Education

She Was Rejected at 19, Then Found Both Families at 36: One Adoptee's Reunion Journey

January 02, 2026
By, Donna Pope

0:00

Advertising will end in

Skip ad

Description:

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Tarcia Smith, host of the Adoption Journey podcast and co-founder of Black Adoptees Meetup. Tarcia shares her personal adoption story, her complicated reunions with both biological parents, and why she built a national community for Black adoptees who felt underrepresented in traditional adoption spaces.

Understanding the Journey

Tarcia was adopted as an infant in Chicago during the 1970s through a closed adoption. At 19, she attempted to find her birth family but was told they didn't want contact. Sixteen years later, when Illinois changed its laws, she obtained her original birth certificate and successfully located her biological brother through Facebook. What followed was a series of reunions that taught her the difference between expectations and reality.

Building What Was Missing

In 2024, Tarcia and Dr. Kathy Garland co-founded Black Adoptees Meetup after noticing Black adoptees were consistently underrepresented in adoption spaces. The first gathering brought 25 people to Atlanta. The second brought 30 to Chicago, including one man who flew from the UK. Philadelphia hosts the 2026 event October 2nd through 4th.

This episode offers practical guidance for adoptees navigating reunion while providing perspective on showing grace to birth families and building chosen community.

Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation. Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption show for real stories and resources that help families across the adoption constellation find support and for expert insights on adoption wellness.

#AdopteeVoices #BlackAdoptee #AdoptionReunion #ClosedAdoption #AdopteeHealing #AdoptionAwareness #BlackAdopteesMeetup #AdoptionCommunity #AdultAdoptees #AdoptionSupport #MentalHealthMatters #AdopteeJourney #ShowYourselfGrace #VoicesOfAdoption