for Good.”  She has traveled to 63 countries, and strives to see the world.  She spent much of 2022-2023 in Latin America and Southeast Asia. 

Her daughter works for City Bureau, a media nonprofit in Chicago, that increases accessibility and coverage for underserved communities, and her son is a social media influencer and media personality in Los Angeles and New York, voted TikTok’s Sexiest Man by People Magazine.  (@Chris on TikTok and @ChrisOlsen on Instagram). 

Learn more and follow links at www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com, and follow her on social media @FiftyAfter50 and @MariaOlsen49.

Kara was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She married her high-school sweetheart and together they traveled for a number of years before attending college. Kara went on to receive a BA, MA, a law degree from the George Washington University, and later a LLM from the University of Washington. Her husband and sons constantly keep her on her toes. Any moment of free quiet time she can find is spent designing, reading, and cooking; but storytelling is her passion. 

In January 2018, she wanted to see where in Africa her father’s family came from. Her over-the-counter DNA test revealed she was 50% something, but she had zero African DNA. This meant the man on her birth certificate couldn’t possibly be her genetic father. She lost her bi-racial identity with the click of a mouse. Kara discovered she was 50% Jewish. The DNA pandora’s box she opened led to an identity crisis. Because there were few resources for people with misattributed parentage experiences, she co-founded Right to Know, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental human right to know your genetic identity through education, mental health initiatives, and advocacy. 

Kara is leading advocate for genetic identity rights and people impacted by misattributed parentage. She has appeared on many podcasts, in multiple television interviews and articles, and has been a frequent speaker on her DNA surprise, the right to know, and the complex intersection of genetic information, identity, and family dynamics. She recently published the “My Re-Birthday Book: This is My Story: for adoptees, donor conceived, and people with an NPE, who are misattributed, or who’ve had a DNA surprise” and “Cinematic Roots: Explore Assisted Reproduction, Adoption, NPE, and DNA Surprise Terms Through Movies.”

Melanie Faith Bonner – Domestic Transracial Adoptee, 52

Adoption is trauma. Transracial adoption is that same trauma multiplied over and over again. Hello. I’m Melanie, a transracial adoptee born in Henderson, KY in 1971. I was adopted, not long after birth, to a young white conservative couple from Birmingham, AL. I became daughter number 4 as they already had 3 daughters of their own. A few years later, they adopted 3 more biracial children and we moved to Knoxville, TN. My childhood memories are painful, confusing and sad, but they didn’t used to be. The desire to connect with my roots never left me, and even though the situation I was in attempted to tell me who I was, I never believed it. “Your adoption was private, and the records are sealed” “Your birth father did not know about the pregnancy” I could not accept the secrecy surrounding my existence as it only intensified my need for truth. There is an incredible amount of bewilderment that comes with not knowing who you are or where you come from, and as a bi-racial adoptee existing in unrecognizable spaces, I digested a tremendous amount of undeserving shame.

The search for my truth ended about 6 years ago after I found my birth father via Ancestry DNA. Geary Wayne is deceased. His tiny obituary, staring back at me made everything final.  Years earlier, Rebecca, my birth mother rejected me. I was handed my original birth certificate at the courthouse in Muhlenberg County, KY while attempting to request biological identifying information. A trip to their library’s genealogy department, google search & a couple phone calls later connected me to her for the first time in 30 years. “She said this is probably true but do not ever contact her/us again.”  My birth parents, separated by train tracks, attended high school together and became romantically involved during a time and place when interracial relationships were unacceptable, and potentially dangerous. My mixed race was an undeniable and unwanted representation of this union, leaving me at the mercy of strangers.  Navigating my adoption experience has been lonely and dark at times; led mostly by intuition, curiosity, and the human desire to know – why my skin is beige, why my lips are full and why my eyes are brown.   Today, I bravely speak up for my younger self, using my voice for others who cannot find the words. I freely share my story with pride, perseverance, and honorable truths. I refuse to only exist in the confines of someone else’s shame.

“I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions” ~  Zora Neale Hurston

Marylee MacDonald is the author of Surrender, a memoir about growing up adopted and the surrender of her first-born child.  While raising her other four children, she worked as a carpenter and co-owner of Working Women Construction and as a freelance editor for Old-House Journal, Sunset, and Better Homes & Gardens. When her youngest graduated from college, she was able to quit her day job and write full time. Her short stories have won the Barry Hannah Prize, the American Literary Review Fiction Prize, the Jeanne M. Leiby Memorial Chapbook Award, the Matt Clark Prize, and the Ron Rash Award. Her novel, Montpelier Tomorrow, won a Gold Medal for Drama from Readers’ Favorites International Book Awards, and Surrender was a winner in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. In her free time, she loves to visit historic sites, do detective work in European archives, and spend time with her family.

Jennifer Fahlsing, CPC, is a co-founder of NAAP now serving as President. Jennifer has spent the last 20 years in the employment industry and is a licensed real estate Broker. She holds a BS in Business Management and an AS in Accounting. Her background includes education, training, sales, operations, and public speaking.
Jennifer is an Adoptee and First Mother which provides her with a unique understanding of the challenges involved in search and the gamut of emotions experienced in reunion. In 2013, after three decades of searching she located both her mother and son within a 3-month period. In 2018, after years of rejection she finally reunited with her father days before his death.

She served on the board for the ISSA for 8 years in a variety of roles including President and was the Secretary and managed the Social Media for Indiana Adoptee Network for four years. She joined Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records in 2015 and testified in 2015, 2016 and 2021 in support of OBC access legislation for Indiana Adoptees. Jennifer is a Sister on the Ground for Saving Our Sisters.

A 2014 Huffington Post article was written, by Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy, about her struggle to obtain a Passport; US Adoptees Have Trouble Getting Passports Due to Seal Records Law. Jennifer was the recipient of the Angel in Adoption award in 2018.

Jennifer resides in NE Indiana and enjoys spending time with her family and husband of 37 years, renovating investment properties, outdoor adventures, and traveling.

Amy Barker, LMHC, owner & founder of Adoption Savvy, is an Adoption & Trauma Therapist who offers counseling, consulting, coaching, clinical supervision, and public speaking services. Amy holds a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, is licensed in Washington state as a Mental Health Counselor, is certified in Attachment & Trauma-Focused Therapy (ATFT), and serves as Newsletter Editor on the national Board of Concerned United Birthparents, Inc. Her private practice focuses on individuals impacted by adoption and foster care, those with DNA surprises and/or misattributed parentage (NPE/MPE), and others experiencing reproductive and genetic identity issues such as donor-conceived persons (DCPs), Late Discovery Adoptees (LDAs), and those involved in trafficking and/or surrogacy. She regularly facilitates groups and retreats for Adult Adoptees and Birth Mothers.

Amy is an Adoptee from a closed adoption during the Baby Scoop Era in long-term reunion, and she is also a Birth Mother in ongoing relationship with her grown son of an open adoption. Having lived both sides of the fractured and confusing reality of relinquishment and adoption, and also as a clinician specializing in this field, Amy is in a unique position to speak to how intergenerational trauma is passed on through the lineage of families and how to break the repeating cycle for future generations. She is a writer, performer, and overall creative who seeks to use all available forms of artistry to communicate the complex, nuanced, and complicated lifelong journey of adoption. 

https://www.adoptionsavvy.com/

amy@adoptionsavvy.com

Monica was born in Canada, adopted by American parents, and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Growing up in a house filled with dysfunction, Monica rebelled against her strict Catholic parents in a downward spiral of delinquency. After being raped and finding out she was pregnant, her parents coerced her to up give her daughter–her only known blood relative– for adoption.

Her experiences as an adoptee and a mother who relinquished a child for adoption kicked off a decades-long search for family and belonging. Over the course of 44 years, Monica got sober, embarked on a journey of self-discovery and self-love, and found ways to come out the other side stronger than ever.

After being reunited with her biological family, Monica learned that she was indigenous and began traveling to Canada to connect more with her biological family, roots, and culture. She also makes frequent visits to Anchorage, the land of her youth.

Family is one of the most important things in Monica’s life. Today, she has strong relationships with her daughter and son, as well as the daughter she was reunited with eighteen years after relinquishing her for adoption. She is also close to her grandchildren and (adoptive) brother.

Monica’s memoir, Practically Still a Virgin is coming in the spring of 2023.

Born in the land of Oz, Ridghaus relinquished a son at age 19 and then later, at the age of 35, learned of his adoption.

