About Us

Erica Babino was born in New York City and adopted in Texas. She is the former legislative chair and board member of the American Adoption Congress and Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Chair of Adoptees United. She has been active in adoptee rights for more than 20 years. Erica is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion  and Mediator/Conflict Management Coach for more than 25 years. She is the author of Rolling into Peace: Speaking in Green, the first in a series of children’s books on the subjects of peer mediation, resolving diversity conflict, and respectful speech. She is an in race adoptee.

Shawna Hodgson is a Texas-born adoptee and sixth generation Texan. She became active in adoptee rights in Texas in 2014 and has worked closely with legislative sponsors in both the Texas House and Senate. She is a leading advocate for adoptee rights in Texas and is the spokesperson for the Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition. Her adoptee rights work has been featured in Texas Monthly, The Texas Observer, Mother Jones, and Houston Public Radio, including her own writing in The Texas Observer.

Apart from her work in the adoptee space, Shawna is a trained mediator, including advanced family law mediation. Additionally, she has owned and operated a local business with her spouse since 2001. Her passions include playing the piano, art, reading, swimming, and spending time with her large family, friends, and Gus, her rescue Doberman. She resides in Houston, Texas. 

Aubrey Jackson is a Florida-born adoptee whose career has taken her to the front of the camera as a news anchor to behind the scenes as a luxury Realtor. After gaining closure and discovering her birth family through years of self-produced search efforts, she finds it purposeful to fight for adoptee rights and bring awareness to the reality of adoptees as an advocate. To connect with Aubrey, you can find her on social media @ImAubreyJackson on all platforms where she shares her love of travel and personal development.

Annette O’Connell is a New York born adoptee. She has been active in the adoptee rights community since 2014 and is currently the spokesperson for the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition, which has been instrumental in successfully passing equal rights legislation in New York state.

CS Wright is a South Korean-born adoptee who has a versatile background in nonprofit management and advocacy. They currently work for a national non-profit, Worth Rises, overseeing financial and operational matters. Beyond their professional career, CS advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and actively engages in political initiatives. Notably, they worked on a historic campaign in Seattle helping to elect the first person of color and woman to the King County Prosecuting seat.

Gregory Luce is an attorney who was born and adopted in the District of Columbia. He is the founder of the Adoptee Rights Law Center, which provides resources and legal advocacy for adult adoptees on issues of identity and U.S. citizenship.