Building Bridges of Belonging: Strategies to Support AANHPI Adoptees
November is Adoptee Awareness Month, a time to honor and celebrate the unique journeys of adoptees, particularly within the Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. This month provides an opportunity to reflect on the complexities of identity, belonging, and cultural heritage that many adoptees navigate throughout their lives.
Adoptees often face unique challenges in forming their identities, as highlighted in insightful pieces such as Abigail Rose Drumm’s Identity Development for Adopted Individuals and articles from NPR and NBC News. While many adoptees express deep gratitude for their adoptive families, they also grapple with questions about their origins and cultural connections. These dualities—of love and loss, gratitude and longing—are integral to their stories.
For Asian adoptees, exploring and affirming their racial identity is often a significant part of their journey. As Abigail Rose Drumm notes, the absence of physical resemblance to adoptive family members or information about biological origins can lead to profound questions like, “Who am I?” and “Why was I born?” Open dialogue, cultural connection, and validation are vital in helping adoptees feel seen and supported.
Credit: Center for Research on Children and Families
Recognizing Emotions and Honoring Your Truth
In November 2023, Asian Girls Ignite hosted its Embrace and Ascend event for AANHPI mid school students, with the theme of recognizing your emotions and acting in a way that honors them. Our storyteller, Sarah Quinn, shared her experience as a Chinese adoptee growing up in Arvada, Colorado.
Sarah’s story centered on the duality of feeling “too Asian” in some spaces and “not Asian enough” in others.
While attending Chinese language school and practicing Chinese folk dance, Sarah often felt out of place. Yet, in predominantly non-Asian spaces, her Asian identity made her feel different. It wasn’t until her mother founded the Chinese Heritage Camp that Sarah finally found a community where she could fit in entirely—a place where families looked like hers, and she could connect with peers who shared her experiences as an adoptee.
“Having that space where I could be fully myself, without having to explain or defend who I was, made a world of difference,” Sarah shared. Her story emphasized how finding a supportive community can help adoptees navigate the complexities of identity and belonging.
After sharing her story, Sarah taught students how to climb, connecting the activity to navigating challenging emotions. Students were invited to reflect on questions like:
How do you usually navigate challenging emotions?
What are some practices we can use to help ourselves navigate challenging emotions?
How can we use “negative” or challenging emotions in a positive or constructive way?
The workshop concluded with a discussion where students shared their reflections, creating an open and supportive space for dialogue.
Sarah’s story and the climbing activity demonstrated how physical and emotional challenges can be approached with curiosity, self-awareness, and a focus on growth.
Strategies for Supporting a Strong Racial Identity
Building a strong racial identity is a critical aspect of helping adoptees navigate their unique journeys with confidence and pride. Families and communities can foster a healthy sense of self by incorporating thoughtful strategies and creating supportive environments:
Cultural Education and Exploration
Provide books that celebrate a wide range of cultures and histories, allowing adoptees to see themselves reflected in positive narratives.
Attend festivals, celebrations, and community gatherings that showcase their heritage and immerse them in their cultural roots.
Encourage language learning, which deepens adoptees’ understanding and connection to their background.
Facilitate connections with cultural communities, where adoptees can build relationships and participate in meaningful activities.
Open Dialogue and Emotional Support
Foster open, honest conversations within families about race, identity, and adoption to create a safe space for adoptees to share feelings and ask questions.
Introduce support groups or counselors specializing in racial identity development to offer guidance and validation.
Diverse Representation
Introduce adoptees to role models from their cultural background who inspire pride and empowerment.
Curate media content that showcases diverse characters and celebrates cultural diversity.
Create enriching experiences like travel, cultural exchanges, and community involvement to broaden perspectives.
Affirmation and Validation
Acknowledge the challenges adoptees face, including discrimination and the complexities of navigating their identity.
Celebrate their heritage with affirmations that reinforce pride and confidence in their racial and cultural identity.
Encourage empowerment by embracing traditions and facing challenges with resilience.
How Asian Girls Ignite Supports Adoptees in Colorado
At Asian Girls Ignite, we implement many of these strategies through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Community Building, Identity Affirmation, Mentorship and Role Models, and Leadership Opportunities. With 20% of our students identifying as adoptees, we provide a space for AANHPI girls and gender-expansive to explore their identities, connect with peers, and see their heritage celebrated.
Our programs focus on storytelling, mentorship, and representation, creating an inclusive environment where adoptees can embrace their identities and define success on their own terms. Whether it’s attending cultural events, engaging with inspiring role models, or simply feeling validated in their experiences, we are committed to empowering adoptees to thrive.
We honor the adoptee community, celebrating their resilience and the richness they bring to our shared narrative. By amplifying their voices, fostering understanding, and offering tools for empowerment, we can ensure that every adoptee feels seen, valued, and supported.
