This episode with Dr. David McCarty-Caplan touches on so many profound and heartfelt areas, carried by the radical vulnerability, honesty, and compassion he brings to the conversation. David generously shares about his reunion with his Colombian birth family-- first on his own, and later with his children and partner. We explore how his kids embraced reunion and modeled openness, curiosity and love with his family, and how their presence and perspective helped guide and teach him throughout the process. David also reflects on his identity as a Jewish Colombian adoptee and his powerful work community building with and for Jewish adoptees of color. 

Dr. David McCarty-Caplan Bio
Dr. David McCarty-Caplan (PhD) is a researcher, educator, writer, and consultant whose work sits at the intersection of identity, belonging, and social justice. Born in Bogotá, Colombia and adopted into a white Jewish family in the United States, David’s life has been shaped by questions of race, family, and home. These experiences continue to inform his passion for helping adoptees and their families navigate the complex layers of identity, racism, and connection that often accompany adoption. Drawing on his background as a social work researcher and educator, David brings both personal insight and professional rigor to his work with organizations, communities, and families. He is especially interested in how people and institutions can create spaces where all feel seen and valued. David lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their two children, ages 12 and 10. As a husband, father, and adoptee, he is continually exploring what it means to nurture belonging — in his family, in his work, and in the broader world.

https://www.shadesofbelonging.com/

Co-Hosts: Nari Baker & Robyn Park
Music: Mike Marlatt & Paul Gulledge
Audio Production: Frederico Soler Fernández
Artwork: Dalhe Kim

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