Yes, we do adopt!

This episode  Malaika is joined by  Sean Sparks. Sean is a therapist, a program coordinator with the Children's Bureau and a staunch advocate for the health and wellbeing of children, especially those who joined their family through adoption and foster care. In this conversation, Sean and Malaika reflect on  the impact COVID 19 is having on families,   the global racial uprisings, the movement to defund the police and the disparities in allocation of resources for families.

For the first episode in season two Malaika talks with Carlos Windham. Carlos is a performer, a comedian,  a musician, a writer and the principal and founder of El Porvenir Services  LLC. Through their work with El Porvenir Services LLC , Carlos is creating change within organizations and systems to center the voices of those most impacted by white supremacy. Additionally, Carlos has been a guest speaker at Pact camp West and has  written an article for Pacts Point of View, which laid out ways that we can think about and unpack our understanding of white supremacy. In this conversation, Carlos and Malaika talk about parenting through a pandemic and global uprising, as well as how through it all we can be supporting our resident leaders [otherwise known as our kiddos] find their way  towards joy and liberation

Welcome back to season two. Our second season was recorded in the spring and summer of 2020.  Right in the middle of a global pandemic,  racial uprisings,  here in California wildfire season and to top it all off or waiting for a national election that will have deep, deep impacts on the direction of this country. We decided that it was only fitting to focus this season on black voices. Throughout the season, we explore topics of activism. homeschooling,  educating black children,  child welfare reform,  global uprisings and how families are managing resistance. and self-preservation.  

Susan Dusza Guerra Leksander, LMFT Adoption Agency Supervisor and First/Birth Family Specialist at Pact, an adoption specialist talks about working with expectant parents  who are considering placement. In this episode Susan gives us a snap shot of how her work is moving the field of adoption toward one that acknowledges and respects the humanity of expectant families and first/birth families. 

Malaika Parker is joined by Nefertiti Austin, author of  Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America. Malaika and Nefertiti explore the world of adoption, motherhood and carving out space in White narrative of parenting for our stories to shine. 

Katie Wynen, adoption specialist with Pact, an adoption alliance talks child centered adoption, supporting same race placement AND challenging the adoption industry.