Board of Directors
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Click on each board member's name below, to expand, and again on their name to collapse their bio!
What is your role on the Board? I am the current co-president of the Board and also Director of the Adoptee Board. How did you hear about FCCNY? How did you decide to get involved on the Board? I attended culture day as a child and was a 'senior mentor' at the start of Girls Connect, the mentorship program in Manhattan. I was asked to join the board in 2015 and didn't know exactly what I was getting myself into, lol. But I'm still here. What issues/topics related to FCCNY are you most interested in and/or what types of events have you attended or hosted? I am most interested in creating spaces for adoptees, which is why I created the Adoptee Board in 2017. I advocate for adoptees to truly be seen and heard by others, particularly adoptive parents, and I am driven by seeing the lasting connections that adoptees build with each other outside of their adoptee identities. What do you love most about our community? I love the dedication and passion that adoptees have for making their own spaces. Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you call home? NYC! How do you spend your time outside of FCCNY? I have loved growing up and living in NYC, and enjoy the diversity and independence of the city in every sense and take advantage of what it has to offer. I am very much a New Yorker. What's a fun or random fact people might not know about you? I was a biology major in college. Anything else you'd like to share with the community? We are an entirely volunteer based organization, it is often a thankless job. We appreciate your support, in the form of donations, participation, emails, etc. We are always interested in people who want to engage or participate in our community, please join our membership at fccny.org/join and reach out to us by email, on facebook, or on instagram @fccny
What is your role on the Board? I am the Co-Vice President, alongside Mary Child. How did you hear about FCCNY? How did you decide to get involved on the Board? I was first involved with FCCNY because my adoptive parents attended FCCNY functions when I was in elementary and middle school. When in college, I met a few Chinese adoptees who were interested in exploring how adoption has shaped their experiences and identity. After graduating college, one of those friends proposed that we both apply for the Adoptee Board during its pilot year. What issues/topics related to FCCNY are you most interested in and/or what types of events have you attended or hosted? I'm interested in strengthening the adoptive community and providing a platform for adoptee stories to be told and heard. I'm interested in furthering educational programs regarding adoptive history, as well as Chinese American / Asian American history, and how we can apply this knowledge to current social justice issues. What do you love most about our community? I appreciate how much we can connect with each other through our experiences as a rarely visible part of the population, and also how diverse our experiences can be. I'm always learning more about what it can look like and feel like as an adoptee through being involved in this community. Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you call home? I was adopted from Nanjing, China and I was raised in New York. NY is where I call home. How do you spend your time outside of FCCNY? I spend my time mainly working, cooking, and chatting with friends. My partner and I watch the Great British Baking Show and The Boys, and sometimes play tennis. I also travel to Maryland periodically to visit my partner's parents. What's a fun or random fact people might not know about you? I'm missing two of my teeth in the bottom row. I don't know what happened. I guess they never grew in.
What is your role on the Board? I have transitioned from Board member to the Secretary role on the board this year. I will help the Board more on the administrative side with the goal of also facilitating increased communication between adoptive parent and adoptee board members. How did you hear about FCCNY? How did you decide to get involved on the Board? I was a part of FCCNY as a child. Later on, I got involved with the FCCNY Board after joining FCCNY's Adoptee Board in 2017. I wanted to help facilitate further collaboration within the FCCNY community and with the larger adoption community at large. What issues/topics related to FCCNY are you most interested in and/or what types of events have you attended or hosted? I am most interested in seeing more fishbowl discussions that incorporate both adoptees' and adoptive parents' perspectives. I think a facilitated discussion are a perfect way to foster more empathy, understanding, and knowledge sharing. What do you love most about our community? I love that the FCCNY community is open to collaboration with different organizations and people within the larger adoption community. Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you call home? Washington, DC How do you spend your time outside of FCCNY? I am a senior analyst at a small consulting firm in Washington, DC. My hobbies include: tending to my various plants, working out, hiking, sleeping, browsing the internet, and cooking. I identify as an extrovert, but I am learning to enjoy self-reflection. I like to tell people: "We are doing the best we can with what little we have." What's a fun or random fact people might not know about you? I can't sing at all.
