The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute held an eclectic forum today at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York that featured Zara Phillips and Darryl (DMC) McDaniels and in a rare public performance. The focus of this event was to highlight the need for states to restore adult adoptees’ access to their original birth certificates, a right currently denied to millions of Americans simply because of the way in which they entered their families.
Today’s gathering – entitled Learning the Right Lessons about Adoption: What the Oprah Winfrey Reunion Story Teaches Us – brought together individuals personally affected by so-called “sealed records” laws, including celebrities such as McDaniels; experts on the subject, including Institute Executive Director Adam Pertman; professionals in the field; adoption reform advocates; journalists; and members of the public interested in social justice and equal rights for all families.
This event was co-sponsored by the Child Welfare League of America, the American Adoption Congress, the Center for Family Connections, the Center for Adoption Support and Education, Adoptees Have Answers, Concerned United Birthparents, the New York State Unsealed Initiative, and the New Jersey Coalition for Adoption Reform and Education.
Among today’s highlights were a tear jerking video short by Jean Strauss entitled “The Right To Know” and a rare live performance by rap superstar Darryl (DMC) McDaniels and Zara Phillips (both of whom are adoptees). Two new books were also featured at the event: Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming Our Families – and America, by Pertman; and Mother Me, by Phillips. There was also a very lively and passionate discussions by the keynote panel that featured McDaniels, Pertman, and other participants regarding the issue of original birth certificates, with a focus on two research-based reports on the subject by the Adoption Institute, “For the Records I and II,” available at http://tinyurl.com/http-ForTheRecords-org.
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For More Information visit:
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Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute: http://www.adoptioninstitute.org
Child Welfare League of America: http://www.cwla.org
American Adoption Congress: http://www.americanadoptioncongress.org
Center for Family Connections: http://www.kinnect.org
Center for Adoption Support and Education: http://www.adoptionsupport.org
Adoptees Have Answers: http://www.aha.mn
Concerned United Birthparents: http://www.cubirthparents.org
NY State Unsealed Initiative: http://www.unsealedinitiative.org
NJ Coalition for Adoption Reform and Education: http://www.nj-care.org
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Video Highlights Below
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