This month marks a meaningful milestone for Adoption Network Cleveland: the one-year anniversary of our Transnational Adoptee Group. What began as a hopeful idea—to create a space specifically for transnational adoptees to connect—has grown into a vibrant, welcoming community.

In just twelve months, more than 50 unique individuals have joined this group, some attending nearly every meeting and helping to shape the group’s spirit of consistency and care. At our most recent gathering in April, we celebrated our largest turnout yet, with 21 adoptees in the room—each bringing their own story, perspective, and lived experience.

Together, participants have represented 20 countries of origin: Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Panama, Peru, Romania, Russia, and Thailand. While these countries span the globe, what connects this group is something deeper – a shared experience of navigating identity, belonging, and connection across borders.

From the beginning, the vision for this group has been simple but powerful: to create a peer-led, supportive environment where transnational adoptees can show up as their full selves. No hierarchy. No expectation to have it all figured out. Just space for honest conversation, reflection, and connection.

That intention is resonating.

Co-facilitator Svetlana says, “This space was created because not all transnational adoptees have established organizations or support spaces specific to their country of origin. While we have diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, we connect in the shared sense of living in-between cultures, all that comes with navigating our circumstances as immigrants. It's been particularly special hosting adoptees who have met their first other adoptee peer from their country of origin in our group!”

After attending her first meeting, one participant, Nicole Quirino, a Bulgarian adoptee, shared:

“Thank you so much for facilitating the conversation tonight! I could feel your genuine and warm energy. I truly meant it when I said I feel like I’ve found a space I’ve been searching for. The feeling of belonging was never in question. I’ve always struggled in transracial and BIPOC groups, likely because I’m still learning how to sit with and connect to my race and ethnicity. So a space specifically for transnational adoptees, without additional defining criteria, is exactly what I’ve needed. I think peer‑to‑peer support is the most effective."

Nicole’s words capture what we’ve heard again and again: this space fills a gap. It offers something many adoptees have been searching for—a place where belonging is immediate and understanding doesn’t need to be explained.

As the group’s facilitators Svetlana and Sandi reflected after the most recent meeting, “We feel so privileged to be a part of this and proud of how this first year has gone.” That sense of gratitude and pride is shared across the community that has grown over the past year.

This group is a reminder of what’s possible when people come together with openness and intention. It’s not just about numbers – though the growth has been remarkable – it’s about connection. It’s about creating a space where stories can be shared, identities explored, and relationships built.

As we look ahead to year two, we remain committed to nurturing this community and ensuring that transnational adoptees continue to have this place to connect, reflect, and belong.

We are deeply grateful to our volunteer facilitators, Svetlana and Sandi, whose care, leadership, and commitment have made this space possible. Their dedication has helped build a community where so many have found connection, understanding, and a true sense of belonging. As Sandi often reminds the group, healing does not happen in isolation.

For more information see our blog from June 30, 2025: Transnational: "A Term for Reflective of Our Experience"