Adoptee Highlight

AdopteeBridge would like to recognize the achievements of adoptees throughout the United States. Today, we would like to highlight Dr. Stephanie Kripa Cooper-Lewter.

Photo from Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Photo from Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Dr. Stephanie Kripa Cooper-Lewter is an Indian American adoptee and was recently hired as the Executive Director at Leading On Opportunity to lead a community initiative to work for equal opportunities for all children in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is a longtime leader in the nonprofit and philanthropic communities, devoted to the cause of equal opportunity for all.

Dr. Cooper-Lewter was adopted when she was a toddler. She is quoted as saying, “My journey has guided my life purpose to ensure every child – regardless of income, race and zip code – has the same opportunities as yours and mine...I have given my heart to this cause, and to racial equity."

Cooper-Lewter has ties to Minnesota, as she graduated from Bethel College (now University) and earned her master's in social work from the University of Minnesota!

Read more about Dr. Cooper-Lewter's at this link.

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DNA Testing & Finding Your Origins

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At AdopteeBridge, we acknowledge and understand not all adoptees want to search or meet birth family relatives. At the same time, we recognize there is a large portion of adoptees who yearn to search and meet a member of their biological family. Several adoptees also yearn to learn more about their background, heritage, ethnicity, etc. With the advancements in DNA testing and technology, it has provided not only the general public, but also adoptees and birth families another way to search for one another, but also to learn more about their heritage. 

The following is an excellent article of an adoptee, Christina Bottley, reflecting why she did a DNA test. 

With the boom of DNA testing, I have been back and forth for 2 years about wanting to do a test. Part of me really wanted to find out my ancestry origins, while another part of me didn’t want to because of where it might lead with being connected to long lost relatives or even my birth parents. However, as I have been researching and interacting with other Korean adoptees, I have felt the curiosity inside stir within. So, a month ago I ordered my DNA kit. I’m not going to lie, I was nervous and scared. I wasn’t nervous about the ancestry origins, but mostly about if I would be matched to any relatives and what that would then lead to. But, I decided that I would handle whatever came my way at that moment, and do my test....

I started to cry. I shared with my husband that I finally feel that a lifelong weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The mystery has been solved, and I finally have a clear picture of my origins. I’m not closing the door on the possibility of finding my birth parents, but I do know one thing. Even if I never find them, I am okay with it because knowing my ancestry origin has finally given me the identity that I have been searching for...

Click on the link to read the full article. 

Adoption Reunions: 5 Things I Have Learned As An Adoptee

Having realistic expectations and proper support before, during, and after an adoption reunion is crucial. Proper support may come in the form of family and friends, or you may find you need further support coming from professional resources--a therapist or social worker for therapy. Some individuals find outside of therapy sessions, physical activity may be a good way to handle the various emotions that come with an adoption reunion. Whether it be going for a long run, yoga, Tai Chi, or meditation. 

Nevertheless, it's important to have both realistic expectations and proper support when facing an adoption reunion. An adoption reunion doesn't have to be only with a birth family member. We acknowledge how important a birth family is; however, a reunion or meeting with anyone involved with an adoptee's story/background can be an emotional experience--foster family member, intake social worker, child care social worker, orphanage caregiver, finder, birth clinic doctor, etc. 

Here's an excellent article from the Huffington Post which discusses Adoption Reunions:
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_59cef48ce4b0f58902e5cc4e

“AdopteeBridge will always put the wants and needs of the adoptee first, because they genuinely care for you and your family. They have an incredible amount of experience leading birthland tours to Korea and are also passionate about what they do.”

—Adult Adoptee