He co-created the documentary film Six Word Adoption Memoirs, permeating adoptionland worldwide, then designed and edited a coffee table book from the second round of interviews.

With graduate degrees in law, film, and English Composition he taught university-level writing and media courses, including poetry, for 20 years. Currently Ridghaus co-facilitates Adoptee Voices Writing Group and Vocce – a writing group for birth/first parents.

His lifelong love for cinema started with Star Wars. and he continually studies light in motion and story craft. An amateur mycophile, when not on set he can be found in deep woods foraging and carrying his vintage Yashica Mat -124 G.

In July 2021, Alexis Hourselt received her Ancestry DNA kit results. To her shock, she discovered that the man she’d called “Dad” for 35 years was not her biological father. 

Alexis also learned through her DNA test results that she is not a multi-ethnic Mexican woman, as she’d believed, but African American. These two discoveries caused a complete upheaval of her identity. 

Alexis created the DNA Surprises podcast to provide a space for NPEs, donor-conceived people, and adoptees (and their families) to find comfort in the stories of those who are on similar journeys. She also aims to raise awareness of DNA surprises and ultimately create more openness and honesty around parentage. Since her discovery, Alexis has become a prominent voice in the DNA surprise community, advocating for truth, transparency, and healing.

In 2022, she founded the DNA Surprise Retreat with Debbie Olson of the DNA Surprise Network. The Retreat serves as a bridge to healing for the DNA surprise community.

Corey Stulce is the co-creator and co-host of the Family Twist podcast, along with his spouse of 19 years, Kendall Austin Stulce. Family Twist began with Kendall’s story of finding his birth family after Corey got him a DNA test for his birthday. After 47 years of being an only child, Kendall became the oldest of seven. He and Corey moved their pack of dogs and cats from the San Francisco Bay Area to New England in 2017, to form bonds with Kendall’s birth family. Family Twist features stories related to DNA surprises, adoption, NPEs, donor conception and more. The tagline is, “Remember, family secrets are the ultimate plot twist.” Corey knew from age 5 he wanted to be a writer; his professional writing career started in 1997. He’s the author of two books, the bestselling “The Union of The State,” about the famed comedy troupe, The State, and “Laugh Lines,” featuring interviews with legendary comedians. Corey has also dedicated his career over the prior 15 years to digital marketing, including content strategy, social media and analytics. 
Family Twist Podcast

My Name in Abbi and I lost my son to adoption when I was only 17 years old. In 2008, My parents sent me away to a maternity home that shared a property with their affiliated adoption agency. I was coerced and spiritually manipulated into relinquishing my parental rights. My pleads for support were called selfish and disobedient to God.

After loosing my son and gaining freedom from the maternity home, the reality of the trauma sunk in. I wound up marrying the father of my son and we have two more children together. After 14 years of an extremely rigid, mediated “open adoption”, we asked to be allowed an honest relationship with our son. The adoptive parents cut us off and we have had zero contact with our now 15 year old son for nearly 2 years.

I began posting videos on social media platforms about the experience of being a birth mother back in April of 2023. I hope to continue building bridges and connections for the betterment of everyone touched by the experience of adoption or family separation.

Voiceless Birthmother

Karlos Dillard is a published author and Social Media Foster Care Advocate. Karlos is a Transracial Adoptee who was adopted from the Michigan State foster care system at the age of 9. He has a social media platform that is focused on providing accessible, diverse, and ethical adoption and foster care education. Karlos has led training for foster families and adoption agencies on transracial adoption, adoption trauma, and financial literacy for foster youth. He has partnered with organizations like TreeHouse for Kids in Seattle, Wa using his large social media platform to fundraise over $10,000 worth of toiletries, backpacks, and suitcases for foster youth. Karlos was also the Keynote Speaker for Treehouse for Kids’ annual Champions Luncheon.

He is a frequent speaker in many different settings and has been interviewed by CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and many other major news networks about his views on adoption and foster care. His speaking engagements including colleges, adoption agencies, and conferences, his latest being the Keynote Speaker for Delaware State DSCYF Destined for Greatness annual graduation ceremony. Karlos has used his story of being a foster youth and a transracial adoptee growing up in a white world to curate deep conversations about race in America. With his unique insight on racial tensions between the white and Black communities, He has been able to curate impactful conversations online and off where everyone learns to value each other and their experience, while learning about systemic racism, privilege, and their role in it. 

Karlos wrote an engaging memoir, Wards of the State: A Memoir of Foster Care, which is about his lived experience in the Michigan State foster care system, surviving more than 30 placements. He is a phenomenal speaker and always shines a light on the dark truths of the foster care and adoption systems. 

www.karlosdillard.com

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Miki grew up as a child of divorce from the age of two. She spent her childhood splitting her life between two drastically different households. Continually adjusting to new moves and new step-parents always feeling as if she never quite “fit in.” Over the years, a quiet voice in her head nudged her to wonder if feeling out of place came not only from the result of so much change. Could it be that she was not the biological child of one or both of her parents?

During the quiet of the pandemic in late 2020, a mixture of curiosity and courage empowered her to take a genetic test that finally confirmed: she was a NPE. The man she believed to have been her father her entire life was not. Rather, she was the product of an affair. Upon discovering the identity of her biological father, Miki realized she had vague memories of him, and much more vivid memories of playing with his two girls, her sisters, as a child. When confronted with the news, much of her family did not receive it well, warning Miki that to tell her new sisters of her discovery could potentially destroy their lives. As a result of guilt, shame, and respect, she did not share her find with her “new” sisters for a year.

During that year, having no outlet to process her feelings, she turned to Tiktok to express to strangers all she felt she could not to her family or to anyone who knew them. Prior to her discovery, Tiktok had already become a place where she had entertained her friend group and her approximately 257 followers. But upon revealing her experience as a NPE; her following quickly grew. Tiktok became a safe place where she could share her experiences, use humor to tell her stories and relate to others who had gone on their own journeys after taking their own tests. Finally she began to heal the pain of being treated by her family as a shameful secret. Finally, she could unapologetically be her true self.

She has since revealed herself to her “new” sisters. To her immense relief, their response to the news was unbridled excitement and happiness. They are proud to have her as their little sister and have consistently reassured her she has caused no harm, and are happy to have her as an addition to their sisterhood. While occasionally, her friends and coworkers will stumble upon her videos, the Newsweek article about her discovery, or even one of the tabloids that picked up the story and comment about her internet “fame”, the idea of being Tiktok famous has never really resonated. From Miki’s perspective, she’s just herself. She remains an “introverted extrovert” who describes herself as a chaotic blend of Wednesday Addams and Pollyanna. A dedicated, divorced mother of 2 teenage boys, an advocate for her son who has special needs, a Midwesterner who enjoys a quiet and simple existence, a full time substitute for a local middle school, and a mom who will never grasp the rules or strategies of the athletics her sons participate in but will never miss an opportunity to cheer them on while they play their “sportsballs.”

https://www.tiktok.com/@a.not.so.perfect.mom

Beth Syverson is an adoptive mom of a 20-year-old son Joey, who has been struggling to find his healing path for the past several years because of addiction and suicidality. They created the Unraveling Adoption podcast together in 2021 to help other families struggling with similar issues. Beth also runs a free support group for adoptive parents called APtitude, and she recently became a Certified Coach, working primarily with adoptive parents. Through the podcast, support group, coaching, and events, she hopes to help adoptive parents become more self-aware and to work on their own issues so they can become more emotionally attuned parents. And she hopes to raise awareness about adoption trauma to the wider community. Beth speaks out on the topics of addiction, adoption, mental health, and parenting in order to help families heal. Find out more at UnravelingAdoption.com. Contact Beth at Beth@UnravelingAdoption.com.

Unraveling Adoption

Mee Ok is a writer, poet, teacher, book doula, and sacred medicine support practitioner. She was born in Korea and adopted by a white evangelical couple in the U.S. Her remarkable story was one of the case studies in Dr. Gabor Maté’s recent book The Myth of Normal. After struggling with scleroderma in her early 30s and given only 5 years to live, she stumbled upon healing through plant medicine. She was featured in an episode of Netflix’s series [Un]Well, she’s appeared on Gabor Maté’s panel for his wisdom of trauma summit, and she was one of the panelists for last December’s Sacred Plant Medicine for Healing the Adoption Constellation panel. She brings a wealth of knowledge combined with transformative personal experiences in the field of Sacred Plant Medicine. Visit her site, Holding Compassionate Space.

