Angela Tucker, the Executive Director of the Adoptee Mentoring Society (AMS), has been at the forefront of reshaping societal narratives around adoption. Her journey, which was profoundly highlighted in the documentary "Closure," showcased her search for her birth parents and ignited a broader conversation about the adoptee experience—one that often grapples with the misplaced notion that adoptees should simply feel grateful, regardless of their personal feelings.

At the core of AMS's mission is the idea of creating a genuine sense of belonging. For many adoptees, there's a deeply embedded struggle with identity and a persistent feeling of displacement that doesn’t always have a voice or a space in mainstream discussions about adoption. Angela's work is dedicated to changing that by providing adoptees with a platform to formulate their own narratives and connect with others who share similar experiences.

Adoptees often encounter life's normal stressors—like college rejections or personal setbacks—through a unique lens that intertwines these experiences with fundamental issues of rejection and abandonment. Angela explains, "Adoptees go through life experiences that hit core issues of adoption, like rejection." It's crucial to have a space where these feelings can be understood and shared.

The AMS facilitates this through initiatives like the Adoptee Lounge, a group mentoring space that connects adoptees globally, allowing them to find solace and understanding in shared identities. "Finding each other is uniquely hard, a lot of use are highly visible or invisible," Angela notes. The lounge offers a platform where adoptees can say, "me too," resonating through their shared layers of identity and experience.

Since its inception, AMS has grown significantly. Originating from virtual hangouts that provided a safe space for adoptees to share their thoughts, it has evolved into a robust mentorship platform. From 2014 to 2021, Angela supported over 300 adoptees, and with growing demand, she formally established AMS to empower adoptees worldwide, fostering a supportive community where individuals can redefine the narrative of their lives.

"We embody adoptee power by centering the adoptee, practicing ethical storytelling, respecting their individual perspectives, and honoring our collective experiences," states the organization’s ethos. AMS envisions a world where all adoptees feel empowered in their identity and experience a genuine sense of belonging. Their mission stimulates connection and builds community for adopted persons around the globe, crafting a healing-centered community that nurtures the overall wellbeing of its members.

Through the work of AMS and Angela’s dedication, adoptees are finding a space to heal, connect, and thrive, ensuring that the narrative of adoption is one of empowerment and communal support.

Amplifying Mentorship: Every Connection, a Work of Heart.

Learn more about Adoptee Mentoring Society visit: Adoptee Mentoring Society