Today we’d like to introduce you to Curtis & Melody Linton
Hi Curtis & Melody , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Domino Foundation began 18 years ago after we adopted our first child. We had tried to become parents for years. After failed infertility treatments, we chose adoption to build our family. Whatever child we adopted, we knew we would love and support them wholly as our own. We also knew little about the inherent trauma of adoption and the realities of racism in our society.
As white parents of black children, we discovered we had much to learn in order to support our children’s identity development and advocate for their fair and equal treatment. We started the Domino Foundation to support families like ours with social and educational supports. Since that time, we have worked with families across Utah and the Intermountain West to build a committed community of parents, adopted children, and adult adoptees. We have also engaged with key partners like Focal Point who provide therapeutic services to transracial adoptees and parents.
When young parents enter the adoption community, they are often told adoption is all about love. While love is a necessity, love is not all that is required. White parents who make the choice to adopt are obligated to educate themselves about race, identity, and adoption-based trauma. Love is the beginning in adoption, but our knowledge and advocacy going forward are just what our amazing kids need from their parents.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The term “transracial adoption” defines this community of white parents who have adopted children of color. All adoptive families deal with the challenges of generational trauma, attachment issues, and the challenge of building meaningful relationships with birth parents when that option exists. But transracial adoption families also have to consider the impacts of race, racism, and institutionalized inequities that are inherent within our modern society. Another relevant term is “TRA” referencing a person who is a transracial adoptee. TRAs need and deserve their own circles of support similar to their adoptive parents and families.
One of the primary challenges that transracial adoption parents face is their own experience growing up. Despite our best intentions as adoptive parents, what we understand best is our own experience growing up–our families, communities, and schools that were racially similar to ourselves. Even though we may intellectually understand the realities of racism and the challenges of adoption identity, as parents we revert back to our own histories and understandings even though those environments might not work best for our adopted children of color.
For parents to successfully support their adopted children of color, it is necessary they expand their communities and knowledge beyond the communities they grew up in. Transracial adoption parents need to build authentic relationships of trust and belonging with local communities of color, supporting mentorships for their children who can help them navigate the world that surrounds them.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Our path to creating the Domino Foundation began years before adopting our children of color.
Melody began her career as a school teacher specializing in urban education. She worked as a teacher in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City serving classrooms that were nearly 100% students of color. Through this experience, she came to recognize the inequities her students faced and how to support them more effectively in the classroom.
Curtis’ journey to working in racial equity began as a documentary filmmaker. After producing a program called “Courageous Conversation About Race,” Curtis entered a 20+ year journey documenting and advocating for educational equity in schools across the US, having published multiple books and working with thousands of educators to create better outcomes for today’s diverse students.
Together, Melody and Curtis paired these professional experiences with their love of their adopted children of color to start the Domino Foundation. Key to the educational resources we provide are the research-based practices schools have used to close racial achievement gaps and build belonging for students of all identities.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Community, honesty, and authenticity are the key characteristics that make Domino Foundation succeed, as illustrated by the three primary services we provide for the transracial adoption community.
For over 15 years, Domino has held an annual multicultural Christmas party featuring a Black Santa and Mrs. Claus to build community. This is a wonderful event with food, resources, and art that brings in young adoptive families and connects them with the larger community. Year after year, families attend to make memories and friendships with others just like them.
For 11 years, we have held Domino Camp, a family summer camp where authenticity within this experience is built for parents and kids alike. Each day while parents attend classes on race and adoption, the kids spend the day with mentors who are adult TRAs (transracial adoptees) themselves. We partner with Focal Point as the adult adoptee mentors of color that work with the kids. Domino Camp is the annual experience where these amazing children spend each and every day learning and playing with other adoptees of color–peers just like them.
We also hold regular parent support groups and classes where we get honest about race and adoption. These sessions provide community where parents can get real about the challenges they face and ask the questions they have in a safe and supportive environment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dominofoundation.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transracialadopt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transracialadoption
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQbkWvti8Z_qrhjl-0xCuaw
