TITLE: Adoptees Raised with 5+ Adoptees

DESCRIPTION

This We the Experts features adoptees who were raised in a family with 5 or more adoptees. Our panel of speakers will share their personal journeys, exploring the dynamics, challenges, and complexities of growing up in this unique family system. Join us as we dive into the distinctive experience that is living with a large adoptive family.

Topics of discussion will include:

How has growing up in an adopted family of 5 or more adoptees influenced your sense of identity and belonging?
What challenges have you faced in terms of family dynamics and relationships within such a large adopted family?
How do you and your siblings support each other in navigating the complexities of adoption?
How has your experience of being part of such a unique adopted family influenced your perspective on adoption as a whole?

PANELISTS:

Vanessa Devin (she/her) is one of eight transracial adoptees raised in a suburb outside of Portland, Oregon. Her adoptive parents were heavily involved in the adoption industry and that had a significant impact on the family experience. She has shared her story at various adoptee-led events over the years, and values the storytelling spaces created in the adoption community. Vanessa is an artist, musician, and farmer. She lives with her husband and a menagerie of animals on a small homestead in rural Oregon. Vanessa is excited to be on this panel to have conversations about the complexities of having multiple adoptees in one family.

Zack Fried (he/him/his) is a domestic, transracial adoptee. He was born in Philadelphia, and placed for adoption at 3 days old and has had connection with birth family members throughout his life. Zack has been an adoption professional for many years and currently serves as Executive Director of Adoption STAR, which is a child placing agency. He is the oldest of many, and looks forward to talking about growing up with several siblings who were also adopted. Zack is excited to be on this panel because he grew up in a family with several adoption stories, helping him understand the nuances of adoption while growing up.

Sarah Kivatinos (she/her) is a domestic adoptee, she was in foster care from the age of 4 years old and adopted with her older brother in 1998. They are both Native American and were adopted through a private catholic adoption agency. She grew up in a large family with multiple adopted siblings, and now resides in the Bay Area. She is a writer, potter and doula. She loves to hike with her dogs and has 3 cats. She spends her time reading fan fiction and creating in her home studio. She is excited to talk and share her experience growing up with lots of siblings from different families.

Lidet O’Connor (she/her) is a transracial adoptee. She was adopted in 2007 with her younger sister, and 3 more would be adopted from Ethiopia throughout the years. Lidet is the founder and host of the podcast "Ethiopian Adoptees - Unapologetically Unfiltered", which focuses on pushing adoptees’ voices from the margins to the center of the conversation around adoption. She hopes the podcast creates some sense of community for Ethiopian adoptees and looks forward to expanding her work to create resources and more concrete changes. Lidet is honored to be a part of the panel and looks forward to hearing the perspectives and experiences of other adoptees. She is excited for this great opportunity to discuss the nuances of adoption with a diverse group of adoptees invested in and impacted by the process.

Alternate Panelist, Marly Osma de Forest (they/them) was adopted from Bucaramanga, Colombia by a white protestant couple in the Pacific NorthWest, who went on to adopt a total of 8 children. Marly is in reunion with their mother and 2 brothers, who now live in Bogota, and another brother who was also adopted to the U.S. and lives on the East Coast. Marly is excited to talk about the complexities of being in a family containing many adoptees, all of which having various needs, with other adoptees who share this unique experience.