Empowering Colombian Adoptees: Reclaiming Heritage, Fostering Well-Being
Introduction
Welcome to our crowdfunding campaign, where we invite you to join us in an extraordinary journey of empowerment, unity, and advocacy. We are a group of Colombian adoptees and individuals displaced by adoption who are passionate about fostering well-being, reclaiming our heritage, and advocating for post-adoption services.
Our Story
As a group of six Colombian Adoptees based in Colombia, the U.S., and Canada and having lived in Switzerland, Germany, France and Honduras, we have all either faced the challenges of adoption or displacement by adoption, seeking our roots, and striving to find a sense of belonging. Our journeys bring us together, and we are realizing the power of unity. We believe in the importance of supporting each other and advocating with and for Colombian adoptees and those displaced by adoption. Now, this founding group is taking our passion and commitment to the next level by establishing a non-profit organization that will serve as a beacon of hope, support, and advocacy for our community.
Our Vision
Our vision is to empower every Colombian adoptee and person displaced by adoption to reach their optimal wellness and belonging in the world. We envision a world where everyone in our global community can confidently embrace their heritage, find a sense of belonging, and access the necessary resources to thrive.
Our Mission
To unite and empower Colombian adoptees and people displaced by adoption through reclaiming our heritage and advocating for post-adoption services.
- Reclaim Heritage: Provide resources and support for those seeking to reconnect with their Colombian heritage, facilitating cultural understanding, and promoting a sense of identity.
- Advocate for Post-Adoption Services: Collaborate with key stakeholders, government agencies, and organizations to advocate for improved post-adoption services, such as mental health support, access to adoption documents, and the reclamation of our legal status as Colombian citizens.
How You Can Help
With your generous support, we can achieve our vision and mission. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a significant impact on our journey. Here's how you can help:
- Financial Support: Donate to our crowdfunding campaign to raise $5,000 dollars to establish and maintain the public charity non-profit organization ACÁ, develop an online platform, and provide vital resources to our community.
- Spread the Word: Share our campaign with your friends, family, and social networks.
- Volunteer: If you have skills or expertise that can help us achieve our goals, consider volunteering your time and knowledge to collaborate with us in support of our initiatives.
- Advocate with Us: Help improve post-adoption services by participating in awareness campaigns, contacting policymakers, and supporting other advocacy efforts.
Impact of Your Support
Your support will directly impact the lives of Colombian adoptees and people displaced by adoption by helping us to:
- Develop a multilingual website to share vital resources and spread the word to people on their post adoption journey around the world.
- Create a 501c3 public charity non-profit organization to raise funds to implement community-driven projects for the Colombian adoptee community.
- Network and outreach in and outside of Colombia to advocate for the Colombian adoptee community.
Sign up for the Latest ACÁ News
Sign up to receive the latest news on the development of the ACÁ nonprofit and website at alianzaca.com.
Thank You!
We are immensely grateful for your consideration and support. By coming together, we can unite our voices and work towards a brighter present and future where everyone in our community can embrace their heritage and find well-being and belonging in this world.
Join us in this journey of empowerment, unity, and advocacy. Donate now and be a part of our mission to empower Colombian adoptees and those displaced by adoption!
Highlights
See all activity69Historia en Español
Introducción
Bienvenidos a nuestra campaña de financiamiento colectivo, donde te invitamos a unirte a nosotros en un extraordinario viaje de empoderamiento, unidad y apoyo. Somos un grupo de adoptados y personas desplazadas por la adopción colombianos apasionados por fomentar el bienestar, recuperar nuestra cultura y abogar por los servicios post-adopción.
Nuestra historia
Como grupo de seis adoptados colombianos radicados en Colombia, Estados Unidos, Canadá y alrededor del mundo, todos hemos enfrentado los desafíos de la adopción o el desplazamiento por adopción, buscando nuestras raíces y esforzándonos por encontrar un sentido de pertenencia. Nuestros viajes nos unen y nos estamos dando cuenta del poder de la unidad. Creemos en la importancia de apoyarnos unos a otros y abogar por un futuro mejor para los adoptados colombianos y los desplazados por la adopción. Ahora, este grupo fundador está llevando nuestra pasión y compromiso al siguiente nivel al establecer una organización sin fines de lucro que servirá como un faro de esperanza y apoyo para nuestra comunidad.
Nuestra visión
Nuestra visión es empoderar a cada adoptado colombiano y persona desplazada por adopción para que alcance su bienestar óptimo y su pertenencia en el mundo. Imaginamos un mundo donde todos en nuestra comunidad global puedan abrazar con confianza su herencia, encontrar un sentido de pertenencia y acceder a los recursos necesarios para prosperar.
Nuestra misión
Unir y empoderar a los adoptados colombianos y a las personas desplazadas por la adopción a través de la recuperación de nuestra herencia y la promoción de servicios post-adopción.
- Recuperar el Patrimonio: Proporcionar recursos y apoyo a quienes buscan reconectarse con su patrimonio colombiano, facilitando el entendimiento cultural y promoviendo un sentido de identidad.