Leslie Pate Mackinnon has maintained a private psychotherapy practice for four decades. She resides in Atlanta and presents both nationally and internationally on issues that impact families conceived through adoption and third-party reproduction. She’s been on GOOD MORNING AMERICA w/ Robin Roberts, and on CNN discussing the impact of the internet on adoption. She was featured in DAN RATHER’s investigative report; ADOPTION OR ABDUCTION and was most recently on the Katie Couric show along with her oldest son Pete.

Leslie’s story is included in the book; The Girls Who Went Away, and the documentary A GIRL LIKE HER. Drawn to the field by placing her two firstborn sons for adoption when she was a teenager, her passion today is to educating as many therapists as possible, before she drops! She currently serves on the Evan B. Donaldson’s Board of Directors. For fun she reads voraciously, listens to jazz and sings in a gospel choir.

For more information about Leslie, please visit www.lesliepatemackinnon.com.

Brian Stanton is a Los Angeles-based stage actor who is most known for his original solo play BLANK, the true story of his adoption and search for identity. BLANK’s Hollywood premiere catapulted Stanton to perform all over the US and Canada, earning Best Solo Acting awards in New York and Los Angeles. Stanton’s most recent work @ghostkingdom, originally written as a play, was filmed during the pandemic due to theatre closures. Stanton has held screenings of his original film at film festivals as well as for adoption support and educational conferences. The Love International Film Festival honored Stanton with Best Screenwriter and Best Actor awards.

 Don Anderson, found out in 2021 that his dad wasn’t his dad. It changed his life. All of the sudden the missing pieces fell into place. Our first episode will drop on May 13, 2022.  NPE stands for Not Parent Expected or Non Paternity Event.

Eve Sturges launched her podcast, Everything’s Relative with Eve Sturges in 2019, exactly 1 year after a mysterious man turned her world–and identity–upside down. Learning about the Non-Parent Expected, and the wider MPE, communities gave Eve hope during a difficult time, and a purpose in the expanding landscape of DNA testing. Forever dedicated to creating community, spreading truth, and developing empathy, Eve invites everyone affected or involved in a DNA-discovery to join her for conversation on her podcast. Since its inception, ERWES has posted more than 100 episodes, interviewed more than 150 people, and logged over 100,000 downloads.

In 2022 Eve used her experience as a licensed psychotherapist to develop Who Even Am I Anymore: A Process Journal for the Adoptee, Late-Discovery Adoptee, Donor Conceived, NPE and MPE communities, now available on Amazon. Eve spends most of her time in Los Angeles, although she enjoys traveling to Hierath Hope & Healing Retreats as a facilitator and guest. Her private practice serves clients affected by DNA discoveries as well as the myriad life challenges facing everyone today. She has a supportive and patient husband, three kids, and one dog. Eve is best reached via email, eve@everythingsrelativepodcast.com or through her website, www.everythingsrelativepodcast.com.

Lily Wood, host of NPE Stories, is a stay-at-home mom of three children. When she found out she was an NPE the only thing that made her feel better was hearing other NPEs share their story. The NPE Stories podcast was created as a safe and supportive space for NPEs, LDAs, and DCPs to share their entire DNA surprise story, while listeners nod along. To date it has been downloaded over 300,000 times. In addition to raising her family, Lily volunteers in the NPE community in a variety of ways, hoping to create more societal empathy for those seeking to learn more about their genetic identity.

npestories.com

At age 35, Lynne Spencer’s mom told her that a sperm donor had been used in her conception.  Wow, so much made sense all of a sudden!  Lynne knew she had to talk about it, and had to find her biological father.  After 20 years of going down rabbit holes and stalking the wrong people based on lies from the doctor, a half-brother appeared on 23andme.  When he did a Y-DNA test, Lynne was able to solve the mystery of the donor, who had passed away.  She has been in touch with his son, and they now have 75 DNA confirmed siblings.  Sharing this journey is sister Nichole McLendon.  Nichole did a DNA test in 2019 and after contact from a half-sibling found out she was part of our clan in Oct. 2020.  Having not been told she was donor conceived, this led to a whirlwind of questions, answers, fractures, and connections on the path to understanding what this meant to her.  Lynne and Nichole both went through intense grief processes, and the feelings continue to surface.  They have had many sibling gatherings, and the sense of family has grown over the years.

Amanda Schneider resides in Tempe, Arizona, alongside her husband of two decades, three boys and three rescue dogs. Serving as the Executive Director for Amplify Voices, a nonprofit committed to empowering individuals from marginalized communities, Amanda facilitates advocacy for change at both local and national levels. 

During her teenage years, Amanda discovered that she was likely donor-conceived. Years later, at the age of 45, she sent in a genetic test kit, curious to see if she would find one or two half-siblings. When her results returned with eight, including one 20 years her senior, she thought there must be a mistake. Upon connecting with her half-sister Lynne, Amanda learned the truth – she was part of a vast sibling network spanning 30 years in age and potentially comprising hundreds of half-siblings. 

Continuing to navigate a spectrum of emotions, Amanda remains fascinated by the gradual process of meeting these previously unknown adults who share 50% of her DNA. This discovery has prompted her to contemplate the true meaning of terms like siblings, sisters, brothers, and family.

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1962, I was raised an only child always longing for brothers and sisters.  My parents had been married for 14 years when they sought fertility assistance in Detroit, Michigan. 

I have always had an avid interest in genealogy.  After putting my notes away for a number of years, I began seriously researching my family history and making break throughs in 2010.  In 2018, I took a DNA test in hopes of furthering my research.  Instead, I lost half of my family tree and my connections to ancestors who would have given me membership to the DAR and several other pioneer organizations.

My parents were unaware that a donor was involved and thought it was my Dad’s samples that were being used in the fertility treatments. 

I have discovered 16 brothers and sisters (so far).  Through good old fashioned genealogy research and further DNA testing, I have identified our biological father and together we have been able to piece together a more complete story of how we all came to be.

I am a former teacher, corporate trainer, and business owner.  I currently serve the City of Covington, Kentucky as City Clerk, having attained my Master Municipal Clerk certification through the International Institute for Municipal Clerks.  I live in Burlington, Kentucky and I am married to the love of my life, Dennis.  We have two children, Arrianne, and Mitchell, and three rescue Corgis, Peanut, Remi, and Bella.  We enjoy wine making, traveling and entertaining.  Our dogs have inspired our brand, Classy Canine Wines.

Leslie Pate Mackinnon has maintained a private psychotherapy practice for four decades. She resides in Atlanta and presents both nationally and internationally on issues that impact families conceived through adoption and third-party reproduction. She’s been on GOOD MORNING AMERICA w/ Robin Roberts, and on CNN discussing the impact of the internet on adoption. She was featured in DAN RATHER’s investigative report; ADOPTION OR ABDUCTION and was most recently on the Katie Couric show along with her oldest son Pete.

Leslie’s story is included in the book; The Girls Who Went Away, and the documentary A GIRL LIKE HER. Drawn to the field by placing her two firstborn sons for adoption when she was a teenager, her passion today is to educating as many therapists as possible, before she drops! She currently serves on the Evan B. Donaldson’s Board of Directors. For fun she reads voraciously, listens to jazz and sings in a gospel choir.

For more information about Leslie, please visit www.lesliepatemackinnon.com.

Jennifer is a Search Angel and volunteer with DNAngels. Jennifer found her love for Genealogy when she stumbled across an old family secret. As she rolled up her sleeves and tapped into her Jersey Girl stubbornness, she relentlessly worked until she found answers. After that, Jennifer found herself volunteering as intake manager for an organization that could teach her a more methodical approach to being a Search Angel. When that organization merged with DNAngels, Jennifer was welcomed to the new team with open arms, and enjoys every moment of it.

In her personal life, Jennifer lives with her husband Mark. They have four sons together. She grew up in a close-knit, supportive family, and loves when the entire crowd gets together for barbecues in the backyard.

Jennifer’s love language is Acts of Service, which she attributes to her appreciation for everyone that reaches out to DNAngels looking for help.

Kathy became a therapist to work with other adoptees after her own experiences in therapy, where she had to keep educating her therapists about the issues adoptees commonly face. Kathy utilizes IFS (Internal Family Systems) and regularly offers an IFS workshop for adoptees called “Not All Parts Get Adopted,” where adoptees can explore the parts of them that maybe didn’t participate in getting adopted. She also has begun offering a therapeutic IFS group for adoptees to explore all their parts related to having been relinquished and adopted. 

Contributing author for “Altogether Us: Integrating the IFS Model with Key Modalities, Communities, and Trends.”

