About the workshop
Join us for a screening of this EXTRAORDINARY 2007 documentary
The movie explores the complexities of adoption through the stories of two families and asks us "How can we do Better?"
"Adopted," a documentary directed by Barb Lee and distributed by Point Made Films, provides a deep and personal glimpse into the lives of two families dealing with adoption from opposite ends of the continuum. The Trainer family is in the process of adopting their little girl from China and just embarking on their journey. Their story is one of hope, excitement, worry for the unknown, love and beginnings. In contrast, Jennifer Fero, a Korean-American adult adoptee, is in the process of finding closure with her terminally ill adoptive parents. She is trying to heal relationships with her parents, to create a bond with her mother that she never had before it is too late, and to balance her needs for closure with her parents' needs for support and love. The Fero story is also one of love, and a family desperately trying to get it right. Jennifer wants her parents to see how their color blind approach to her race has hurt her. She wants her parents to not just accept her as an Asian woman, but to also accept themselves as a multiracial family. Her timing is off, and it is painful to see her pursuing a validation from her parents that seems beyond what they can give her. Both families have honorable intentions. In fact, given what the Feros knew about transracial adoption at the time, they were doing what they thought best...loving their daughter and not seeing color. The Trainers, on the other hand, are a modern day adoptive family aware of the importance of honoring their daughter's culture and creating a multiracial village to support thei family. They also are mindful of the "lost" part of adoption that brings feelings of grief, and are not just focusing on the "found" part of the adoption story.
Facilitated discussion to follow with Astrid Dabbeni, Executive Director of Adoption Mosaic
Open to the community, ages 18 and over.
Schedule of the evening:
5:30-6:00 Sign in-refreshments
6:00-6:15 Introductions to film
6:15-7:35 Movie: Adopted
7:35-7:50 Intermission-refreshments
7:50-8:10 Resources discussion
8:10-9:00 Questions and open dialogue