- Abogar por los servicios post-adopción: colaborar con partes interesadas clave, agencias gubernamentales y organizaciones para abogar por mejores servicios post-adopción, como apoyo a la salud mental, acceso a registros de nacimiento y recuperación de nuestro estatus legal como ciudadanos colombianos.
Cómo puedes ayudar
Con tu generoso apoyo, podemos lograr nuestra visión y misión. Tu contribución, sin importar el tamaño, tendrá un impacto significativo en nuestro camino. Así es como puedes ayudar:
- Apoyo financiero: haz una donación a nuestra campaña para ayudarnos a establecer y mantener nuestra organización sin fines de lucro, desarrollar nuestra plataforma en línea y proporcionar recursos vitales a nuestra comunidad. Nuestro objetivo inicial es recaudar cinco mil dólares para un presupuesto inicial que cubriría las tarifas de solicitud para obtener el estatus legal de organización sin fines de lucro en los EE. UU. y el desarrollo y mantenimiento de nuestro sitio web multilingüe.
- Corre la voz: comparte nuestra campaña con tus amigos, familiares y redes sociales. Cuanta más gente conozca nuestra causa, más apoyo podremos obtener.
- Sé voluntario: si tienes habilidades o experiencia que pueden ayudarnos a lograr nuestros objetivos, considera ofrecer tu tiempo y conocimientos como voluntario junto con nosotros, miembros fundadores, para apoyar nuestras iniciativas.
- Defiende con nosotros: Únete a nosotros para abogar por mejores servicios post-adopción participando en campañas de concientización, contactando a los formuladores de políticas y apoyando nuestros esfuerzos de promoción.
Impacto de tu apoyo
Tu apoyo impactará directamente las vidas de los adoptados colombianos y las personas desplazadas por adopción al ayudarnos a:
- Redes y extensión dentro y fuera de Colombia para abogar por la comunidad colombiana de adoptados.
- Desarrollar un sitio web multilingüe para compartir recursos vitales y hacer correr la voz entre las personas en su viaje posterior a la adopción en todo el mundo.
- Crear una organización pública benéfica sin fines de lucro 501c3 para recaudar fondos para implementar proyectos para la comunidad de adoptados colombianos.
Regístrense para recibir las últimas noticias de ACÁ
Regístrense para recibir las últimas noticias sobre el desarrollo de la organización sin ánimo de lucro ACÁ y su sitio web en alianzaca.com.
Agradecimiento
Estamos inmensamente agradecidos por tu consideración y apoyo. Al unirnos, podemos empoderar a nuestra comunidad, unir nuestras voces y trabajar por un futuro mejor donde cada individuo pueda abrazar su herencia, encontrar bienestar y pertenecer a este mundo.
Únete a nosotros en este viaje de empoderamiento, unidad y apoyo. ¡Dona ahora y sé parte de nuestra misión de empoderar a los adoptados colombianos y a los desplazados por la adopción!
Our Team
The founding members of Alianza of Colombian Adoptees (ACÁ) reflect some of the diversity of our global Colombian adoptee community. We also represent varying philosophies and experiences surrounding adoption. We embrace this diversity of experiences and thinking as a true and sustained strength rather than an obstacle to collaboration and understanding. The first four words of our mission invite unity and empowerment, values we intentionally champion in our decision to include a variety of voices on our founding team.
Jacob Taylor-Mosquera (He/Him/Él)
From: Cali (Valle del Cauca) – Centro de Adopción Chiquitines
Lives in: Seattle, WA (US)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobtaymos/
Degrees:
- BA in Global studies (Development/Social Justice & Spanish)
- MA in Latin American studies (Cultural Analysis & Public Policy)
- Graduate Certificate: Public administration
What I’m proud of lately:
- Author of the memoir I Met Myself in October: A Memoir of Belonging
- Regular speaker on adoption-related podcasts & panels
- Spanish teacher for local professional soccer team’s staff
Professionally involved in:
- Teaching (Spanish, History, Philosophy)
- Ed-tech
- Non-profit management
- Global youth development
What ACÁ means to me:
In Spanish, “acá” means “here”, and I think it’s a powerful way to finally say, we are here as Colombian adoptees advocating and working together to move our community forward. “Here” means wherever we are, and, fortunately, we’re in a lot of places and spaces! For me, ACÁ also means ‘connection’. Connection to fellow Colombian adoptees around the world, connection to Colombia and yes, connection to the younger generation of Colombian adoptees who will have a virtual landing space I never had.
Simon Pedro Alberto Zimmer Krieger (He/Him/Él)
From: Bogotá (Cundinamarca) - Sua Ti (Suba) - private orphanage
Lives in: Ellicott City, MD (US)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sim%C3%B3n-zimmer/
Degrees:
- BS in Electrical Engineering
- BA in German Language and Literature
- International MBA
What I’m proud of lately:
- My Colombian wife, Sonia, and I will adopt twins, Andrea and Jhonatan, from Medellin, Colombia in January 2024.
