Led by three Adopted Students United members, the panelists will be sharing their journeys in making sense of their own adoptions, in relation to their personal identity, career trajectories, family relationships, and adoptee activism.
Ming Canaday – Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker
Ming Canaday is the founder of Traipsin’ Global on Wheels, a company that provides education and support regarding health, fitness, and travel for individuals with disabilities. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in 2013, where she triple-majored in International Studies, Chinese, and Asian Studies. After graduating, Ming moved to New York City where she pursued a certificate at the City University of New York in Disability Studies to better advocate for individuals with disabilities. Ming completed coursework for a Master’s degree in the History of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2016.
Ming currently resides in Washington D.C. Before founding TGOW, Ming was a former fellow at RespectAbility, a non-profit organization that seeks to reduce stigma and increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. She also served as a Congressional staffer in the United States Senate.
Astrid Castro – Director of Adoption Mosaic, Consultant
Astrid Castro is the Director and founder of Adoption Mosaic, a Portland based organization which strives to connect, honor, and serve the adoption constellation through innovation in education, practices and support services. Astrid has a degree in sociology with an emphasis in adoption. For twenty plus years, she has traveled the country to lead youth groups, present workshops on transracial parenting, talking with children about adoption and various other workshops focusing on adoption. Prior to creating Adoption Mosaic, Astrid worked in both the private and public sectors of various adoption organizations such as the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC), Holt International and Rocky Mountain Adoption Exchange, to name just a few.
Lynelle Long – Founder of InterCountry Adoptee Voices, Educator
Lynelle Long is a Vietnamese adoptee born in the early 70s, Founder of InterCountry Adoptee Voices which began in 1998, now one of the largest platforms worldwide to bring together the leaders of intercountry adoptee-led groups around the globe. Her network is a critical thinking space that advocates for the needs and rights of intercountry adoptees. She has been a consultant to central authorities in adoption, is an Author and Contributor to books on intercountry adoption, is an educator, coordinates meetings with adult intercountry adoptees and government authorities, is involved in The Hague Working Group on Addressing & Preventing Illicit Practices in Adoption, guest speaker at training sessions and conferences for various Central Authorities and Post Adoption organisations worldwide, including the 2019 US Dept of State Adoption Symposium, blogger, and creator of a collection of papers which bring together adult intercountry adoptee views on various topics.