A former advertising copywriter and magazine editor, Melisha Mitchell stumbled into the world of adoption reform in 1996 after reconnecting with the daughter she had lost to adoption during the infamous Baby Scoop era. Over the next two decades, Melisha launched the White Oak Foundation, a non-profit focused on helping adoption triad members circumnavigate Illinois´ closed record laws, and spearheaded the movement to overturn her home state's outdated adoption statutes. Her efforts led to Illinois becoming the 9th U.S. state to release original birth certificates to all adult adoptees upon request and, through her Foundation, the reunification of thousands of Illinois adoptees with their families of origin. 

Melisha Mitchell can be reached via email [email protected]

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Lydia "Born To Write" Cook is a poet and welcomes you to join her on Facebook at BeaUtiful Chaos. http://bookthatpoet.com/poets/cooklydia.html

Michelle Gilmore is an artist and can be reached at michelle.gilmore.DrawForYou

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During times in this episode, there is sensitive content that may be traumatizing to some audiences. Listener discretion advised.

Lisa K Bouler was born and adopted in Chicago. From an early age her adoptive parents shared her adoption story and encouraged her to search for her biological family. With their support, she eventually found out she was not only a big sister to her parent’s biological child, but a big sister to her own four biological siblings. Lisa is the mother of two phenomenal young adults aged 19 and 22. She has been in education for 31 years. In her spare time, she runs marathons, crochets, and tends to her vegetable gardens. 

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Carmen Hinckley has a passion for writing, especially about adoption, meeting other adoptees, and learning about our unique experiences. Her work has previously been published on the websites Lost Daughters, the Donaldson Institute blog and Adoptee Voices (Quarterly e-Zine). She resides in Portland, Oregon. 

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Debra is a wife, mother and a member of the Adoptee Sisterhood.

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Jeremiah Hines was born and raised in Chicago. He enjoys his even bigger family through reunion.

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Michael has a book of poems available for purchase and all proceeds go to Adoption Network Cleveland. He can be reached by email; [email protected]

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Debra is a personal trainer, "Don't Cheat Your Body" and encourages and inspires everyone to be proactive with their physical fitness especially adoptees who may not know a medical history.

Co-editing by Charles Yingling at The Blueroom Studios, Nashville, TN

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The best way to connect with David DeMarco is via email [email protected] David's recommended resources are https://www.adoptionknowledge.org/peer-support-groups.html https://naapunited.org/adoptee-paths-to-recovery and www.recoveryelevator.com https://www.adoptionknowledge.org/peer-support-groups.html

David is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062909066865

Co-editing by Charles Yingling at The Blueroom Studios, Nashville, TN

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Barbara Robertson is affiliated with NAAP (National Association of Adoptees and Parents) and facilitates a support group Adoption Network Cleveland.

Co-editing by Charles Yingling at The Blueroom Studios, Nashville, TN

Music by Corey Quinn