What I Did & What I Do

Before I fully committed to helping systems and individuals better navigate the unique experiences of adoption and differences of race, culture, and class, my work was in corporate marketing and communications.

My first job was Marketing Manager for Nine West Group and I had no clue what I was doing! I was a hustler and my early life training on how to navigate mostly white spaces (which is what management was and very much still is in corp america), being curious, and having a “get-it-done” attitude created the conditions for me to find success. I built a solid foundation at Nine West learning about how to bring a clear brand message to life in vastly different markets across the country.

From there I went to Kenneth Cole and advanced quickly to Marketing Director. It was at Kenneth Cole where I became fully committed to the power of cause-related marketing and social responsibility. I also met some of my dearest friends. I stayed in Fashion Retail for a bit longer and then moved into Public Relations, working at Flieshman-Hillard, Ruder Finn, and a few consulting clients. I worked on accounts ranging from pharmaceuticals, to fashion to fast food, to nonprofits. I loved working in PR when blogs were new and social media was very basic.

After several years working in PR firms I went back in-house and moved to Dallas TX to work for JC Penney as DVP of Brand Publicity. I had an amazing team and we brought to life large-scale activations, including the 84 the Annual Academy Awards fan experience, and a “Joining Forces'” event for teens with Michelle Obama and The Ellen Show. My last corporate job was as External Media Director at Jet Blue - one of the hardest and most interesting jobs I have had thus far and the travel bennies were fire!

While at Kenneth Cole, I made volunteerism, mainly mentoring part of my life and it has remained central to what I do and who I am. As a result of a very complicated reunion where I was ultimately rejected by my mother or origin I started “Adoptment” a mentoring program where adopted adults mentor to youth that have been in or are currently navigating foster care. In a lot of ways once I started getting closer to how adoption and foster care really worked it was only a matter of time until I would fully commit to working for the community I was a part of.

It was at JetBlue that I realized it was time to shift my full focus to adoption reform. I become the Chief Exec of the Donaldson Adoption Institute where I spent over four years pushing for more visibility, funding, and a deeper commitment to truly reforming adoption. We launched “Let’s Adopt Reform”; an initiative to spark a national conversation about adoption and foster care that included a Town Hall Tour, a large-scale public opinion survey and a comprehensive professional qualitative report. The DAI board ultimately decided to dissolve the organization which was heartbreaking and also the right decision at the time.  The Org’s research can all be found on the child welfare information gateway (just search for Donaldson Adoption Institute on the gateway).

Today, my work includes communications consulting in support of federal grants focused on implementation of evidence-based interventions for post adoption services, regular contributions to Imprint formerly The Chronicle of Social Change and Fostering Families Today. Race and Cultural Competency training and facilitation for professionals, parents, and systems as well as working with several NY City schools facilitating adoption affinity/support groups for young people and parents. The centerpiece of my work is my podcast Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World where I deconstruct the calendar as a means to better understanding of the realities of adoption.

I love the many facets of the work that I have done and continue to do today. Some days are harder than others but every single day I am reminded of how important it is to keep showing up! When the world better understands the intricacies of adoption the world and everyone in it will be better.