Learning, loving and thriving through a pandemic

In this episode Malaika is joined by Dr. SooJin Pate.  SooJin  is an educator, writer, and DEI consultant dedicated to centering the lives and experiences of historically marginalized peoples. She’s an alumna of Howard University and the University of Minnesota and was named Educator of the Year (2014) and Ally of the Year (2013) by Macalester College. She’s the author of From Orphan to Adoptee: U.S. Empire and Genealogies of Korean Adoption, co-host of the Antiracist Parenting Podcast, and co-editor of the anthology-in-progress Ode to George: Reflections on George Floyd’s Memorial Site at 38th & Chicago. She volunteers with MPD150 to sow seeds of abolition and is a proud steward of Million Artist Movement. In this episode SooJin and Malaika explore themes of anti-racist parenting,  rest and respite from white supremacy culture and the importance of dreaming.    

This episode Malaika is joined by Natalie Thoreson. Natalie is inVision Consulting's sole proprietor and primary consultant. Natalie has designed and facilitated social justice, anti-oppression, and liberation workshops for over 15 years. Natalie organically nurtures a sense of community with her unrivaled skills in shaping safe, welcoming, creative, and productive spaces based on understanding, respect, and authentic support. Natalie provides tools to allow participants to think critically about their own backgrounds and biases, while simultaneously dissecting concepts like oppression, prejudice, and stereotyping. In this episode Malaika and Natalie explore themes of race, allyship and affinity spaces.

In this episode Malaika is joined by Robin Joy Park. Robin is a queer ,transracial Korean adoptee. Robin's participation and post-adoption services, (including teen groups), mentor and mentee programs. living abroad in Korea, navigating birth family search and reunion and DNA testing have all deeply influenced and informed much of her professional perspectives.Robin works in various in-home and  residential therapeutic settings. Robin is a clinician at the center for connection and lead support groups for parents and caregivers at five acres. In this episode, some of the topics that Robin and Malaika cover are: play therapy as an opportunity for connection and care, helping  kiddos with transitions and the concept of ambiguous loss.

In this episode Malaika welcomes Angela Gee. Angela is an adult adoptee and adoptive parent and a marriage, family, and child therapist who works to hold space for adoptees and their families. In this episode,  Malaika and Angela discuss the importance of creating safe spaces for adoptees to build community and ways that we can show up in support of our kiddos. 

In this episode Malaika welcomes Jamie Nunez. Jamie is the Bay Area Regional Manager for Common Sense Media. Through his work Jaime supports school districts, educators, and parents in their efforts to implement digital wellness initiatives. Jaime offers parents  helpful strategies for navigating media wellness. Together Malaika and Jamie talk about creating boundaries for safety and well being while also using media and technology as an opportunity for connection.  

This episode Malaika welcomes  Kate Goka an educator,  brilliant creative, and an adoptive parent parenting across racial lines.  Kate joins Malaika to talk about her experiences as an Asian-American parent parenting who is parenting Asian,  Black and Latinx children. Together Malaika and Kate explore themes of  bridging cultural differences within  families, making space for connections and claiming our space for learning. 

Welcome to the 3rd season of Yes, we do adopt! 

For the season 2 finale Malaika is joined by Dr. Sam Coleman, Dr. Christine Beilard, Sandria Washington, Satcey Gatlin and Nefertiti Austin of the Black Adoption Collection, a group that is working to represent Black members of the adoption constellation. In November, they worked to highlight black voices during National Adoption Awareness Month, through their initiative Black November. This conversation features themes of:  adoptees having access to their stories, adoptive parents dealing with their feelings and emotions about connection and contact., as well as raising awareness about Black adoption.

This episode Malaika is joined by  Maya Mosely- Katakanga and Michlene Kali.  Maya and Michlene are both mamas and veteran homeschoolers.  Maya and Michlene generously share their perspectives and brilliance around supporting their children and children around them in honoring their unique learning path. This conversation is a timely conversation for many families who are working to support  their children who learning remotely. 

This episode Malaika welcomes Ijeoma Ononuju. Ijeoma is  a professor, a scholar and racial justice advocate in schools. Together Malaika and Ijeoma reflect on I schools, race and parenting through a global pandemic.