What is your role on the Board? I am currently the Treasurer. How did you hear about FCCNY? How did you decide to get involved on the Board? Towards the end of college, I was invited to participate in a panel about adoptees during an OCA conference. On that same panel, I met Lucy Murray, who was involved in FCC. She invited me to attend some of the meet-ups in the DC area and for the first time in my life I was able to connect with other Chinese Adoptees. I really enjoyed meeting other adoptees and the sense of community. I decided to get involved to help further build that community and help adoptees connect with each other. What issues/topics related to FCCNY are you most interested in and/or what types of events have you attended or hosted? For the past couple of years, I have been a member of the FCC Capital Area Events Committee. I helped organize in-person meet-ups prior to the pandemic which included museum outings and dinners all over the city. I’ve also helped run the FCC Pen Pal Program, helping adoptees all over the world connect with each other through letters. During the pandemic as we transitioned to hosting online events, the FCC Capital Area Events Committee developed Adoptee Narrative Talks which were structured discussions around topics such as the rise in anti-Asian hate, the way adoption is depicted in the media, adoptee identity, and Asian beauty standards. The Adoptee Narrative Talks have helped foster some really rich discussions and are a really great way for the community to come together to talk about a variety of issues. What do you love most about our community? I love that so many of us in the Chinese adoptee community are passionate about building a foundation so that this can be a long-lasting organization. As we grow older together, our connections and dedication to this community continue to become stronger. It has been a really fulfilling to see this growth and be a part of it. Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you call home? Washington, D.C. How do you spend your time outside of FCCNY? I’m an Account Executive at an ad tech company that’s entirely remote. I’m very grateful that my work allows me to travel all over the US. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my friends, exploring DC, going to museums, reading, and obsessing over my houseplants. What's a fun or random fact people might not know about you? A picture of me is used on the cover of a YA book. | Annie Abruzzo • Member at Large
What is your role on the Board? Member of the Board Organization and Bylaws committee How did you hear about FCCNY? How did you decide to get involved on the Board? While growing up, I participated in many FCCNY events and programs as a way to connect with my Chinese heritage and other adoptees. After graduating college, I knew I wanted to give back to the organization and support the now young adult adoptee community. What issues/topics related to FCCNY are you most interested in and/or what types of events have you attended or hosted? I’ve hosted a number of panels and facilitated discussions on topics ranging from genetic testing to anti-Asian discrimination. I also participate in the mentorship program, which enables me to get to know younger adoptees more personally. What do you love most about our community? FCCNY brings together a diverse group of adoptees and their loved ones. While we can all connect through shared experiences surrounding adoption, I also love the many different perspectives and backgrounds that everyone brings to the table. Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you call home? NYC How do you spend your time outside of FCCNY? I work in a biology research lab! I also love walking around the city, spending time in parks, and finding new spots to get food or bubble tea. What's a fun or random fact people might not know about you? My mom and I were featured in the documentary “And Baby Makes Two,” which chronicles her journey to becoming a single mother. Anything else you'd like to share with the community? So grateful for everyone who comes to our events and helps contribute to these important conversations in the adoptee community! Chianna Cohen • Member at Large
What is your role on the Board? Member of the Board Organization and Bylaws committee. How did you hear about FCCNY? How did you decide to get involved on the Board? One of my first friends in college brought me to a couple FCCNY YA discussion events! I had never had a Chinese adoptee community before, and I really loved the conversations we had. I decided to join to help build this community for others and facilitate important discussions. What issues/topics related to FCCNY are you most interested in and/or what types of events have you attended or hosted? I’m really interested in working on projects related to social justice and advocacy related to being an adoptee and an Asian American. As someone currently studying East Asian Languages and Cultures with a focus on contemporary China, I’m interested in how adoption fits into the larger historical and transnational cultural and political context. What do you love most about our community? I love how open people are to talking about their stories and experiences! It is a great community to learn, share, and reflect! Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you call home? Western Massachusetts How do you spend your time outside of FCCNY? Outside of FCCNY, I work as a software engineer in the city. I also love to read historical fiction and fantasy, play board games, solve puzzles, and explore the city in my free time! What's a fun or random fact people might not know about you? I once ate some snails when I was very little and then had an allergic reaction, so now try not to I accidently put another snail in my mouth, which is harder than one would expect Alice Hennessy • Member at Large
What is your role on the Board? Member of the External Communications committee. How did you hear about FCCNY? How did you decide to get involved on the Board? I have participated in FCC's events as a child. In 2019, I joined the Adoptee Board after hearing about it from the adoptee board. I wanted to connect with more adoptees and facilitate events to bring adoptees together and create meaningful relationships. What issues/topics related to FCCNY are you most interested in and/or what types of events have you attended or hosted? I am really interested in all topics that relate to the adoptee experience and its community. Whether it is about intersectional identities, relationships, or looking at adoption within a social justice lens, I think engaging in these types of discussions is really important in cultivating a strong community and learning how we can support one another. Lately, I have been interested in integrating creative writing and arts into our events as a way for adoptees to express themselves! What do you love most about our community? I absolutely love the amount of support and care the adoptee community shows to one another. No matter where you are on the map or in life, the adoption community is so welcoming. Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you call home? I live in Manhattan, NY. How do you spend your time outside of FCCNY? I am currently working as a Program Coordinator at the School of Visual Arts. You can find me trying out new restaurants with friends, visiting museums, or playing with my dog, Bowie! What's a fun or random fact people might not know about you? Right before the pandemic, I was backpacking solo in Thailand. I am thankful to have had that experience before hunkering down! | Emma Roberts-Vaurio • Member at Large
What is your role on the Board? Member of the Board Organization and Bylaws committee. How did you hear about FCCNY? How did you decide to get involved on the Board? I heard about FCC through Facebook after getting involved in the online adoptee community. I saw that FCC had a Capital Area (DC) chapter and hosted meet-ups, which I started to attend. After attending a few meet-ups, Lucy Murry said she was looking for more people in the DC area to apply to the upcoming years Adoptee Board. I felt driven to want to find community within the adoptee community, so I jumped at the idea and applied to the board, and here I am, two years in :) What issues/topics related to FCCNY are you most interested in and/or what types of events have you attended or hosted? I am very interested in the idea of adoptee identity and what it means to find community, as an adoptee. I have helped host meet-ups and eat-ups in the DC area (pre-COVID) and am currently the lead for the FCC Pen Pal Program. FCC DC has also hosted our FCC DC Kick-off! (online), Secret Snowflake, and my favorite, our Adoptee Narrative Talks where we discuss a diverse range of topics from the adoptee perspective. What do you love most about our community? How passionate and driven everyone on the Adoptee Board is to continue to build and strengthen the adoptee community in each of our unique ways. Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you call home? Takoma Park, Maryland How do you spend your time outside of FCCNY? I am passionate about fitness and the mind-body connection. I currently work as a fitness coach at an Orangetheory Fitness studio in the DC area and would ultimately love to create more safe spaces for BIPOC within the fitness industry. I also enjoy hanging out with my dog, Serena, trying new foods, reading, and spending time with my parents & friends. What's a fun or random fact people might not know about you? I have Bungee Jumped and Skydived (almost back-to-back) on a trip to New Zealand during the summer of 2017. Anything else you'd like to share with the community? I have loved being apart of this community and look forward to continuing to strengthen bonds and make new bonds with adoptees within the FCC Adoptee Community! You all truly inspire me! |
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