Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue). Social 10:45am – 11:00am.
This Sunday our featured speaker will be Michelle Edmunds. Michelle was taken from her mother in Toronto when she was two years-old and placed in foster care. She was eventually adopted by her foster family. At age five she was told by her adoptive parents that she had another mother and father that were not able to raise her. From that day forward the search began for her identity and parents. Michelle wanted to know who they were, why did they “give her away” and why wasn’t she allowed to know their names – what was the big secret?
Over the past two decades, Michelle has been involved in adoption reform, has researched child welfare legislation and adoption practices in both Canada and the US. She created and produced a podcast (2006) where she interviewed adoptees and mothers and fathers who had lost children to adoption, politicians and celebrities, such as playwright, Edward Albee and rapper, Daryl McDaniels from RUN-DMC (both were adopted).
Michelle will talk about why adoptees search, the myths surrounding privacy for mothers and why truth and identity matters to all humans.
Our musical guest will be Lauren Barnett (https://www.laurenbarnettmusic.com/), a passionate singer, songwriter and saxophonist. Her compositions reflect the different moods, sounds and meditative escapes that can be found in the city of Toronto. Lauren is the lead singer, saxophonist and songwriter for the band The Heavyset Quartet. She also participates in the community-based band Street Brass which brings music of the Americas to Toronto parks and streets.
Dan Cooperstock will do the Community Moment. The Community Moment is a chance for one of our own to share their journey, thoughts about life, or something personal about themselves. It could be light and silly or it could be emotionally heavy. Either way, you’ll learn more about a valued person in our community. Interested in presenting your own Community Moment? Contact Tania at 416oasis@gmail.com.
You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/jdmkqqyzhbqb/