Announcing the 1st annual gathering of adoptees
(transracial/international and same race) and foster care alums of
African descent in Oakland, California, November 7-9, 2008.

AFAAD (Adopted and Fostered Adults of the African Diaspora) was formed specifically to support adopted and fostered people, to share our common and divergent experiences around race,
adoption, joy, loss, family, search and reunion, and self identity and
to celebrate our unique creativity, stories and community. AFAAD’s
First Annual Gathering, Healing Ourselves, Making Connections is
designed with you in mind.

The purpose of this historic gathering will be to make connections, network, provide healing space, and to celebrate the diversity of our amazing diaspora of transracial, international, domestic adoptees and foster care alums. AFAAD uses “Black” in the widest diasporic sense, which includes African, African American,
bi-racial and multi heritage, Afroasian and Afrolatino peoples. Healing
Ourselves, Making Connections is the first of its kind for Black
adoptees and foster adults and we know it will make a huge contribution to the conversations about adoption, race, social welfare and African diasporic identity - not to mention just bringing all of us together in
one space is going to be amazing! It is time to share our stories with
one another, rather than always teaching other people. We will also
take some time for the strategic planning for the long-term goals of
AFAAD as a social justice and community support organization.

For details: http://afaad.wordpress.com/1st-annual-gathering/

Jane Brown, MSW, will give a parents' workshop on how children's understanding of adoption, race and ethnicity unfolds developmentally at different ages and stages.  Part of the Adoption Connections of Oregon's Annual Conference.

For more information, visit the ACO website.