TITLE: Partners of Adoptees

DESCRIPTION

The adoption experience is layered and often misunderstood by non-adopted people. As adoptees we are more likely to have partners who are not adopted than we are to be partnered with another adoptee. This panel features partners of adoptees and the nuance of navigating relationships with adoptees.

How adoption affects intimate relationships
Learning about the complexity of the adoptee experience
Exploring their own birth/biological privileges
Supporting their partner through their own adoption journey

PANELISTS:

Sam Greenwood (he/him) is the partner of an adoptee, Jenna. They have been in a committed relationship for 7 years. Sam continuously supports Jenna in her journey through the fog after her realization of her trauma 3 years into their relationship. Sam is a massage therapist and coaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Together Sam and Jenna own a business, and are raising Jenna’s two kids from a prior relationship. Sam is excited to be on this panel as it is in line with his continued support of the adoptee community and his partner’s personal development and trauma healing.

Justin Oshita (he/they) is a non-adopted Asian American partner to a Chinese American adoptee. They grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and identify as 4th generation Chinese American and Japanese American. Justin has learned a lot about how adoption impacts intimate relationships for adoptees and continues to support their partner in adoption related topics. Since moving to Denver in 2016, they enjoy running a small photography business on the side, working on their car, and spending time with their cats. Justin is excited to share the highs, the lows, and everything in between that goes along with being in a happy and fulfilling relationship with their Chinese American adoptee partner.

Charles Hasberry Jr. (he/him) was born to a military family as the youngest of two children. He is a retiree of the United States Air Force and currently works as an attorney for the Department of Homeland Security. Charles is the Lead Disability Attorney for The Coast Guard Office of Member Advocacy, which represents members of the Coast Guard who are injured or ill and are facing medical separation from the Coast Guard. He holds a J.D. from Howard University School of Law and a Master's Degree in Human Services Counseling-Life Coaching from Liberty University. He has been married to Dr. Abby Hasberry, a transracial adoptee for twenty-two years. Charles is excited to spend time with the adoption community and share his experiences as the spouse of a TRA.

Katherine G Jones (she/her) is a two-year graduate student specializing in clinical mental health and counseling. She is the partner of adoptee Hannah Jones, who have been blissfully together for 14 years. Katherine is excited to expand on their subjective experience as it relates to adoptee challenges, emotional attachments, and discovering their identity.

Alternate Panelist, Ted Flatt (he/his) is married to Becca, a domestic interracial adoptee. He is an interracial adoptive parent in an open adoption. Ted grew up with kinship adoption in his extended family. He and Becca have been together 17-years and married for 12-years. Ted is excited to support the adoptee community.