we evolved because it’s what we can do it’s what we should do
it’s what we should do
it’s what we should do Today Tomorrow forever
I’d like to introduce you to a little
I’d like to introduce you to a little girl I once knew her name is Julie dawn
girl I once knew her name is Julie dawn
girl I once knew her name is Julie dawn and she was named after her father
and she was named after her father
and she was named after her father Julian Julian was known as the Spaniard
Julian Julian was known as the Spaniard
Julian Julian was known as the Spaniard where he was living at the time in
where he was living at the time in
where he was living at the time in Newmarket England her mother Irene was
Newmarket England her mother Irene was
Newmarket England her mother Irene was English and originated from the area of
English and originated from the area of
English and originated from the area of Kent but Irene and Julian were not able
Kent but Irene and Julian were not able
Kent but Irene and Julian were not able to raise their daughter due to
to raise their daughter due to
to raise their daughter due to complicated circumstances and so upon
complicated circumstances and so upon
complicated circumstances and so upon her birth she was secret away into
her birth she was secret away into
her birth she was secret away into foster care
foster care
foster care it’s interesting that at the time of her
it’s interesting that at the time of her
it’s interesting that at the time of her placement into foster care she was no
placement into foster care she was no
placement into foster care she was no longer considered a baby now she was now
longer considered a baby now she was now
longer considered a baby now she was now called a matter for the country of
called a matter for the country of
called a matter for the country of England to settle she was a mater a
England to settle she was a mater a
England to settle she was a mater a complication of predicament as innocent
complication of predicament as innocent
complication of predicament as innocent as this child was she was judged before
as this child was she was judged before
as this child was she was judged before she could even speak she was labeled as
she could even speak she was labeled as
she could even speak she was labeled as a difficult to place child before she
a difficult to place child before she
a difficult to place child before she even knew what identity was her social
even knew what identity was her social
even knew what identity was her social worker wrote of her Julie Don is a
worker wrote of her Julie Don is a
worker wrote of her Julie Don is a strange-looking child she is very dark
strange-looking child she is very dark
strange-looking child she is very dark in coloring and in complexion and
in coloring and in complexion and
in coloring and in complexion and presumably takes after her father the
presumably takes after her father the
presumably takes after her father the Spaniard but Julie Don was fortunate she
Spaniard but Julie Don was fortunate she
Spaniard but Julie Don was fortunate she landed into the home of a kind of foster
landed into the home of a kind of foster
landed into the home of a kind of foster carer by the name of mrs. hip khun’s who
carer by the name of mrs. hip khun’s who
carer by the name of mrs. hip khun’s who wrote letters to whomever might one day
wrote letters to whomever might one day
wrote letters to whomever might one day adopt this little girl she wrote about
adopt this little girl she wrote about
adopt this little girl she wrote about her likes and her dislikes how she liked
her likes and her dislikes how she liked
her likes and her dislikes how she liked to sit outside in her stroller taking in
to sit outside in her stroller taking in
to sit outside in her stroller taking in a crisp English air how she did not like
a crisp English air how she did not like
a crisp English air how she did not like bath time these letters written on blue
bath time these letters written on blue
bath time these letters written on blue paper were eventually given to the
paper were eventually given to the
paper were eventually given to the American family who would adopt little
American family who would adopt little
American family who would adopt little Julie Don and they offered those letters
Julie Don and they offered those letters
Julie Don and they offered those letters some sense of familiarity of a child
some sense of familiarity of a child
some sense of familiarity of a child that would now be entering their family
that would now be entering their family
that would now be entering their family for good and once again everything
for good and once again everything
for good and once again everything changed for Julie Don even her name
changed for Julie Don even her name
changed for Julie Don even her name changed to Michelle you see I am Julie
changed to Michelle you see I am Julie
changed to Michelle you see I am Julie Don I’m a former foster child an
Don I’m a former foster child an
Don I’m a former foster child an international adoptee but I’m not here
international adoptee but I’m not here
international adoptee but I’m not here solely to share my story of adoption
solely to share my story of adoption
solely to share my story of adoption with you now I have seventeen point
with you now I have seventeen point
with you now I have seventeen point eight million other stories from around
eight million other stories from around
eight million other stories from around the world to share with you and another
the world to share with you and another
the world to share with you and another some five hundred
some five hundred
