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.