Monthly Reflections Archives - Transracial Journeys https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/category/reflection/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:36:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-Logo-Flare520x520-32x32.jpg Monthly Reflections Archives - Transracial Journeys https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/category/reflection/ 32 32 Reclaiming Our Family Narrative: Setting Boundaries & Building Belonging https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/reclaiming-our-family-narrative/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:19:03 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=5193 By April Dinwoodie Transracial adoptive families represent diversity in a world that is constantly observing—even while professing, it doesn't “see color.” This reality makes it imperative that transracially adopted children are protected from the micro and macro aggressions they face by parents setting intentional, empowering boundaries. As a parent navigating the winding roads of adoption and identity, I've learned that fostering belonging begins with establishing clear, non-negotiable limits on what we accept from others. Defining Our Space in a Noisy read more

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]]> 2025 Family Camp Theme Announcement: https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/2025-family-camp-theme-announcement/ Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:04:48 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=5172 A Message from the TRJ Board of Directors and Executive Director At the intersection of Black History Month and a month when we celebrate love, we are reminded of the power of community, resilience, and the bonds that sustain us on our journeys. This year, those values feel more urgent than ever and why we are thrilled to announce our 2025 camp theme: Together on the Journey: Community, Empowerment, & Joy.  These words embody the heart of our mission—bringing transracially read more

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]]> January: Honoring Family Connections Through the Calendar https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/january-honoring-family-connections-through-the-calendar/ Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:08:47 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=5125 By April Dinwoodie I couldn’t sleep. Something was nagging at me. Yes, there were work deadlines looming and the mundane tasks of life left undone. But this was different—a heavier weight, a quiet ache pressing on my spirit that I couldn't quite name. I lay awake, restless, cataloging every possible reason for my sadness. No upcoming anniversaries or events came to mind, nothing obvious to explain this depth of melancholy. Eventually, exhausted, I drifted off in the early hours, only read more

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]]> Making and Breaking Traditions: https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/making-breaking-traditions/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:50:34 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=5089 As the year draws to a close, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the traditions we hold dear and consider how we shape new ones to honor the diversity within our families. This month, we are thrilled to share our 2024-2025 Bibliography for the Giving Season and All Year Long, a curated collection of books that celebrate stories of identity, culture, and connection. This guide is a testament to the power of books in fostering understanding, self-discovery, and belonging for read more

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]]> The Quest for Belonging: https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/quest-for-belonging-diversity-around-the-holiday-table/ Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:31:24 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4970 By April Dinwoodie, TRJ Part-time Executive Director, Speaker, Trainer   As a Black/Bi-racial transracially adopted person, I am mustering up the strength and centeredness to stay present, stay focused and not let the realities of our country stop me from protecting my community.  I invite you to do the same and see this as a time where we lean even harder into doing the work to protect children that are entrusted to you through adoption.   As we enter this holiday season, read more

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]]> National Adoption Awareness Month (NAAM): Embracing a Broader Narrative https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/national-adoption-awareness-month/ Sun, 03 Nov 2024 20:03:17 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4997 By April Dinwoodie, TRJ Part-time Executive Director, Speaker, Trainer   National Adoption Month (NAM) was officially launched by the U.S. federal government in 1995 under the Clinton Administration, with its roots going back to 1976, when Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis first established an adoption awareness week. The original goal was to promote adoption as a pathway to provide permanent homes for children in foster care, focusing on the need for adoptive families and support within the child welfare system. In recent read more

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]]> Costumes and Code-Switching: The Hidden Layers of Transracial Adoption https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/costumes-and-code-switching-the-hidden-layers-of-transracial-adoption/ Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:37:19 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4925 By April Dinwoodie, TRJ Part-time Executive Director, Speaker, Trainer   It’s October and many children begin dreaming up costumes, reveling in the chance to put on a mask and become someone else for a night.  For many Black and Brown children in transracial adoptions, wearing a "costume" often extends far beyond October 31st. Transracially adopted children may feel the need to mask aspects of their identity and emotions daily as they navigate a world where they may feel out of place—even read more

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]]> Walking Beside Our Children With Clarity and Confidence – (Part 2) https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/walking-beside-our-children-with-clarity-and-confidence-part-2/ Sun, 01 Sep 2024 16:24:03 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4886 By Bear Howe PART 2 This is part 2 of a two-part article written for the September issue of Transracial Journeys newsletter. Click here for Part 1: Walking Beside Our Children With Clarity and Confidence (Part 1) (Part 1 explores the topics of personal work, allyship and parenting inside the home.) Parenting Outside The Home If we are the upholders of our children’s dignity, then we need to get really clear about the forces at play in society, in our communities, read more

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]]> Walking Beside Our Children With Clarity and Confidence – (Part 1) https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/walking-beside-our-children-with-clarity-and-confidence-part-1/ Sun, 01 Sep 2024 15:23:37 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4884 By Bear Howe When I set out to write this piece, I thought I’d share some jumping off points that have helped me become a more confident transracially adoptive parent. But it grew to include quite a few pieces, so we have decided it’s best broken into two parts. Here you’ll find part 1, and you can jump over to our blog to find part 2. Thanks for being here, putting in the time and energy our kids need from read more

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]]> Back-to-School https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/back-to-school/ Sat, 03 Aug 2024 20:01:30 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4841 By K. Bean Back-to-school season is an exciting and transformative time, not just for our children but for us as parents as well. While our children gear up for new academic adventures, we as parents can seize this opportunity to reignite our own commitment to learning and growth. Embracing a mindset of curiosity and dedication to continuous learning is essential for fostering an inclusive, supportive, and understanding family environment. Continuing to learn about the impact of racism and bias will read more

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