This We the Experts panel brings together different members of the adoption constellation to explore what it means to engage deeply with adoption awareness, advocacy, and change. Rarely do we see spaces where multiple members of the adoption constellation come together and model what it looks like to lean into adoption’s complexities beyond the dominant social narrative of the “happy adoption” story. Through an adoptee-centered lens, panelists will share how they navigate difficult truths, challenge assumptions, and work toward more ethical, informed, and compassionate practices. “The Constellation: Doing the Work” invites us to move beyond isolated roles and toward collective responsibility, asking what becomes possible when we come together to question old narratives, expand understanding, and build something more truthful in their place.

Points to Ponder

What does “doing the work” look like from different positions within the adoption constellation, and how might our responsibilities differ depending on the roles, power, and lived experiences we hold?

How do we remain open to truths about adoption that may challenge our professional training, personal experiences, assumptions, or the narratives we have previously accepted?

What does it mean to move beyond individual awareness and good intentions toward practices, policies, and systems that prioritize family preservation, adoptee voice, accountability, and ethical change?

How can members of the adoption constellation work in relationship with one another while still honoring important differences in lived experience, impact, power, and responsibility?