TITLE: Adoptee Twins

DESCRIPTION

Being a twin is a unique experience in and of itself. The intersection of being a twin and an adoptee adds a layer of complexity that we don’t hear from often. This panel explores different types of twin relationships and the varied experiences that come with that dynamic.

In this panel we might discuss:

The experience of being adopted with a biological twin.
The experience of being adopted and separated from a biological twin.
How did this impact your sense of belonging, individuality, and experience of adoption?
Did this relationship provide unique support in your adoption journey?
What does being a twin and adoptee mean to you?

PANELISTS

Bonita Rockingham (she/her) is a domestic transracial adoptee. She was adopted in 1996 to a Mennonite family in Pennsylvania. She is a writer and activist who has written about the intersections of race, religion, and adoption. Find her on Medium, Be The Bridge, Anabaptist World, Mennonite Church USA, and Love What Matters. Bonita is excited to be on the panel to be in community with other adoptee twins and discover how others have navigated the nuances of adoption.

Elena Di Giovanna Serrato (she/her/ella) was born in Bogota, Colombia and adopted in 1981 to an Italian American family in the United States. She moved back to her homeland in 2016 and since then created a non profit organization, Healing Puentes, that seeks to guide and support Colombian Adoptees in the search, reunion, and/or to reconnect to their culture. Elena is excited to be on this panel to share what has been like to grow up with a biological family member by her side. She also is prepared to discuss the differences in adoptee awareness stages a set of twins can be in despite having similar childhoods. Elena is interested to hear from the other panelists, as well to learn how their experiences may have been similar and/or different.

Suzanne Switzer (she/her) is a transracial adoptee. She was adopted in 1985 from South Korea to a family in Denver, Colorado. She reunited with her biological family at the age of 14 years old, including her identical twin sister. Since high school, Suzanne has been involved with a variety of adoption communities, as well as the larger Korean American community, sharing her lived experience as a way to bridge gaps, provide education, and promote awareness about (transracial) adoption and the impact of being part of a multicultural family. As a Clinical Psychologist she continues to focus much of her work on children and families within the foster care system, navigating issues pertaining to loss, identity, understanding, and resilience. Suzanne looks forward to being on this panel to connect with others and share our unique experiences as (transracial) adoptees with a twin.

Sanjay Pulver (he/him/his) is a transracial adoptee. He was born in India in 1992 and sent to San Diego, CA at 13 months old in December 1993. Sanjay found out that he had a twin when he was 11-years-old and only learned the gender of his twin in 2021. This has impacted his identity both as an adoptee and as a transgender man. Sanjay is excited to be on this panel to provide the perspective from a twin who ended up transitioning and has no additional information about the identity of his twin and is looking forward to being a part of this conversation.

Alternate Panelist, Lynn Mykytyn (she/her/hers) was born in Andong, South Korea and was adopted with her identical twin sister to a family in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1985. She is a licensed mental health therapist and alcohol and drug counselor as well as a small business owner and founder of Sando Wellness, a private mental health practice in the Twin Cities. Her work is centered around helping folks, especially adoptees, understand their identities, process complex trauma, and strengthen their sense of self. Lynn is also an advocate who works to destigmatize and depathologize mental health. She is excited to participate in this panel to continue to create spaces and communities where adoptee experiences are not simply acknowledged, but centered.