Dear Adoptees Connect, Inc.: So Long, Farewell, No Need to Say Goodbye
Please know: this is not the end. We are not closing the book; we are simply turning the page.
Dear Friends of Adoptees Connect, Inc.
So long, farewell, no need to say goodbye.
That phrase feels like the most fitting way to describe this transition. After eight powerful years, we are announcing a shift in direction for Adoptees Connect, Inc. Our Board of Directors, myself, Lynn, and Ellie, have made the heartfelt decision to conclude our time operating under the Adoptees Connect nonprofit umbrella. But please know: this is not the end. We are not closing the book; we are simply turning the page.
Eight years ago, in one of the darkest seasons of my life, I was led to create something I desperately needed but could not find, a safe space for adult adoptees to come together, in person, to connect, feel seen, feel heard, and begin healing. At the time, there were virtually no adoptee-centric resources available. The isolation was suffocating. And I knew I couldn’t be the only one feeling this way.
From that space of desperation and longing, Adoptees Connect was born. What started as a single group quickly grew into a nationwide effort. And before we knew it, we were international. Adoptees were gathering, face to face, all over the world. And each time, something beautiful happened.
When an adoptee connects with another adoptee, really connects, in person, it is nothing short of magic. After spending a lifetime feeling misunderstood or silenced, to suddenly sit across from someone who shares your deepest wounds and hidden truths, it’s euphoric. It’s liberating. It’s life-saving. I’ve experienced it personally, and I have heard countless stories from others who’ve said the same. This work didn’t just save my life, it saved many.
These past eight years have been filled with milestones. From our very first meeting to launching new groups, growing our reach, and building authentic community around shared truths. And two years ago, something even more extraordinary happened. I received a message from Jeffrey Leventhal of S12F, who wanted to create a grant to support adoptee-centered work.
Together, we built the Adoptees for Awareness Grant, and since then, we’ve awarded twenty-two grants to adoptee-led organizations, groups, and individuals working to expose the hidden harms of adoption and promote family preservation. To check out the list of 22 grant recipients, click here.
Look what has been born over the last 8 years!
And there are so many more!
This grant work and my involvement with Adoptees Connect, Inc. have been among the most meaningful endeavors of my entire life. Not only because of the impact we’ve made, but also because of the deep friendships that developed along the way with Jeffrey, Lynn, Ellie, and hundreds of fellow adoptees and adoptee organizations around the world. It has been a privilege and an honor to walk this path alongside so many who believe in this work and who show up with their whole heart, as well as a community of changemakers.
Our final grant was awarded yesterday to Dawn J. Post and the Themis Youth Law and Leadership Academy. If you aren’t familiar with her work, please jump on over to her website and see how you can support her! Please know this is not the end of funding for adoptee-centric organizations. I firmly believe that others will step forward and new initiatives will emerge to continue this work.
Our torch may be passing, but the flame is still burning.
As for Adoptees Connect groups around the world, this is important. We are not requiring any of them to close. Quite the opposite. Every local group is encouraged to continue operating independently if they choose. We call it “Indie style.” There will be no oversight from our nonprofit moving forward. But that doesn’t mean the movement has to stop. You have our full support in keeping your group going, planting new ones, and carrying the mission forward in your own unique way.
In fact, we are releasing all rights to the name Adoptees Connect, the logo, and the framework. This belongs to all adoptees now. Anyone who wants to start a group can do so. There are no restrictions. If you feel called to bring adoptees together in your community, do it. You do not need permission. You already have the most important thing, a heart for your people and the will to create something meaningful.
We will keep our website active for the next year so people can continue to find resources, but we are stepping away from the day-to-day operations of the nonprofit. That decision did not come lightly. It came from deep reflection, long conversations, and the realization that life is pulling each of us in new directions.