some five hundred and stories to share with you from right
and stories to share with you from right
and stories to share with you from right here in the United States there are 17
here in the United States there are 17
here in the United States there are 17 point 8 million children around the
point 8 million children around the
point 8 million children around the world who are orphaned or being raised
world who are orphaned or being raised
world who are orphaned or being raised in orphanages there are over 500,000
in orphanages there are over 500,000
in orphanages there are over 500,000 kids in u.s. foster care today 25,000
kids in u.s. foster care today 25,000
kids in u.s. foster care today 25,000 kids aged out of foster care every year
kids aged out of foster care every year
kids aged out of foster care every year in the United States without having been
in the United States without having been
in the United States without having been adopted meaning they don’t have a family
adopted meaning they don’t have a family
adopted meaning they don’t have a family of the 25,000 kids who age out of foster
of the 25,000 kids who age out of foster
of the 25,000 kids who age out of foster care every year in the u.s. without a
care every year in the u.s. without a
care every year in the u.s. without a family 25 percent of them become
family 25 percent of them become
family 25 percent of them become homeless 30 percent will be pregnant
homeless 30 percent will be pregnant
homeless 30 percent will be pregnant before the age of 20 and 56% remain
before the age of 20 and 56% remain
before the age of 20 and 56% remain unemployed in addition 80 percent of
unemployed in addition 80 percent of
unemployed in addition 80 percent of prisoners in the United States have come
prisoners in the United States have come
prisoners in the United States have come through the foster system at some point
through the foster system at some point
through the foster system at some point in their lives
in their lives
in their lives eighty percent of trafficking victims
eighty percent of trafficking victims
eighty percent of trafficking victims have been through the foster care system
have been through the foster care system
have been through the foster care system at some point in their lives what do you
at some point in their lives what do you
at some point in their lives what do you think are the stories that these orphans
think are the stories that these orphans
think are the stories that these orphans and Foster’s have told themselves about
and Foster’s have told themselves about
and Foster’s have told themselves about their worth and their potential what do
their worth and their potential what do
their worth and their potential what do you think are the stories that others
you think are the stories that others
you think are the stories that others have told them about their worth what
have told them about their worth what
have told them about their worth what messages are we sending as a world
messages are we sending as a world
messages are we sending as a world community you see when I was in UK
community you see when I was in UK
community you see when I was in UK foster care I was given that title of a
foster care I was given that title of a
foster care I was given that title of a difficult to place child and it was an
difficult to place child and it was an
difficult to place child and it was an unfair label but it was a label that I
unfair label but it was a label that I
unfair label but it was a label that I believed for a very long time and I’m
believed for a very long time and I’m
believed for a very long time and I’m not alone every orphan every foster
not alone every orphan every foster
not alone every orphan every foster child has been unfairly labeled the
child has been unfairly labeled the
child has been unfairly labeled the truth is they possess limitless
truth is they possess limitless
truth is they possess limitless potential their circumstances do not
potential their circumstances do not
potential their circumstances do not define who they are they’re human beings
define who they are they’re human beings
define who they are they’re human beings just like you and me they long for love
just like you and me they long for love
just like you and me they long for love and family and connection a safe and
and family and connection a safe and
and family and connection a safe and secure place to call home but all too
secure place to call home but all too
secure place to call home but all too often they are branded they are
often they are branded they are
often they are branded they are marginalized due to what’s happening
marginalized due to what’s happening
marginalized due to what’s happening outside of their control and none of it
outside of their control and none of it
outside of their control and none of it none of it defines who they are or the
none of it defines who they are or the
none of it defines who they are or the universe of promise that they hold the
universe of promise that they hold the
universe of promise that they hold the result of all of this is that millions
result of all of this is that millions
result of all of this is that millions of children around the world
of children around the world
of children around the world offering as I speak to you you see
offering as I speak to you you see
offering as I speak to you you see society judges what it has yet to
society judges what it has yet to
society judges what it has yet to understand there does exist in our
understand there does exist in our
understand there does exist in our society a double standard of grand
society a double standard of grand