Adoptee Therapy

Rich serves as president of the Coalition for Truth and Transparency in Adoption (CTTA) and Adoption Search Resource Connection (ASRC). He is part of an advocacy team that has seen over 15 Colorado bills signed into law since 2014 to the benefit of adult adoptees, foster youth, birth/first parents, and donor conceived persons. A frequent presenter at digital and in-person conferences, Rich’s interviews and writings have been published in various news outlets and peer-reviewed books.

www.adoptiontruthandtransparency.org

Theresa (Certified Addiction Recovery Coach, Recovery Coach Professional/facilitator) is an LDA, BSE, adopted person in recovery.  She is the owner of BALANCE Recovery Consultation and creator of “Tai Chi 4 Recovery”.  She currently serves as the Senior Director of Recovery Education and Training for Friends of Recovery – New York, and is registered with the ASAP-NYCB trainer registry. 

Theresa has over 30 years of professional experience in addiction recovery.  She has worked as a clinician, program director, recovery coach, peer professional trainer and community educator and was a clinical supervisor when she developed TCR.   Theresa co-facilitated Adoptee Paths to Recovery peer support meeting for NAAP with David B. Bohl from 2022-2023.     

She earned her BA in psychology at UAlbany in 1984 and completed holistic medicine and Tai Chi training at Green Mountain Institute; College of Oriental Medicine in 2000.  She is a former substance use disorder counselor in New York (CASAC; 1997 – 2014) and Arizona (CADAC; 2014 -2017). Theresa is a daily practitioner of meditation and has been teaching self -awareness, self-care, meditation, and Tai Chi since 2001.  TaiChi4Recovery@gmail.com; Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn, YouTube; WEBSITE. 

Kara was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She married her high-school sweetheart and together they traveled for a number of years before attending college. Kara went on to receive a BA, MA, a law degree from the George Washington University, and later a LLM from the University of Washington. Her husband and sons constantly keep her on her toes. Any moment of free quiet time she can find is spent designing, reading, and cooking; but storytelling is her passion. 

In January 2018, she wanted to see where in Africa her father’s family came from. Her over-the-counter DNA test revealed she was 50% something, but she had zero African DNA. This meant the man on her birth certificate couldn’t possibly be her genetic father. She lost her bi-racial identity with the click of a mouse. Kara discovered she was 50% Jewish. The DNA pandora’s box she opened led to an identity crisis. Because there were few resources for people with misattributed parentage experiences, she co-founded Right to Know, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental human right to know your genetic identity through education, mental health initiatives, and advocacy. 

Kara is leading advocate for genetic identity rights and people impacted by misattributed parentage. She has appeared on many podcasts, in multiple television interviews and articles, and has been a frequent speaker on her DNA surprise, the right to know, and the complex intersection of genetic information, identity, and family dynamics. She recently published the “My Re-Birthday Book: This is My Story: for adoptees, donor conceived, and people with an NPE, who are misattributed, or who’ve had a DNA surprise” and “Cinematic Roots: Explore Assisted Reproduction, Adoption, NPE, and DNA Surprise Terms Through Movies.”

Angela Tucker is a Black woman, adopted from foster care by white parents. She has heard this microaggression her entire life, usually from well-intentioned strangers who view her adoptive parents as noble saviors.  She is grateful for many aspects of her life, but being transracially adopted involves layers of rejection, loss and complexity that cannot be summed up so easily. Tucker centers the experiences of adoptees through sharing deeply personal stories, well-researched history and engrossing anecdotes from mentorship sessions with adopted youth. These perspectives challenge the fairy-tale narrative of adoption giving way to a fuller story that includes the impacts of racism, classism, family, love and belonging. She is the Executive Director of The Adoptee Mentoring Society.

Where do I come from? For some, the question has a simple answer – for others, the truth can be much more complicated. With the rise in popularity of at-home DNA tests, it’s now easier than ever for people to uncover their family history and, sometimes, things their parents wish would stay buried. Interested in learning more about his family heritage, director Jon Baime took an at-home DNA test and uncovered a family secret that has been hidden for half a century. Featuring in-depth interviews with Jon’s siblings as well as a treasure trove of family photos and films spanning 70 years, FILLING IN THE BLANKS takes audiences on a journey as Jon explores the meaning behind his discovery and expands on what it means to be family.

Shirley Muñoz Newson is a Gillette, Wyoming wife, mother, and grandmother who courageously wrote her memoir, The Little Dark One: A True Story of Switched at Birth to inspire others and show anything is possible with faith.

Shirley’s life was flipped upside down on April 7, 2001, one day before her 43rd birthday, when she received the DNA test results that would change her life forever. Everything she knew about herself wasn’t true.

Thanks to years of therapy, her unshakable faith in God, and the encouragement of her family, Shirley found the strength to tell her story and continue her own healing journey.

A baby-scoop era black-market “adoptee,” Patricia was sold along a curb outside a Texas hospital and grew up with no legal identity, date of birth, legal adoption, or court appointed guardian. Thus, despite one shady attorney’s best laid plans, at 18 she set out to unravel her mystery and obtain a legal birth certificate. At 40, she reunited with both biological parents, and she is currently seeking representation for her memoir, in which she shares how she uncovered the dirty deal that drove a life of deception, fueled her “adoptive” parents’ life-long addictions and stole her true identity.

Born with a love of writing, she earned a Journalism degree from the University of Texas, has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines, and dedicates her life to inspiring creativity in others. Active in adoption and writing communities, she blogs about her reunion experience at MyAdoptedLife.com and administers the Adoption Constellation Search and Reunion Facebook support group. She is a member of the National Association of Memoir Writers, the Adoption Knowledge Affiliates, and The Writers’ League of Texas. Bouncing between the Texas Hill Country and New Orleans, she works as a book publicist and content strategist, and attends an annual writing retreat in Costa Rica. A video of her reunion with her birth father has almost 300,000 views on YouTube.

Marylee MacDonald is the author of Surrender, a memoir about growing up adopted and the surrender of her first-born child.  While raising her other four children, she worked as a carpenter and co-owner of Working Women Construction and as a freelance editor for Old-House Journal, Sunset, and Better Homes & Gardens. When her youngest graduated from college, she was able to quit her day job and write full time. Her short stories have won the Barry Hannah Prize, the American Literary Review Fiction Prize, the Jeanne M. Leiby Memorial Chapbook Award, the Matt Clark Prize, and the Ron Rash Award. Her novel, Montpelier Tomorrow, won a Gold Medal for Drama from Readers’ Favorites International Book Awards, and Surrender was a winner in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. In her free time, she loves to visit historic sites, do detective work in European archives, and spend time with her family.

Hello! My name is Lorah Gerald. I am a same race, domestic, Baby Scoop Era, preRoe adoptee. I post as The Adopted Chameleon on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Patreon and Pinterest. I started these pages after reunion with my biological family. Reunion was a rollercoaster of emotions. It opened up feelings I had suppressed. I found writing and being creative was therapeutic. My pages connected me with others that were experiencing adoption trauma. Since that time I have been educating people on the trauma of adoption and how we can help heal ourselves. 

To better deal with my own trauma, I became a certified Kundalini yoga instructor, TIYT-Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy instructor, and Reiki Master.  With my training in trauma, yoga therapy and energy healing, I share these tools online and in person in my weekly yoga classes and workshops. Working with these techniques, I have learned to better understand my own trauma and how to help others in their path to be the best version of themselves.

When we heal ourselves, we heal the world.

Annette L Becklund is a therapist for over twenty years, specializing in Developmental Disabilities, a Mental Health Consultant, writer, and workshop facilitator. Originally from New Jersey, and now in Florida, she is a person who found out her dad was not her biological father. Annette is an NPE (Not Parent Expected) woman who is a professional member of The MPE Counseling Collective, and a member of several support groups with approximately 10,000 members. Annette and her colleagues published a professional study in the Journal of Integrative Medicine, published an article on NPEs in In Focus, a magazine for therapists in Florida, and has spoken on Ancestry Discoveries and related treatment. She facilitates a Facebook page called Ancestry Discoveries and has been a guest on a podcast on the same topic. Author of “Ancestry Discoveries: What Happens Under the Sheets Doesn’t Stay There” available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Annette self-published Warren is Wonderful, a children’s book for children with autism. She loves spending time with her husband, Ray, a talented artist, her three pups: Abbie, Zeva, Rafiki and cat, Spirit.

For more info: AnnetteLBecklund.com and AncestryDiscoveries.com.

