Day 1 centered on the Capitol and Day 2 featured a White House meeting. Day 3 includes talking about adoption reform with lawmakers. Plus dropping in on a House Committee meeting and getting gussied up for a gala.
How to Advocate
CCAI (Congressional Coalition of Adoption Institute), started our morning with a legislative seminar. We got tips on how to talk with legislators about what we think should happen with the state of Adoption. We then broke into small groups, each one led by a CCAI representative.
With Chuck Johnson of NCFA (top), and Leesa and Mike Worley of Colorado Springs.
Mine was Chuck Johnson, President and CEO of the National Council for Adoption. We headed first to the office of the Senator who nominated me for the Angels in Adoption® award.
Following Monday’s events, the story of Tuesday has four parts: the pinning, a meeting with White House staff, seeing my fairy blogmother, and being a guest in the home of a former Senator.
Pinning Ceremony
Angels nominated by a Senator were recognized at a breakfast ceremony in the Russell Senate building. (Angels nominated by a Representative had a lunch ceremony over on the House side.) My friends and colleagues Dixie Weber, Janelle Ison, and Rebecca Vahle accompanied me.
What a week to be in Washington, DC! Thanks to Angels in Adoption®, I drank from a fire hose for three days. This post, the first in a series, is my attempt to parcel it out in a manageable stream.
The Senate side of the dome where it happens (dome where it happens).
Friends
I shared a room with friends. Fellow Angels Rebecca Vahle (2011) and Dixie Weber (2017) were my roomies and cohorts in both play and purpose. Rebecca is the founder of the Family to Family Support Network. Dixie, a nurse and healthcare executive, is the newly appointed National Director of Healthcare Programs. Meaning that she helps the Family to Family Support Network provide neutral compassionate care for moms and babies in unique situations such as adoption.
