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Hi Also-Known-As community,
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the connection between international adoptees and all that’s happening in the world today. My own sense of belonging often feels split between countries with very different perspectives, despite my efforts to sync them, yet each holds a special place in my heart.
At times, I feel both privileged and powerless—privileged to navigate multiple worlds, yet powerless watching global and domestic news cycles collide and yield polarization. I’ve realized how deeply interconnected it all is—from the systems in the country I occupy, the country my origins stem from, and the 23+ birth countries of the members who make up this organization.
A recent On Purpose podcast episode by Jay Shetty quoted F. Scott Fitzgerald: “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.”
I feel this quote can be applied across a multitude of contrasting views. What I personally take from this is a reminder to lean in while protecting my peace, to see where I can serve as a bridge in dialogue or allyship, and to trust that truths across macro, meso, and micro systems can all seek to coexist.
In collective community, ever forward,
Lindsay Geier 涂婷
We’re heading back to Spritzenhaus 33! Join us for an evening full of brews and bites. Think cozy fall feels, clinking steins, and maybe a warm pretzel (or three). Wear your best flannel if you’re feeling the fall vibe! No RSVP needed. 🥨😎🍺🍂🍁
When: Wednesday, October 15
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: Spritzenhaus 33, 33 Nassau Ave, Brooklyn (Greenpoint)
Who: All adoptees & friends
Cost: Pay your own way
Join us for exclusive, never-before-seen footage and behind-the-scenes from the award-winning documentary Between Goodbyes, plus Q&A with filmmaker Jota Mun. This beautifully crafted film has captivated audiences worldwide with its raw and powerful storytelling of the queer adoptee experience and the complexities of reunion. For a discounted ticket rate, become an Also-Known-As member.
When: Tuesday, October 21
Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Where: Prime Produce, 424 W 54th St, New York, NY
Who: Adoptees, friends & allies
Cost: Members $10; non-members $20
Save the date to join us in celebrating three decades of building community, amplifying adoptee voices, and creating spaces where internationally and transracially adopted people can feel truly seen, heard, and valued.