In July 2021, Alexis Hourselt received her Ancestry DNA kit results. To her shock, she discovered that the man she’d called “Dad” for 35 years was not her biological father. 

Alexis also learned through her DNA test results that she is not a multi-ethnic Mexican woman, as she’d believed, but African American. These two discoveries caused a complete upheaval of her identity. 

Alexis created the DNA Surprises podcast to provide a space for NPEs, donor-conceived people, and adoptees (and their families) to find comfort in the stories of those who are on similar journeys. She also aims to raise awareness of DNA surprises and ultimately create more openness and honesty around parentage. Since her discovery, Alexis has become a prominent voice in the DNA surprise community, advocating for truth, transparency, and healing.

In 2022, she founded the DNA Surprise Retreat with Debbie Olson of the DNA Surprise Network. The Retreat serves as a bridge to healing for the DNA surprise community.

Lauren LoGiudice is an accomplished comedian, actor, and author of Amazon Kindle Best Seller Inside Melania: What I Know About Melania Trump by Impersonating Her. Her work has been featured by The New York Times, BBC, Bust Magazine, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Hyperallergic, among others. Her writing has been called “criminal.” Her TV and film credits include Veep, Brave the Dark and Galaxy360. Moth StorySLAM Champ. In addition to her comedy album, Misfits: A Comedy Album you can also hear Melania Trump’s Rockin’ Right-Wing Christmas Album, available on all major streaming platforms.

Lauren delves into deeply flawed and painfully idiosyncratic characters. She has embodied some of the world’s most mysterious cultural icons, including Greta Garbo, Melania Trump, Mary Poppins, and the women in her Italian-American family.

Currently, Lauren continues to work on creating comedy through the lens of her unique personal experience with videos on every platform that will let her while producing her podcast Reconcile the Aisle on Radio Misfits.

She lives in New York City where she downplays every great thing that’s ever happened to her.

Bill has been a healer, teacher and facilitator for 40+ years. He has been leading small and large groups, ranging from short term personal growth and structured groups, through long term abuse survivor groups. He believes in our inherent capacity to grow throughout life and become more of ourselves. His first career was in psychotherapy in residential treatment, inpatient hospital, outpatient mental health and private practice. He served individuals children & adolescents and families. His second career was teaching/facilitating communication classes in the North America, Central & South America, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. The principles of change and growth were equally effective in both careers. Helping people to grow, whether challenged by difficulties or aspirations are the most gratifying and fulfilling experiences.

Dr. Michelle Tullier is an NPE and nationally certified career counselor with more than 30 years’ experience helping people navigate the practical and emotional sides of career development and job search for more fulfilling and successful work lives. She served as Executive Director of the Georgia Tech career center, as one of Monster.com’s first online career coaches, and in regional leadership roles with a global outplacement firm serving clients from individual contributors to executives. She holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from UCLA and BA from Wellesley College.

Michelle is the founder of Careers Uncomplicated, a full-time career coaching practice that serves clients remotely across the U.S.(www.careersuncomplicated.com). In 2023 she earned one of the highest honors in her profession, the Outstanding Career Practitioner Award from the National Career Development Association. Since learning of her NPE status in 2016, Michelle has done deep and difficult work to process her new identity and has developed a special interest in how MPE experiences can impact career choices, career identities, and attitudes toward work. (Tullier is pronounced “tool-yay.”)

Leslie Pate Mackinnon has maintained a private psychotherapy practice for four decades. She resides in Atlanta and presents both nationally and internationally on issues that impact families conceived through adoption and third-party reproduction. She’s been on GOOD MORNING AMERICA w/ Robin Roberts, and on CNN discussing the impact of the internet on adoption. She was featured in DAN RATHER’s investigative report; ADOPTION OR ABDUCTION and was most recently on the Katie Couric show along with her oldest son Pete.

Leslie’s story is included in the book; The Girls Who Went Away, and the documentary A GIRL LIKE HER. Drawn to the field by placing her two firstborn sons for adoption when she was a teenager, her passion today is to educating as many therapists as possible, before she drops! She currently serves on the Evan B. Donaldson’s Board of Directors. For fun she reads voraciously, listens to jazz and sings in a gospel choir.

For more information about Leslie, please visit www.lesliepatemackinnon.com.

Lena (Eileen) Skahill is an adjunct professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She has been teaching courses in Adoption and Family Studies and Environmental Sociology which are available to students in the School of Social Work, Women’s and Ethnic Studies and The Humanities departments.  Lena is also adoptee (1966) and engaged in reunion with both of her first families. She has volunteered in varying capacities with adoption non-profits over the last decade and dedicated her academic career toward the pursuit of teaching and sharing the unique lived experiences of all members of the adoption constellation.

Lena has conducted research in adoption studies over the course of her career. Her early research, On the Outside Looking In: Adoptee Perspectives on Reunion Relationships explored the evolution of long term reunions between adoptees and their first families with outcomes of the study shared at academic conferences across the country.  Her current qualitative/photo essay-based research study titled, Nurtured by Nature: Adoption and Foster Care Experiences and the Healing Power of Nature is meant to shine a light on the adoption and foster care journeys and the ways in which nature serves as a modality for healing, growth, and joy for all impacted by these lived experiences.  Research for the study has been completed and Lena anticipates data to be published in 2024.

Debbie Olson is a Certified Life Coach, founder of DNA Surprise Network and co-founder of DNA Surprise Retreat, and a member of the Right to Know board. She helps others navigate life’s path after having a DNA Surprise, having experienced her own. Debbie is a former paralegal with over 20 years of experience in that field.  Possessing skills of empathy, understanding, and great communication, she is an ideal person to work with. She believes no matter where you are now, it is where you desire to be that is most important. 

Debbie was raised believing her biological father did not want her, and eventually she was told he was deceased. After taking an over-the-counter DNA test, she matched with an unknown half-sister in 2019. With this connection, she learned her biological father was alive, and had in fact looked for her.  

Debbie is an advocate for animals serving on the board of East Idaho Spay Neuter Coalition and is a key player in the Snake River Animal Shelter’s biggest yearly fundraiser. Both are nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations that help save animals lives. 

Debbie can be found on Instagram and Facebook at DNA Surprise Network or at DNASurpriseNetwork.com.  

Michele Kriegman, was born, relinquished, and adopted in New York City. She graduated from Wellesley College and received a Japanese Ministry of Education graduate scholarship to Sophia University’s Department of Mass Communications in Tokyo. There she began a journalism career at ABC News, followed by multi-year assignments with Nippon TV’s top-rated morning show, among others, and was a producer on a Gabriel Award-winning documentary on Peace Studies in Boston and Hiroshima.

Although she is a storyteller by nature, like many adoptees she was missing her own backstory well into adulthood. Finding her birth-father in New York before the state opened its records helped complete it. Most recently, a DNA test kit that came as a Chrismukkah present revealed an unknown adoptee sister!

Having worked in a second career as a cybersecurity professional for over fifteen years, Michele now devotes herself to writing full time, focusing on two genres: cybercrime mysteries, and search and reunion novels. Her birth-father’s complex effort at redemption later in life inspired the 2022 novel Finding Faith: The Birth-Fathers’ Club Series. Other novels in the series are ROCK MEMOIR and From a Desert City by the Sea. She reclaimed her birth-name, Suzanne Gilbert, to write her 2014 debut novel Tapioca Fire.

Website: https://reunionlandpress.com/

eBookshop: https://www.amazon.com/author/michele

Beth Syverson is an adoptive mom of a 20-year-old son Joey, who has been struggling to find his healing path for the past several years because of addiction and suicidality. They created the Unraveling Adoption podcast together in 2021 to help other families struggling with similar issues. Beth also runs a free support group for adoptive parents called APtitude, and she recently became a Certified Coach, working primarily with adoptive parents. Through the podcast, support group, coaching, and events, she hopes to help adoptive parents become more self-aware and to work on their own issues so they can become more emotionally attuned parents. And she hopes to raise awareness about adoption trauma to the wider community. Beth speaks out on the topics of addiction, adoption, mental health, and parenting in order to help families heal. Find out more at UnravelingAdoption.com. Contact Beth at Beth@UnravelingAdoption.com.

Unraveling Adoption

Chief Executive Officer and inventor of the patent-pending panel utilized by Wired For Addiction™, Dr. Evelyn Higgins is a recognized international expert in the epidemiology of addiction. With 34 years in clinical practice, Dr. Higgins has dedicated over 16 years to Research and Development in the science of addiction recovery. A panelist at the 2022 International Society of Substance Use Professionals Annual Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the 2022 International Gambling Conference in Auckland, New Zealand, the International Society of Addiction Medicine 2022 Congress in Valletta, Malta, and 2021 Nominee for Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Innovators in Healthcare, Dr. Higgins finds herself at the nexus of epigenetics, neuroscience, and addiction.