For me, I’ve come to a place where I need to create more balance in my life. After nearly fifteen years of adoption-focused advocacy, I’ve been living and breathing this work nonstop. And while I will never stop using my voice, I am finding a healthier way to show up, one that doesn’t cost me my peace, my rest, or my well-being. I’m stepping into a season that allows more joy, more light, and more creative expression.
To Lynn and Ellie, my fellow board members and soul sisters. I could not have done this without you. You have been two of the strongest, most committed, most compassionate women I’ve ever known. Your love, your wisdom, your encouragement, and your friendship have carried me through the hardest parts of this journey. Thank you for standing beside me with so much heart and truth.
And to everyone who has been a part of Adoptees Connect, Inc. the last 8 years, our volunteers, facilitators, group members, supporters, donors, and friends - thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your presence, your time, your energy, your belief in this work has made everything possible. You’ve changed lives. You’ve changed mine.
One last thing that must be said, Adoptee Remembrance Day, observed annually on October 30th, is not going anywhere. We will continue honoring that day, every year, for as long as we live. It remains a sacred part of this movement and a solemn reminder of why this work matters. Please continue participating. Please continue sharing. Please continue speaking the names of those we’ve lost and raising awareness about why.
So, this is our transition. Not a goodbye. A sacred shift.
Where You’ll Find Us:
Pamela A. Karanova, President: Pamela isn’t going anywhere, she’s simply shifted direction, and this has been in motion for a long time. Most of her adoptee advocacy work is transitioning here to The Real Adoptea Moxie on Substack, where she’ll have more space to share articles, truths, and conversations through My Adoptee Epiphanies. She’s also embracing the creative freedom of Soulshine Glo Studio, where she creates bold, emotional collage art that blends nature, truth, and unfiltered soul expression. You can follow along on Facebook at Soulshine Glo Studio or connect with her on her public Facebook page and LinkedIn, where she continues to speak to adoptees and those navigating adoption’s complexities. While she’s stepping away from the structure of leading a nonprofit, Pamela is still here, writing, creating, and showing up. Outside of these spaces, you’ll find her spending time with her three adult children, friends, and in nature, watching sunsets, chasing waterfalls, and rediscovering who she is without the constant weight of responsibility. Thank you for walking with her, seeing her, and allowing her to keep showing up wherever this path leads.
Lynn Grubb, Vice President: Lynn feels privileged and honored to have served the adoptee community as a board member of Adoptees Connect, Inc. She plans to continue her advocacy work by staying active with the Adoptee Rights Coalition, where she is dedicated to fighting for equal access to original birth certificates.
Learn more and explore her work at the Adoptee Rights Coalition on Facebook, ARC Website, The Adopted Genealogist on Facebook, Instagram at The Adopted Genealogist, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
Ellie Robinson, Secretary: Ellie Robinson’s commitment to advocating for adoptees and expanding access to meaningful support continues in her role as Co-Founder and COO of Adoptee Identity, where she works alongside fellow adoptee and Founder/CEO, Zoë Hansen-DiBello. Together, they lead Adoptee Identity in partnership with higher education institutions and healthcare organizations to improve services for the adoptee community.
Learn more and explore their latest blog posts at www.adoptee-identity.com. To connect directly, reach out to info@adoptee-identity.com, and follow their journey on LinkedIn! Ellie will still be hosting her Adoptees Connect - Providence, RI group, so reach out to her directly to learn meeting times and locations.
We hope you celebrate this with us. We hope you carry the mission in your own way. And we hope you know that what we built together can never be undone.
So long, farewell, no need to say goodbye.
With love and endless gratitude,
Pamela A. Karanova, Lynn Grubb & Ellie Robinson
Board of Directors, Adoptees Connect, Inc.
Some of our Adoptees Connect group photos over the years!
Thank you!!
Dear Pamela, Thank you!!! I started an Adoptees Connect group in Long Beach with my friend Sandra, and it provided a life-line when I needed it! You were so supportive and available to help. Blessings on your journey, you are a gift and a trail blazer. Love, Rowan