society a double standard of grand proportion we celebrate figures and
proportion we celebrate figures and
proportion we celebrate figures and characters from literature and religion
characters from literature and religion
characters from literature and religion who have been adopted orphaned fostered
who have been adopted orphaned fostered
who have been adopted orphaned fostered think of Moses think of Superman Harry
think of Moses think of Superman Harry
think of Moses think of Superman Harry Potter Tarzan Cinderella we celebrate
Potter Tarzan Cinderella we celebrate
Potter Tarzan Cinderella we celebrate these characters in these figures but
these characters in these figures but
these characters in these figures but real adoptees living and breathing
real adoptees living and breathing
real adoptees living and breathing orphans and foster care foster care kids
orphans and foster care foster care kids
orphans and foster care foster care kids are they’re made to feel ashamed of
are they’re made to feel ashamed of
are they’re made to feel ashamed of their stories they’re silenced from
their stories they’re silenced from
their stories they’re silenced from their truth they’re told that they are
their truth they’re told that they are
their truth they’re told that they are somehow broken somehow lesser than the
somehow broken somehow lesser than the
somehow broken somehow lesser than the rest of us and that’s a heavy burden for
rest of us and that’s a heavy burden for
rest of us and that’s a heavy burden for a child to carry on his or her shoulders
a child to carry on his or her shoulders
a child to carry on his or her shoulders and for every child who carries that
and for every child who carries that
and for every child who carries that burden we must evolve what is the world
burden we must evolve what is the world
burden we must evolve what is the world missed because children without families
missed because children without families
missed because children without families have been told that their stories do not
have been told that their stories do not
have been told that their stories do not matter what have we missed within this
matter what have we missed within this
matter what have we missed within this global epidemic of building borders that
global epidemic of building borders that
global epidemic of building borders that separate us from hearing the cry of a
separate us from hearing the cry of a
separate us from hearing the cry of a child without a home you see it is my
child without a home you see it is my
child without a home you see it is my mission that the world is no longer
mission that the world is no longer
mission that the world is no longer willing to miss their cries no longer
willing to miss their cries no longer
willing to miss their cries no longer willing to miss the treasures that these
willing to miss the treasures that these
willing to miss the treasures that these kids possess and so I work to eradicate
kids possess and so I work to eradicate
kids possess and so I work to eradicate the myth and a shine a light of who
the myth and a shine a light of who
the myth and a shine a light of who these kids really are and if I can do
these kids really are and if I can do
these kids really are and if I can do that with your help together we could
that with your help together we could
that with your help together we could change the very way adoption is
change the very way adoption is
change the very way adoption is perceived and here is the super cool
perceived and here is the super cool
perceived and here is the super cool thing adoption has so much to teach us
thing adoption has so much to teach us
thing adoption has so much to teach us in a political climate where we are all
in a political climate where we are all
in a political climate where we are all too often talking about building walls
too often talking about building walls
too often talking about building walls and borders to separate us adoption
and borders to separate us adoption
and borders to separate us adoption stands is the living blueprint of how to
stands is the living blueprint of how to
stands is the living blueprint of how to tear those walls and those borders down
these are my kids Christian and blue was
these are my kids Christian and blue was delivered into my life
delivered into my life
delivered into my life biologically Ian in red was delivered
biologically Ian in red was delivered
biologically Ian in red was delivered into my life via adoption from Russia
into my life via adoption from Russia
into my life via adoption from Russia and Evie Anna there in the center was
and Evie Anna there in the center was
and Evie Anna there in the center was delivered into my life
delivered into my life
delivered into my life via adoption from Ethiopia we are a
via adoption from Ethiopia we are a
via adoption from Ethiopia we are a family of different skin tones but we
family of different skin tones but we
family of different skin tones but we are one United family threaded together
are one United family threaded together
are one United family threaded together by love you see adoption teaches us that
by love you see adoption teaches us that
by love you see adoption teaches us that family has very little to do with
family has very little to do with
family has very little to do with biology but everything to do with love
biology but everything to do with love
biology but everything to do with love adoption shows us the transformational
adoption shows us the transformational
adoption shows us the transformational power of loving beyond the borders a
power of loving beyond the borders a
power of loving beyond the borders a bloodline adoption has taught me as an
bloodline adoption has taught me as an
bloodline adoption has taught me as an adoptee and as an adoptive parent that
adoptee and as an adoptive parent that
adoptee and as an adoptive parent that there is miracle in a messiness of life
there is miracle in a messiness of life
there is miracle in a messiness of life and it takes but one person to see the
and it takes but one person to see the
and it takes but one person to see the miracle in the mess and to say to a
miracle in the mess and to say to a
miracle in the mess and to say to a child I believe in you one person to see
child I believe in you one person to see
child I believe in you one person to see the miracle in that mess to tear down
the miracle in that mess to tear down
the miracle in that mess to tear down the wall and say to a child I dedicate
the wall and say to a child I dedicate
the wall and say to a child I dedicate my life to loving you 17.8 million
my life to loving you 17.8 million
my life to loving you 17.8 million orphans around the world and 500,000
orphans around the world and 500,000
orphans around the world and 500,000 foster kids right here in the US or
foster kids right here in the US or
foster kids right here in the US or asking us to take courage to stand up
asking us to take courage to stand up
asking us to take courage to stand up and to say tear down the walls tear down
and to say tear down the walls tear down
and to say tear down the walls tear down the walls of government her down the
the walls of government her down the
the walls of government her down the walls of judgment tear down the walls of
walls of judgment tear down the walls of
walls of judgment tear down the walls of the mind and of the heart dissolve the
the mind and of the heart dissolve the
the mind and of the heart dissolve the borders that keep children from finding
borders that keep children from finding
borders that keep children from finding their forever families how did we ever
their forever families how did we ever
their forever families how did we ever create borders around a love that knows
create borders around a love that knows
create borders around a love that knows nothing of division the very essence of
nothing of division the very essence of
nothing of division the very essence of adoption breathes inclusion this is my
adoption breathes inclusion this is my
adoption breathes inclusion this is my family today and together we represent
family today and together we represent
family today and together we represent four different countries of origin but
four different countries of origin but
four different countries of origin but there are no borders between us we are a
there are no borders between us we are a
there are no borders between us we are a quilt of different patterns fabrics
quilt of different patterns fabrics
quilt of different patterns fabrics textures tones places of origin but we
textures tones places of origin but we
textures tones places of origin but we are one united tribe I believe
are one united tribe I believe
are one united tribe I believe that the foster children and the orphans
that the foster children and the orphans
that the foster children and the orphans of the world will one day find their
of the world will one day find their
of the world will one day find their forever families when we as a society
forever families when we as a society
forever families when we as a society evolve to the shared belief that no
evolve to the shared belief that no
evolve to the shared belief that no matter our ethnicity no matter our
matter our ethnicity no matter our
matter our ethnicity no matter our religion no matter our places of origin
religion no matter our places of origin
religion no matter our places of origin we can be brother and sister parent and
we can be brother and sister parent and
we can be brother and sister parent and child you know it was activist and
child you know it was activist and
child you know it was activist and entertainer Josephine Baker who adopted
entertainer Josephine Baker who adopted
entertainer Josephine Baker who adopted 12 children in her day by the way who
12 children in her day by the way who
12 children in her day by the way who said surely the day will come when color
said surely the day will come when color
said surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone
means nothing more than the skin tone
means nothing more than the skin tone when religion is seen uniquely as a way
when religion is seen uniquely as a way
when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one’s soul when birthplaces
to speak one’s soul when birthplaces
to speak one’s soul when birthplaces have the weight of a throw of the dice
have the weight of a throw of the dice
have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free when
and all men are born free when
and all men are born free when understanding breeds love and
understanding breeds love and
understanding breeds love and brotherhood that my friends is
brotherhood that my friends is
brotherhood that my friends is borderless love and it is the kind of
borderless love and it is the kind of
borderless love and it is the kind of love that can bring the lost children of
love that can bring the lost children of
love that can bring the lost children of this world home borderless love that can
this world home borderless love that can
this world home borderless love that can bring us home to each other
bring us home to each other
bring us home to each other borderless love that can bring us home
borderless love that can bring us home
borderless love that can bring us home to ourselves
”
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