During her career as a Doctor of Physical and Function medicine, Dr. Higgins had the honor of advising the U.S. Surgeon General, being an Olympic torchbearer, as well as serving as a 1996 Olympic team doctor. The host of a nationally syndicated, Gracie Award winning radio program, Dr. Higgins has interviewed the Executive Director of the World Health Organization, Director of the United Nations Entity For Gender Equality & the Empowerment of Women, as well as others from various health, wellness and equity backgrounds. An author, speaker, clinician, Dr. Higgins is a graduate of the State University of New York. Her postgraduate studies at Harvard Medical School in Body, Mind, and Spirit medicine have an emphasis on resiliency. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Addictionology and Compulsive Disorders, a Diplomate of the American Board of Disability, specializing in pain management, a graduate of New York Chiropractic college, as well as a Certified Addiction Professional.

Lora K. Joy/Lora Alegria. Lora is a domestic, same race adoptee. She is fully estranged from her adoptive family and reunited with both maternal and paternal biological family. In 2022, she legally changed her name back to her birth name – Lora’s biological mom reclaimed her through an adult adoption. Lora has authored 3 illustrated books and a blog at www.myadopteetruth.com. Lora is excited to participate in the panel to show the power and growth in healing we can experience when we prioritize our own emotional needs. 

You may contact Lora via e-mail at lora@myadopteetruth.com or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/myadopteetruth/. You may also email from the website www.myadopteetruth.com.

Lily Wood, host of NPE Stories, is a stay-at-home mom of three children. When she found out she was an NPE the only thing that made her feel better was hearing other NPEs share their story. The NPE Stories podcast was created as a safe and supportive space for NPEs, LDAs, and DCPs to share their entire DNA surprise story, while listeners nod along. To date it has been downloaded over 300,000 times. In addition to raising her family, Lily volunteers in the NPE community in a variety of ways, hoping to create more societal empathy for those seeking to learn more about their genetic identity.

npestories.com

Cassandra Adams is a late-discovery, transethnic, sperm donor-conceived person dedicated to raising awareness of issues surrounding donor conception. Her focus includes educating parents on best practices, advancing legislative changes for reforming the fertility industry, as well as writing, speaking, and other creative outlets. She explores the ethics of donor conception, the emotional impact and trauma of late discovery, and the complexities of ethnicity discoveries. As an engaged community member and leader, she connects DCP stories to the larger MPE and adoptive community, and addresses the nuanced experiences of separation from biological kin and dynamics of family secrecy. She has volunteered her time and spoken with a variety of organizations and nonprofits focusing on Misattributed Parentage, Donor Conception, and Adoption.

Justin Hvitfeldt-Matthews was born in the early 70s and adopted shortly after birth. A mixed-race child, he was adopted into a white family with an older sister who was the biological child of his adoptive parents. Born in Wisconsin, Justin moved a lot as a child.  By the time he graduated from high school, he had lived in five different countries with his longest stay being only six years.

After college, Justin met both his biological parents. While supported in doing so by his adoptive parents, the actual process of meeting and getting to know his biological family was done without his adoptive parents’ involvement. This may have been the beginning of the road that led to estrangement. Over the next twenty years, a combination of events wore away at the connection between Justin and his adoptive parents, culminating in an official cutting of ties two years ago. Justin currently lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and three children.  He can be reached at jhvitmatt@gmail.com.

Leslie Pate Mackinnon has maintained a private psychotherapy practice for four decades. She resides in Atlanta and presents both nationally and internationally on issues that impact families conceived through adoption and third-party reproduction. She’s been on GOOD MORNING AMERICA w/ Robin Roberts, and on CNN discussing the impact of the internet on adoption. She was featured in DAN RATHER’s investigative report; ADOPTION OR ABDUCTION and was most recently on the Katie Couric show along with her oldest son Pete.

Leslie’s story is included in the book; The Girls Who Went Away, and the documentary A GIRL LIKE HER. Drawn to the field by placing her two firstborn sons for adoption when she was a teenager, her passion today is to educating as many therapists as possible, before she drops! She currently serves on the Evan B. Donaldson’s Board of Directors. For fun she reads voraciously, listens to jazz and sings in a gospel choir.

For more information about Leslie, please visit www.lesliepatemackinnon.com.

Denise is the proud mother of three adult children, including a daughter adopted as a toddler from China.  She is also an adoptee who has been reunited with her birth family for over fifteen years.  She served as the Adoptive Parent Liaison, Georgia State Representative, and Secretary for the American Adoption Congress from 2009-2014.  She is a founding member of the grassroots organization, Georgians for Equal Access to Records (GEAR), which was dedicated to restoring the right for Georgia born adoptees to obtain a copy of their original birth certificate.  As a former educator and home school mom, her passion for adoption reform and education also included facilitating a monthly education and support group for adoptive families called Hand In Hand where adoptive parents could learn how to help their child with the life-long journey of adoption.

Lena (Eileen) Skahill is an adjunct professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She has been teaching courses in Adoption and Family Studies and Environmental Sociology which are available to students in the School of Social Work, Women’s and Ethnic Studies and The Humanities departments.  Lena is also adoptee (1966) and engaged in reunion with both of her first families. She has volunteered in varying capacities with adoption non-profits over the last decade and dedicated her academic career toward the pursuit of teaching and sharing the unique lived experiences of all members of the adoption constellation.

Lena has conducted research in adoption studies over the course of her career. Her early research, On the Outside Looking In: Adoptee Perspectives on Reunion Relationships explored the evolution of long term reunions between adoptees and their first families with outcomes of the study shared at academic conferences across the country.  Her current qualitative/photo essay-based research study titled, Nurtured by Nature: Adoption and Foster Care Experiences and the Healing Power of Nature is meant to shine a light on the adoption and foster care journeys and the ways in which nature serves as a modality for healing, growth, and joy for all impacted by these lived experiences.  Research for the study has been completed and Lena anticipates data to be published in 2024.

Jennifer is a Search Angel and volunteer with DNAngels. Jennifer found her love for Genealogy when she stumbled across an old family secret. As she rolled up her sleeves and tapped into her Jersey Girl stubbornness, she relentlessly worked until she found answers. After that, Jennifer found herself volunteering as intake manager for an organization that could teach her a more methodical approach to being a Search Angel. When that organization merged with DNAngels, Jennifer was welcomed to the new team with open arms, and enjoys every moment of it.

In her personal life, Jennifer lives with her husband Mark. They have four sons together. She grew up in a close-knit, supportive family, and loves when the entire crowd gets together for barbecues in the backyard.

Jennifer’s love language is Acts of Service, which she attributes to her appreciation for everyone that reaches out to DNAngels looking for help.

Rich serves as president of the Coalition for Truth and Transparency in Adoption (CTTA) and Adoption Search Resource Connection (ASRC). He is part of an advocacy team that has seen over 15 Colorado bills signed into law since 2014 to the benefit of adult adoptees, foster youth, birth/first parents, and donor conceived persons. A frequent presenter at digital and in-person conferences, Rich’s interviews and writings have been published in various news outlets and peer-reviewed books.

www.adoptiontruthandtransparency.org

Damon Davis is the host of the “Who Am I Really?” podcast where adopted people share their stories of adoption and their attempt to find their birth families. He has interviewed nearly 200 adoptees from an array of life experiences from awful adoptions and amazing reunions to inspiring adoptions and unfortunate reunions. In his autobiography “Who Am I Really? – An Adoptee Memoir” Damon shares his journey to becoming an adoptive parent and his emotions over the birth of his son, Seth. He opens up about the heartbreak of grappling with his adoptive mother’s mental illness while balancing the joy of locating his birth mother working nearby. His journey took a twist when he located his biological father via DNA testing.

Everyone learns to accept life’s twists and turns as they live out the daily rituals of their lives.  But what happens when an event completely alters one’s understanding of everything about the world in which they live, including who they are?  In 2000 at the age of 41 Fred Nicora discovered he had been adopted at a large family gathering through the unfortunate disclosure by an elderly great-aunt.  His parents had passed away prior to his discovery.   At the time he not only became overwhelmed by his loss of trust and sense of betrayal in his family, but also the systemic roadblocks for him to find his truth through records access denial. 