- My biological sister’s son, Nico (my nephew) recently graduated from high school, and my Colombian stepdaughters, Camila and Daniela, are completing degrees in Music Education and French. So proud in many ways!
- 8 years later, WaterAid , an international water nonprofit, continues the mission that my beloved adoptive family and I began through Aguayuda (2006-2015) to help vulnerable Indigenous communities gain access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education in La Guajira, Colombia.
Professionally involved in:
- Providing rooftop solar to low-and-moderate income families through Civic Works in Baltimore, Maryland.
- 20 years of development work including Peace Corps in Honduras 2003 - 2005
What ACÁ means to me:
In 2000, I was 25 years old when I first thought about returning to Colombia to discover my roots and find my biological family. 5 years later I found my b-team (biological family). Though it was a joyous reunion in so many ways, I wish there would have been an organization like ACÁ in 2000 to help guide me on what is involved in returning to Colombia. ACÁ will solve this challenge through a multilingual website full of valuable resources from our experiences and many others from our community.
Abby Forero-Hilty (She/Her/Ella)
From: Bogotá (Cundinamarca) - FANA “orphanage”
Lives in: Toronto, Canada
LinkedIn: In an effort to limit my social media, I do not have a LinkedIn account!
Degrees:
- BSc in Human Biology
- MSc in Medical Anthropology
- Current MSW candidate at Wilfrid Laurier University
What I’m proud of lately:
- The continuing impact of the anthology I edited, published, and co-authored: Decoding Our Origins: The Lived Experiences of Colombian Adoptees
- Having almost completed the 1st semester of my MSW program
- The young adults my kids are growing into - they are a constant source of pride!
Professionally involved in:
- Accompanying hospice clients as an in-person care companion
- Training to become a peer bereavement group facilitator
What ACÁ means to me:
To me, ACÁ means community. It means being with people who, like me, were displaced out of Colombia due to intercountry adoption. This gives me a feeling of belonging, of being understood without having to explain or justify my lived experiences. It means laughing and grieving and learning and sharing and advocating alongside knowing witnesses. And, because “acá” means “here,” it reminds me that no matter where we are located on our journeys as adopted/displaced persons, we are always right here. Together.
Joshua Stark aka José Taborda (He/Him/Él)
From: Medellín (Antioquia) - La Casita
Lives in: Brooklyn, New York (US)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stark/
Degrees:
- MA TESOL
- BA English Letters and Literature
What I’m proud of lately:
- My daughter officially became a teenager in November. She is growing up to be such a beautiful, smart, and independent young woman.
- Being published in Intercountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV) Perspective Paper on Searching in Intercountry Adoption this past May.
- Completion of my sixth year as an academic ESOL instructor for the Borough of Manhattan Community College’s CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP). I regularly meet my students on the streets of New York City in professional roles who are so pleased to tell me how positively CLIP personally impacted their lives.
Professionally involved in:
- Staff point person for the local union, Professional Staff Congress (PSC) that represents faculty and staff for the City University of New York (CUNY), the largest university system in the United States.
- Volunteer on the Education Committee for The Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network (KAAN)
What ACÁ means to me:
Nosotros somos ACÁ y n osotros estamos acá means that we, Colombian Adoptees, have arrived and we are here to honor the Colombian adoptees that came before us and fight for the healing and rights of our peers and for all future Colombian adoptees around the globe.
Elena Di Giovanna Serrato (She/Her/Ella)
From: Bogotá (Cundinamarca), Colombia (CRAN)
Lives in: Bogotá (lives in Washington, DC when Stateside)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenadigiovanna/
Degrees:
- Masters of Social Work, ( Focus on International and Community Development)
- Certificate in TESOL
What I’m proud of lately:
- For educating myself in depth about the Israeli occupation of Palestine and its history
- Providing a safe/meditative space for staff to discuss and share about current event
- DC Scores afterschool program to coach soccer and poetry to 3-5th graders
Professionally involved in:
- Nonprofit organization (501 c3) www.healingpuentes.com to support adult adoptees in search and reunion process in Colombia and reacculturation
- Member of Race and Equity team at District of Columbia Public Schools
What ACÁ means to me:
A visible place for our community to connect, become empowered, and to reprogram ourselves to help us remember where we come from worldwide. ACÁ is the organization I wish had existed when I was a child or teenager growing up. ACÁ is here to increase knowledge within ourselves and other entities that are part of the adoption constellation.
Astrid Castro (She/Her/Ella)
From: Bucaramanga (Norte de Santander), Colombia
Lives in: Portland, OR (US)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrid-castro-013b194/
Degrees:
- BA Sociology (Adoption)
What I’m proud of lately:
- My daughter is navigating college life!
- Adoption Mosaic virtual panels continue to motivate, inspire and connect
- Training for half-marathons
Professionally involved in:
- Facilitating virtual & in-person panels, conferences and workshops focused on adoption
- Sitting on several adoption-focused boards of directors, as well as guest-starring on adoption-focused podcasts
What ACÁ means to me:
ACÁ is a place where I, as a Colombian adoptee, can come together with other Colombian adoptees for support and resources specific to our needs!
