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From Participant to Team Member, Reflections from Ties’ First Intern
Guatemalan adoptee Bella reflects on her return to Antigua as the first Ties Program intern. From mentoring fellow adoptees to learning and living daily life in Guatemala, she shares the emotional and cultural impact of the Service and Language heritage travel experience.
Ties Traveler: Meet Tatyana
Kazakhstan adoptee Tatyana shares her powerful 2024 Ties Program journey—reconnecting with her orphanage, embracing her culture, and finding community through heritage travel.
Ties Traveler: Meet Bella
Guatemalan adoptee Bella Faulkenberry shares her transformative experience traveling with The Ties Program. From rediscovering her heritage to building lifelong connections with fellow adoptees, Bella reflects on what it meant to return to her birth country with support, community, and love.
Ties Travelers: Meet Wen
Follow Wen's journey back to China on the 2024 China Ties trip as she visits her birthplace in Ningdu, reconnects with her roots, and reflects on identity, belonging, and the power of traveling with fellow adoptees.
Returning to China as an Adoptee: The Trip That Opened the Real Journey
China Ties Program Manager Autumn Ackerson reflects on her personal journey as a Chinese adoptee returning to her birth country—and how leading others on their own return trips has shaped her path.
Ties Travelers: Meet David
Korean adoptee David shares his powerful return-to-Korea journey with Ties—reflecting on identity, belonging, and what home truly means.
Returning to Korea as an Adoptee–Reconciling With What It Means to Belong
Ties Program Executive Director, Tanya Kaanta, reflects on life as a Korean adoptee.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Unspoken Adoptee Stressors — Part 2: The Weight of the Narrative
Explore Part 2 of The Ties Program’s Mental Health Awareness Month blog series, focusing on the unspoken adoptee stressor of “narrative burden.” Learn how adoptees and their loved ones often carry the weight of explaining their story—and how heritage travel, community, and emotional support can help lighten the load.
AANHPI Heritage Month Spotlight: Kara Griffey
Born in Kolkata and raised in Oregon, South Asian adoptee Kara Griffey shares her powerful return-to-India journey with The Ties Program—reclaiming identity, rediscovering culture, and finding lasting community during AANHPI Heritage Month.
A Long-Awaited Journey Back to Ethiopia
Join us for the inaugural Ethiopian Ties trip this December. Program Manager Rebecca Blessing shares the heartfelt journey of how this long-awaited heritage experience for Ethiopian adoptees and their loved ones finally came to life.
AANHPI Heritage Month Spotlight: Lacey Jeffrey
Chinese adoptee Lacey Jeffrey shares her journey of identity, heritage travel, and cultural connection as part of the AANHPI adoptee community. Read her story of heritage travel and finding belonging.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Unspoken Adoptee Stressors — Part 1: The Ghost Kingdoms
Explore the hidden grief of adoptee “ghost kingdoms” in Part 1 of our Mental Health Awareness Month series on unspoken adoption stressors.
AANHPI Heritage Month Spotlight: Jackson Oakley
Vietnamese adoptee Jackson Oakley shares his journey of identity, reunion, and cultural connection as part of the AANHPI adoptee community. Read his story of heritage travel, family, and finding belonging.
Ties Program Participants Now Eligible to Receive Grants from CH/LSS!
Discover how Ties Program participants can now receive grant funding from CH/LSS to support heritage travel. Learn who qualifies, what the grants cover, and how to apply for this meaningful opportunity.
Ties Travelers: Elizabeth’s Journey to Vietnam
Follow Elizabeth’s journey back to Vietnam with The Ties Program, where she reconnects with her roots, embraces cultural identity, and explores her birth country alongside fellow adoptees. A powerful heritage travel experience filled with reflection, growth, and community.