Fred holds a B.S. in Business Administration, an M.S. in management technology, a master’s in architecture and a secondary lifetime teaching license via a master’s program.  Following a traumatic life altering event, Fred struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, eventually finding sobriety and his need for spiritual, mental, and physical health.  Currently an entrepreneur and author, Fred authored a memoir of his story in the book Forbidden Roots.  More can be found on Fred, his book, and his efforts to help bring truth and transparency to the entire adoption process at www.frednicora.com

Steve is a serial entrepreneur in the sales, sales technology, and sales performance industries for over the past 30 years.  He is also an owner of/investor in commercial real estate.  In the fall of 2021, seeking to find his Native American heritage that his mother had always espoused, he decided to take a DNA test.  Steve discovered not only that he had ZERO Native American genetic makeup, but also that his Dad was not his biological father.  Steve became an NPE, or as he likes to call it, a DNA Orphan.  That event began a series of bizarre twists, surprises, and exposed family secrets that not even a fiction writer would be comfortable suggesting.  Steve is working on documenting his story in book format.  He now looks to help others who are walking a similar path.

Steve has degrees from Miami University and Embry-Riddle University.  He and his wife, Becky, live in the Greater Cincinnati Area.

Ryan Kramer, a donor-conceived person, continues to co-manage the DSR with his mother Wendy. Ryan graduated high school at age 13, received an undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering at age 18, and a Master’s in Engineering Management at 19. He has worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Apple, and Google. Ryan was the first donor-conceived person to find his biological father (donor) via a commercial DNA test, in 2005. He has 28 known half-siblings — so far.

Dee McGee is a Late Discovery Adoptee and part of the NPE Community. She is passionate about helping others transform their lives through verbal communication, which will lead to visualizing and producing the desired goals they are seeking.

Additionally, Dee is an experienced public speaker and assist clients and employees with improving their presentation and leadership skills.  Since 2004, she has served in various leadership roles within Toastmasters International. In 2021, She was honored with the “Distinguished Toastmaster Award,” which is the highest level of recognition in the Toastmasters.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric & Communications from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Science degree in Technical & Science Communication from Drexel University. Additionally, she completed a year-long Executive Potential Program through the Graduate School USA, which prepared her for senior leadership positions within the federal government.

She enjoys attending national adoptee support groups as well as coaching and supporting others through their adoptee experience to include the search and reunion journey.

In her spare time, she enjoys fine dining, visiting museums, the performing arts, learning about resilient people, physical fitness, mindfulness sessions, the beach, spas, festivals, retreats, trivia/games, and working on her bucket list.

Jodi Girard received an email from Ancestry.com on September 28, 2018 that changed her life. She grew up on a rural Iowa farm with two white parents and two white siblings and clearly looked different. Despite that, she never asked her parents why and no one ever talked about it. When the DNA test revealed that she was 46% African American, her life was turned upside down. Discovering that the father who raised her, who loved her, was not her biological father was both devastating and freeing at the same time. For the first time in her life, the image in the mirror made sense and she had people she looked like. On the other hand, she had been telling a narrative her whole life that wasn’t true. She is still working on figuring out what it means to be a biracial woman but has enjoyed getting to know her new half siblings and cousins. She lives in Iowa with her husband Scott on a small hobby farm, where they have raised their five children. She loves gardening, reading, cooking and fossil hunting.

Instagram @fullyknown92818

Jason Taylor grew up in Iowa. His biological father left prior to being born and denied that Jason was his son. Jason was raised by his mother for 8 years until she married his step father who adopted Jason. Jason grew up knowing very little of his biological father. In college Jason discovered he had a half brother. Things changed dramatically in 2018 when Jason received an email from a half sister that was verified through Ancestry.com. After Jason and his sister connected they discovered and met an additional five siblings for a total of seven. Jason and his sister developed a close bond and also established relationships with the other siblings. Jason also finally met his biological father in 2019. Discovering a new family has been challenging, rewarding and sometimes frustrating. Having found his siblings, Jason does feel extremely blessed. Jason currently lives in Kansas City. He has been married to his wife of 27 years and they two have raised two children. Jason loves movies, hiking, and fitness.

Kris is a freelance writer based in Indianapolis who has a passion for helping people. With degrees in Sociology and Philosophy from the University of Indianapolis and a Masters in Theology and Critical Theory from Duke University, Kris has a well-rounded academic background that informs her work. Her career has been diverse, starting as an employment consultant and program manager for people with disabilities, and later pursuing her love for bookselling without losing sight of her desire to aid others. Currently, Kris continues to work with those with disabilities and writes articles on mood disorders and genetic identity issues.

Kris’s personal experience with a heart attack led her to volunteer with the Right to Know organization, which promotes awareness about the importance of genetic information. After discovering that early onset cardiovascular disease was prevalent in her biological family, Kris believes that everyone should have access to aggressive early diagnostic testing. Her dedication to helping others drives her work, and she strives to make a positive impact on those around her.

As an attorney for the last 21 years, I have practiced primarily in the areas of civil litigation, personal injury, criminal defense, and family law. In short, I am a litigator. Lawyers with a similar practice are called “street lawyers,” “hired guns,” and a “mouthpiece.” I like to think of myself as an advocate. I am also a published author. In 2010, “The Sins of the Father” became available on Amazon.com, and I have sold about 1000 copies so far. The book is a work of fiction, but it was inspired by an actual custody battle I handled that resulted in me receiving a threat against my life.

Finally, during the course of my 21 years in practice, I have taken an occasional sabbatical to learn and gain experience in the car business. From 2006 – 2008, I was one of the owners of Page Motors and acted as the Managing Partner. In addition, I recently worked in Management for the Stevenson Automotive Group in North Carolina. One of the reasons I have a passion for the car business is my Dad. Although he was a jeweler by trade, he bought and sold cars his entire life as both a hobby and a way to make extra money. From the time I was 14 years old, I would go with him to the auto auctions and help him buy and fix up cars. As a result, my Dad and I were able to spend a great deal of quality time together both in and around the car business. For that reason, the car business has always been in my blood.

I reached out to Kris in September 2022 after someone in the family matached with her and I realized she was my half sister. We’ve been in close contact ever since.

Jennifer Fahlsing, CPC, is a co-founder of NAAP now serving as President. Jennifer has spent the last 20 years in the employment industry and is a licensed real estate Broker. She holds a BS in Business Management and an AS in Accounting. Her background includes education, training, sales, operations, and public speaking.
Jennifer is an Adoptee and First Mother which provides her with a unique understanding of the challenges involved in search and the gamut of emotions experienced in reunion. In 2013, after three decades of searching she located both her mother and son within a 3-month period. In 2018, after years of rejection she finally reunited with her father days before his death.

She served on the board for the ISSA for 8 years in a variety of roles including President and was the Secretary and managed the Social Media for Indiana Adoptee Network for four years. She joined Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records in 2015 and testified in 2015, 2016 and 2021 in support of OBC access legislation for Indiana Adoptees. Jennifer is a Sister on the Ground for Saving Our Sisters.

A 2014 Huffington Post article was written, by Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy, about her struggle to obtain a Passport; US Adoptees Have Trouble Getting Passports Due to Seal Records Law. Jennifer was the recipient of the Angel in Adoption award in 2018.

Jennifer resides in NE Indiana and enjoys spending time with her family and husband of 37 years, renovating investment properties, outdoor adventures, and traveling.

Catherine St Clair is the founder of NPE Friends Fellowship.  With a background in special needs personal care and extensive experience in government affairs, working closely with elected government officials reaching as high as the U.S. Congress, Catherine has always had a gift for getting to the heart of a matter.

In 2015 she was named The Face of Family Care Givers for the State of Texas by AARP and was asked to represent millions of family caregivers on the National level to influence policies made in the best interest of families.

After her own personal NPE revelation in 2017, Catherine was driven to create an emotional support group on Facebook.  The rapid growth of this online community inspired the birth of the non-profit organization, NPE Friends Fellowship.

Since 2018, Catherine has appeared on national and international networks including, ABC, NBC, Fox, and BBC as well as numerous publications worldwide, sharing her NPE story and raising awareness for the NPE community.

Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D., LCSW, LMFT, was the Founder and CEO of Center For Family Connections, Inc. (CFFC – est. 1995-2012) in Cambridge, MA and New York.  Pavao Consulting and Coaching, and Pre/Post Adoption Consulting and Training 1982-present

Dr. Pavao has done extensive training, both nationally and internationally.  She is an adjunct faculty member in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and has consulted to various public and private agencies, schools, and the court system.  Additionally, she has worked closely with individuals, and families created by adoption, foster care and other complex blended family constructions. .  She has been Principal Investigator on federal grants around Youth At Risk, Homelessness, Transracial Adoption, and LGBT issues in the community of Aging Out Adolescents/Young Adults.

