TITLE: Adoptees Reconnecting After Estrangement

DESCRIPTION:

Reconnection after estrangement is rarely linear. For adoptees, both deciding to go low to no contact with their adoptive parent(s) family and deciding to reconnect are two extremely vulnerable and complex aspects of estrangement. This We the Experts panel brings together adoptees who have experienced reconnection after periods of distance, low to no contact, and separation. Through personal stories and honest reflection, panelists will explore what motivated them to reconnect, what challenges and emotions arose along the way, and how they’ve defined healing, boundaries, and belonging for themselves. Whether reconnection led to deeper understanding, new complexity, or an ongoing process, this conversation invites our community to hold space for all outcomes with empathy and curiosity. Points to Ponder:

How do we define connection after disconnection?
How might systems or cultural narratives about adoption shape how reconnection is perceived or pursued?
How can reconnection bring both healing and challenges?
What adoption narrative needs to shift to support people on both sides of estrangement and reconnection?

Panelists:

Anna Linde (she/her) - APPROVED Anna Linde is a transracial adoptee, born in Brazil and raised in Sweden. Adopted at six weeks old and raised by white parents, she has navigated how to “become Black in isolation,” including the experience of estrangement from both her adoptive and biological parents. Anna works as a Sexologist and Counsellor and is today based in Thailand with her family but tries to travel as much as possible. She appreciates Adoption Mosaic’s work and feels honoured to join Adoption Mosaic’s panel to contribute to a conversation where adoptee voices and lived realities are centred.

Jean Provance (she/they) - APPROVED

Jean Provance is a domestic same race adoptee. She was adopted at birth in 1984 and again in 1999 by her stepfather. She found her relatives in 2004 and changed her name in 2010 to her original name. Jean is a psychotherapist who focuses her work on healing from severe trauma, dissociation with adoptees. She spends time providing psychoeducation to professionals about the impact of adoption via various conferences and podcasts. She hopes the panel will help others learn and grow in connection and community. Being authentic is being able to share not just professionally but from living, personal experiences as well. Jean is excited to take part on the panel and explore the complexities of family relationships with others.

Sarah Guimond (she/her) - APPROVED

Sarah Guimond is a Peruvian-born transracial adoptee raised in the United States. She currently lives in Lima, Peru, where she reconnects with her roots and supports adoptees through storytelling, education, and community work. As the co-founder of Rewriting Adoption, Sarah amplifies adoptee voices and creates spaces for healing and honest dialogue around adoption. She also leads Peru Datos, a project that helps Peruvian adoptees access vital records, obtain dual citizenship, and reconnect with their families and heritage. Sarah’s personal journey includes navigating her time of estrangement within her adoptive family and finding a path toward renewed understanding and boundaries. She hopes to bring authenticity and nuance to conversations around reconnection, acknowledging that healing can take many forms. Sarah is honored to join this panel and contribute to broader conversations about the complexities of family, distance, and repair within adoption.