Recuperation . . . seeking recovery from the not known

recuperation: re·cu·per·a·tion
rəˌko͞opəˈrāSH(ə)n/
The recovery or regaining of something.

Participating in the 2016 Alliance for the Study of Adoption and Cultures conference last month in Minneapolis was a cornucopia of scholarship, engagement and community. The critical mass of adoptee activism is at work in academia from many perspectives, and I am so grateful for their voices in the discourse. As a practitioner, their work informs what I am able to contribute to our community. JaeRan Kim‘s use of the word recuperation during a session on the Intersections of Adoption Studies, speaks to the many ways that we seek to recover from these tumultuous times, and to recover or discover our adoptive narratives. November is Adoption Awareness month, and increasing awareness is part of this recuperation: Should adoptees have access to their Original Birth Certificates? Should Inter-Country adoptees be guaranteed citizenship (read Adam Crapser’s story)? Should the Department of State tighten inter-country adoption regulations? There are opportunities to make your voice heard this November.