We are taking a little side chat, a break from our season's theme of mixed relationships and family dynamics, because guess what? Mixunderstood and yours truly, Hanna-Lee, went to our first event for mixed people!

This episode is a bit different from our usual format. I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Free to Be Fest, a celebration of the mixed experience, right here in downtown LA.

The Free to Be Fest is an amazing event that showcases the richness of mixed identity and belonging. This year, it featured two short films and a TV pilot, all centered around the theme of mixed identity and belonging. I was fortunate enough to interview some of the attendees, including mixed individuals and allies, capturing their stories, insights, and thoughts on what it means to be mixed in today's world.

I recorded this episode on an outdoor rooftop in the heart of downtown LA, so you might hear some background noise from the event and the occasional siren. Please bear with me, as the conversations I had are truly worth it.

A special shoutout to Dr. Jenn, the brilliant mind behind this festival and a former guest on the podcast (check out Episode 20). Her passion and dedication to celebrating mixed identity made this event possible.

Interviewees:

Maris Lidaka - @marislidaka Founder of @blendedfutureproject

Film - “Gabriella”

Eloise joy @mixed_and_chill

Lauren Lola @akolaurenlola

Books: “A Moment’s Worth” & “Dasig”

Punita Khanna:

www.Humsubglobalteen.com

Book: Mixed Desis - Stories of Multiracial South Asians

Thomas Lopez - www.multiracialamericans.org

Aute Porter - www. auteporter.com

Larz Broussard - www.larzbroussard.com

Camille Tenerife - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/camille-tenerife-los-angeles-ca/931678

Conroe Brooks @conroebrooks

Tv pilot: “Alt Black”

Sarah Shuman and David Ramos

Film: www.tsehaitheshort.com

Thank you Paola Morales del Castillo, Iris Tumi, Julie & Ariana

And Thank you Dr Jenn!!!

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Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com

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In part 1, we explored what it was like for Maria Fernanda growing up as a mixed-race transracial adoptee. We delved into the emotional complexities of birthdays as an adoptee, what it was like growing up with white parents, and being in an interracial relationship and getting pregnant unexpectedly. Becoming a young mom was a turning point for Maria Fernanda, who says it was the moment of “coming out of the fog” when she started to want answers and began the arduous journey of searching for her “First mother.”

Now, in part 2, we delve deeper into the emotional and challenging journey of uncovering adoption records that seemed almost impossible to access. Our exploration follows the relentless efforts to contact consulates, embassies, and a now-defunct adoption agency, leading to a surprising breakthrough. This realization highlights the systemic barriers many adoptees face when seeking answers, underscoring the ongoing struggles within the adoption process. Join us as we continue Maria's story of resilience, determination, and the importance of community and support.

• Maria Fernanda’s emotional journey of searching for biological family members:
• Efforts to find her mother and brother through online messages and social media.
• Maria Fernanda’s first hand experience with a scam and the Importance of caution to avoid scams.
• Maria Ferdanda’s determination and resilience in navigating the complexities of searching for one's roots amidst a global pandemic. The Detective work she did to find clues and put the pieces of info together. Inspired by the movie "Lion," using Google Earth to investigate further.
• Initial dead ends and emotional highs and lows in the pursuit.
• How she finally was able to be connected with her first mother after decades of separation and begin the reunion process.
• The Immediate and profound connection despite language barriers as well as the challenges of communication through a translator.
• Mix of joy and pain in such reunions, impact of past trauma.
• Delays in in-person meeting due to the global pandemic.
• Maria Fernanda’s first trip back to Quito with her family to meet her birth family.
• Challenges faced by adoptees, particularly from Latin America, in navigating identity and reunions with biological families.
• The ongoing challenges around being an adoptee. Her personal experience of proving citizenship for a child's college application, highlighting bureaucratic hurdles.
• Maria Fernanda’s Creation of Adoptees of Latin America plus Extended Latin Americas and the Guia Nova mentoring program.
• Need for supportive communities that understand the unique grief and joy adoptees experience.
• The mental health impacts of adoption and importance of trauma-informed care and supportive networks.
• The role of community in acknowledging and processing trauma and loss, ensuring adoptees can thrive.

Find Maria Fernanda:

Instagram:

@abutterflyseries

Adoptees of Latin America+ Extended Latin Americas: https://www.asa-extendedlatinamericas.com/creators

Guia Nova:

Instagram @guianovamentoring

Patreon!

https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod

Follow Mixunderstood!

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: mixunderstoodpod@gmail.com

Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com

Patreon!

https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod

How does a transracial adoptee navigate the intricate tapestry of identity, culture, and belonging? Join us as Maria Fernanda, a passionate advocate and voice for adoptees, shares her heart-wrenching yet empowering journey from Quito, Ecuador, to her adoptive home in the United States. Maria's story is one of resilience and determination, as she unveils the emotional complexities of birthdays as an adoptee, the painstaking process of uncovering adoption records, and the profound impact of reclaiming her identity and reconnecting with her birth family.

Maria discusses her transformative work in co-creating Adoptees of Latin America plus Extended Latin Americas and Guia Nova, emphasizing the significance of community and support for those navigating similar paths. She opens up about the challenges of growing up in a family of a different race, the emotional nuances of international adoption, and the intense moments of "coming out of the fog" to face the realities of her past. Her journey is marked by poignant reunions with her birth mother, navigating medical documentation as an adoptee, and the emotional roller coaster of finding her biological family amidst a global pandemic.

This episode is a testament to the importance of keeping adoptees' voices central in adoption conversations, highlighting the critical need for empathy, understanding, and trauma-informed care.

This episode marks the first of a two-part series.

Show notes:

• When Maria Fernanda found out she didn't really know her birthday
• We talk about the mix of feelings that come up around birthdays, especially for someone like Maria who was adopted.
• The privilege of having access to personal documents in the Adoptee community
• Maria Fernand’s adoptive family dynamics
• Mari Fernanda challenge the "savior" narrative often associated with adoptive parents, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the birth families' circumstances and humanity
• The importance of centering the voices of adoptees and their first families, rather than solely highlighting the adoptive parents' actions.
• The complexities of growing up as a mixed-race adoptee in a predominantly white environment.
• Growing up as a mixed-race adoptee in a mostly white environment comes with its own set of challenges. A racist encounter Maria had outside her dance class is just one example
• The diverse experiences within the same household, highlighting how each adoptee's journey is unique.
• Maria Fernanda’s moment of "coming out of the fog” as she became a young mom.
• The emotional and logistical challenges faced by adoptees in navigating medical and personal history documentation
• The frustration of filling out forms at the OBGYN that lack an option for adoptees, highlighting the need for medical professionals to be more informed and empathetic.

Find Maria Fernanda:

Instagram:

@abutterflyseries

Adoptees of Latin America+ Extended Latin Americas: https://www.asa-extendedlatinamericas.com/creators

Guia Nova:

Instagram @guianovamentoring

Patreon!

https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod

Follow Mixunderstood!

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: mixunderstoodpod@gmail.com

Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com

Patreon!

https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod