Embarking on a heritage journey is one of the most meaningful experiences adoptees and their loved ones can undertake. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with your birth culture, explore your roots, develop a more complex understanding of your identity, and create lasting memories with loved ones. Whether you’re planning your first trip or returning to rediscover your story, planning is … Read More

As 2024 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on my first year as the owner and director of The Ties Program—a role I embraced with excitement, gratitude, curiosity, and determination. This year has been transformative, filled with learning, growth, and deep connections with adoptees, loved ones, and communities worldwide. As an adoptee, this role is deeply personal. The Ties Program … Read More

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Becca Piper, the beloved founder of The Ties Program and co-founder of The Gift of Identity Fund. Becca was not only a visionary leader but also a kind and compassionate person who left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. The … Read More

by Lian Norris I knew I was different from others in my community from a young age. At three years old, I’d sit on my mom’s lap and touch her lips and then mine, noticing how different the color and shape were from my own. In elementary school,  I’d ask my parents questions with no simple answers; ‘Why was I … Read More