Welcome to a new year! We experimented with hybrid meetings this term, due to the pandemic, with some of our members and presenters in-person and some joining us via Zoom. We met on Thursdays @ 5-6pm, odd weeks, in the EMU.
If you missed any of our meetings or are simply curious about the topics we covered in winter 2022, you can view and download our slides below.
Week 1: Adoption Culture
To kick off the term, we explored the many types of culture that an adoptee may be exposed to, such as adoptee culture and birth culture. Some of the questions we explored were “How can international adoptees feel connected to their native culture?”, “What is the cultural response around adoption in the US?”, and “What is the culture between adoptees?”
Week 3: Adoptees and Mental Health
This week was our first times holding hybrid meetings, with some members joining us in-person and some on Zoom. Even with the new set up, we had some good discussion about the intersection of adoption and mental health. We learned about research in this field and explore Nancy Verrier’s Primal Wound Theory. The presentation also contains link to mental health resources for adoptees seeking help.
Week 5: Discussing Adoption with Adoptive Family
Our second hybrid meeting this term, we had great discussion sharing our own experiences in our families. Asking for more information about your adoption or a family member’s adoption can be really difficult and emotional, which is why this presentation gives tips and things to keep in mind for starting the conversation.
Week 7: The Language of Adoption
We were so excited to partner with Holt International’s Katelyn Dixon in presenting a workshop on Positive Adoption Language (PAL)! Holt International is an adoption agency based in Eugene, Oregon, and we have collaborated with them a number of times in the past. This time, we spent the meeting thinking critically about the terms we use when talking about adoption. The meeting slides below were created by ASU but adapted from a presentation by Holt International. The worksheet from the meeting is also linked below to download.
Week 9: ASU Elections
For our last meeting of the term, we held elections for the 2022-2023 ASU Executive Board. Candidates gave speeches, and members voted. Have a great spring break, and we hope to see back next term!
