Geneva College Hosts Transracial Adoption Event

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BEAVER FALLS, PA. (02/12/2010)(readMedia)-- Currently, 60 percent of Americans have a personal connection with adoption, and a growing number of families are stepping into the world of transracial adoption. To celebrate and provide insight into this world, "The New American Mosaic: Creating Families through Transracial Adoption" will be held March 13 at Geneva College.

Author, consultant and adoptee Rhonda Roorda will speak on "Optimizing the Gift of Transracial Adoption" at 2 p.m. in Skye Lounge (Student Center, upper level). Roorda has written several books, including In Their own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories. Light refreshments and a book table will be available.

A unique one-woman performance called Portrait of a Family will be held at 7 p.m. in the John H. White Chapel. The show's creator and performer is Sarah Carleton, a member of Geneva's communication faculty and the sibling of several transracial adoptees.

"The world of adoption is one I have spent over 17 years in. For many of these years I have dreamed about sharing my experiences," Sarah says.

During graduate school, one of her professors encouraged her to take this dream and create a one-woman show combining her love for her family with her love for acting. Rhonda Roorda contacted her in the midst of her research, and Sarah began to dream about putting together a day devoted to the topic of adoption.

"With the recent events in Haiti I am even more convinced of the need we have for communities to gather together to look at the changing face of adoption," she says. "It is my hope that this day will provide a safe environment for people to discuss the many challenges of adoption and encourage us all to look at adoption with greater courage and wisdom."

The New American Mosaic is free and open to the public. For more information or to get involved, go to www.sarahcarleton.net/projects.htm.

Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College's philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).