She has developed models for treatment and for training using her systemic, intergenerational, and developmental framework The Normative Crises in the Development of the Adoptive Family and her book The Family of Adoption has received high acclaim.

http://www.pavaoconsulting.com

Mimi Janes is a first/birth mom who relinquished 2 daughters that she searched for and has been reunited with both. She has held several positions on the Board of CUB including President and was the facilitator of the Los Angeles CUB support group for many years. Mimi is also a member of Catholic Mothers for Truth and Transparency who work for and support open birth records for all adoptees. She has presented at several CUB Retreats and AAC Conferences, was a guest speaker on NAAP’s Happy Hour where she discussed losing her 1st born daughter to suicide in May of 2017, and been involved with adoption reform since the mid ’80’s. She is retired from a career in Human Resources in the banking community. 

https://concernedunitedbirthparents.org

Wendy is the Co-Founder and Director of the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR). The DSR was founded in 2000 with her donor-conceived son Ryan to assist individuals conceived as a result of sperm, egg, or embryo donation who are seeking to make mutually desired contact with others with whom they share genetic ties. With more than 89,000 members in 105 countries, the DSR has helped to connect more than 25,000 of them with their half-siblings and/or their biological parents. Wendy has listened to, advised/consulted, and researched thousands of these parents, donors, donor-conceived people, and other donor family members.

Wendy has conducted many research studies on all donor family members and is a co-author of dozens of resulting peer-reviewed papers published in Social Science and Medicine, Human Reproduction, Reproductive BioMedicine & Society, Facts, Views & Vision in OB/GYN, Reproductive BioMedicine Online (RBMOnline), Advances in Reproductive Sciences, Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research, Fertility and Sterility, The Journal of Family Issues, Children and Society, The Journal of Law and the Biosciences, and more. She has contributed chapters to several books on donor conception, has reviewed abstracts for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and has been a peer reviewer for the journals Human Reproduction, RBMOnline, and Frontiers in Global Women’s Health. 

Wendy was an Associate Producer for the 2011 Emmy-nominated documentary Sperm Donor and on the 2013 MTV News & Docs, six-part docu-series called Generation Cryo. In 2022 she published Counseling Donor Family Members: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and has conducted training for counselors and psychology organizations in the US, Canada, Europe, and Argentina. She co-wrote the book Finding Our Families: A First-of-Its-Kind Book for Donor-Conceived People and Their Families, wrote the children’s book Your Family: A Donor Kid’s Story, and authored the book Donor Family Matters: My Story of Raising a Profoundly Gifted Donor-Conceived Child, Redefining Family, and Building the Donor Sibling Registry.

Wendy was married when she gave birth to her son Ryan in 1990, and in 1991 began to raise him as an only parent. Ryan has connected with his biological father (and grandparents) and knows of 28 half-siblings, so far. Wendy holds a B.A. in Communication Arts, has completed many postgraduate courses in counseling and psychology, is Mental Health First Aid certified, and is a Psychology Today contributor.

Where do I come from? For some, the question has a simple answer – for others, the truth can be much more complicated. With the rise in popularity of at-home DNA tests, it’s now easier than ever for people to uncover their family history and, sometimes, things their parents wish would stay buried. Interested in learning more about his family heritage, director Jon Baime took an at-home DNA test and uncovered a family secret that has been hidden for half a century. Featuring in-depth interviews with Jon’s siblings as well as a treasure trove of family photos and films spanning 70 years, FILLING IN THE BLANKS takes audiences on a journey as Jon explores the meaning behind his discovery and expands on what it means to be family.

Angela Tucker is a Black woman, adopted from foster care by white parents. She has heard this microaggression her entire life, usually from well-intentioned strangers who view her adoptive parents as noble saviors.  She is grateful for many aspects of her life, but being transracially adopted involves layers of rejection, loss and complexity that cannot be summed up so easily. Tucker centers the experiences of adoptees through sharing deeply personal stories, well-researched history and engrossing anecdotes from mentorship sessions with adopted youth. These perspectives challenge the fairy-tale narrative of adoption giving way to a fuller story that includes the impacts of racism, classism, family, love and belonging. She is the Executive Director of The Adoptee Mentoring Society.

Dr. Abigail Hasberry is a transracial adoptee, executive leadership coach, and licensed marriage and family therapist associate. With a background in education as a former teacher and principal, she has experience in private, traditional public, and charter schools. Dr. Hasberry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in African American studies and sociology, a Master of Arts in teaching, K-12, a Master of Education in counseling and development, and a Ph.D. in curriculum & instruction. In addition, she is currently completing a Master of Science degree in industrial/organizational behavior.

Dr. Hasberry’s research and publications focus on identity development, diversity, and the experiences of black teachers in private, affluent, and predominantly white schools. She is also actively involved in training therapists on adoption informed practices and has been a guest speaker on adoption, identity development, and trauma in various podcasts and webinars. She is in the process of publishing her memoir, Adopting Privilege.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Hasberry is married and has raised three children. Her personal journey as an adoptee and birth mom fuels her dedication to supporting adult adoptees and birth mothers in their own paths of healing and growth.

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Instructor, Adoptee Speaker/ Educator. After reuniting with her birth family at age 43, Cathy found herself on an unexpected healing journey related to her own relinquishment. The process included yoga, through which she found significant healing, and a new career path.

As a yoga teacher since 2012, Cathy teaches others about the adoptee experience, strategies for unearthing and healing adoption wounds, and mind-body practices that help with adoption-related difficulties. She trained in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in 2014 with Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, and David Emerson, author of Overcoming Trauma through Yoga.

Cathy facilitates online adoption support groups for Celia Center and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Kara was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She married her high-school sweetheart and together they traveled for a number of years before attending college. Kara went on to receive a BA, MA, a law degree from the George Washington University, and later a LLM from the University of Washington. Her husband and sons constantly keep her on her toes. Any moment of free quiet time she can find is spent designing, reading, and cooking; but storytelling is her passion. 

In January 2018, she wanted to see where in Africa her father’s family came from. Her over-the-counter DNA test revealed she was 50% something, but she had zero African DNA. This meant the man on her birth certificate couldn’t possibly be her genetic father. She lost her bi-racial identity with the click of a mouse. Kara discovered she was 50% Jewish. The DNA pandora’s box she opened led to an identity crisis. Because there were few resources for people with misattributed parentage experiences, she co-founded Right to Know, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental human right to know your genetic identity through education, mental health initiatives, and advocacy. 

Kara is leading advocate for genetic identity rights and people impacted by misattributed parentage. She has appeared on many podcasts, in multiple television interviews and articles, and has been a frequent speaker on her DNA surprise, the right to know, and the complex intersection of genetic information, identity, and family dynamics. She recently published the “My Re-Birthday Book: This is My Story: for adoptees, donor conceived, and people with an NPE, who are misattributed, or who’ve had a DNA surprise” and “Cinematic Roots: Explore Assisted Reproduction, Adoption, NPE, and DNA Surprise Terms Through Movies.”

Jennifer Fahlsing, CPC, is a co-founder of NAAP now serving as President. Jennifer has spent the last 20 years in the employment industry and is a licensed real estate Broker. She holds a BS in Business Management and an AS in Accounting. Her background includes education, training, sales, operations, and public speaking.
Jennifer is an Adoptee and First Mother which provides her with a unique understanding of the challenges involved in search and the gamut of emotions experienced in reunion. In 2013, after three decades of searching she located both her mother and son within a 3-month period. In 2018, after years of rejection she finally reunited with her father days before his death.

She served on the board for the ISSA for 8 years in a variety of roles including President and was the Secretary and managed the Social Media for Indiana Adoptee Network for four years. She joined Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records in 2015 and testified in 2015, 2016 and 2021 in support of OBC access legislation for Indiana Adoptees. Jennifer is a Sister on the Ground for Saving Our Sisters.

A 2014 Huffington Post article was written, by Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy, about her struggle to obtain a Passport; US Adoptees Have Trouble Getting Passports Due to Seal Records Law. Jennifer was the recipient of the Angel in Adoption award in 2018.

Jennifer resides in NE Indiana and enjoys spending time with her family and husband of 37 years, renovating investment properties, outdoor adventures, and traveling.