At Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families, we want to know… which adoptee voices are expanding your understanding, and deepening your analysis on adoption, race, and culture?
In case you missed it, Emily Quinn — adult adoptee and longtime Heritage Camps participant — was interviewed on the podcast I’m Adopted. Now What?.
Listening to the podcast was kind of like several parent sessions at Heritage Camps, all rolled into one. Emily and adoptee/host, Liz Stone, dig into interesting questions and important topics — including the need for racial mirrors, microaggressions against Asians, the impacts of the Black Lives Matter movement, and how they identify racially as transracial adoptees. We know the podcast episode will be extremely valuable to so many of our families, so be sure to listen and consider sharing with your kids.
During the podcast, Emily shares a lot about Heritage Camps and how it impacted her life, and there was one very simple but critical statement that resonated with us:
“I’ve been in contact with other adoptees my entire life, because I grew up going to Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families.”
All around the country we’re hearing about diversity, equity, and inclusion. When we think about Emily’s statement in relation to these values, we are reminded how critical it is to see yourself represented and normalized.
Is it important that transracial and/or transcultural adoptees are in schools and community groups with people who share their race and/or ethnicity? Yes.
Is it enough? No. The exposure to other adoptees and adoptive families is an essential piece that we can’t overlook.
Be sure to listen to the episode, The 1.5 Generation, to hear more about Emily’s thoughts on the unique position occupied by transcultural adoptees, and the “new generation” she proposes.
Please use the comments to let us know which adoptee voices are helping you grow and learn!
And please join Emily, other adoptees, and adoptive parents at one of our nine Virtual Camps this summer! Our camp directors and coordinators are already hard at work, coming up with innovative and interactive ways to engage our campers, and creating educational and supportive experiences for our parents. Our 2021 virtual camp dates can be found here, and you can learn more about why we’re going virtual this year!