Blackmans “Better the World” Through Adoption of Grandnephews and Grandnieces
Gwen Blackman sprung into action when she received a phone call that her grandnephew, Sebastian, was in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury. After working her way through the system, Gwen received Sebastian once he was released from the hospital in September 2007. At that time no one in Gwen’s family knew that Sebastian’s four older siblings, Lavell, Larrijha, Aries and Aisa-Lynn, were all in foster care. The kids all wanted Gwen and John to adopt them and began spending weekends with the couple. In June 2008, Gwen and John began fostering the four children and their adoptions will be finalized at the November 21st Ramsey County National Adoption Day event. Gwen and John also have two biological children, Johvontea, 14, and Andre, 16. “We’re on this planet to help others,” Gwen said of her decision to adopt. “The sooner we realize that, the better the world will be.”
Claire and Warren Braun
Marty, 39; Michael, 26; Penny, 25; Jenny, 24; Sabrina, 18; Mark, 16; Lucas, 16; Victoria, 15
Braun Family Provide Love and Family to More than 80 Children
Claire Braun will speak about her adoption experiences at the Ramsey County National Adoption Day event November 21st. Claire and her husband, Warren, have three biological children, have adopted eight children and have fostered over 80 children. “Taking foster children in was never the problem,” Claire said. “Giving them back was the problem.” Her interests in nursing and teaching led her to foster special needs children. Claire and Warren tend to adopt children in their transitional years, when they are teenagers, because that is often a difficult time and children in that age group are often considered the most difficult to place. Claire and Warren’s oldest adopted child is 39 years old. “If you want to save kids, you have to invest in them,” Claire said. “It’s not easy to adopt special needs children, but where would these kids be without us?” Claire said she will most likely adopt more kids because “everyone needs love and a family.” Many of Claire and Warren’s children play sports and two of their kids, Mark and Lucas, are two-time national wheelchair basketball champions. Claire also said that adopting special needs children can be stressful because of their health concerns, but because of them she gets to see astounding things every day.
Vanessa and Leroy Johnson
Adoptive and Foster Parents Give Children a Home and Family
Vanessa and Leroy Johnson have adopted three children, ages 20, 18 and 12, and are in the process of adopting a set of twins, age 3. The Johnsons became involved in foster parenting after their nieces and nephews became foster children and the Johnsons began caring for them. While the nieces and nephews were eventually transitioned back to their mother’s care, Vanessa and Leroy continued to serve as foster parents. The couple’s first child came into their home at the age of six weeks and they adopted her at age 2. She is now 18 years old. “The children are all blessings,” said Vanessa. “Each one is unique.” Vanessa said she always encourages others to foster parent and adopt, “because it’s about the connection, a whole family unit, giving a child a home and a family where the child doesn’t feel like just a number.”
Dondra and Clayton Moore
Jamal, 9; Ra-kin, 8; Mika-il, 6; Shakira, 2
Grandparents Provide Kinship Adoption
Dondra and Clayton Moore began kinship foster care for their four grandchildren in 2007. They were attending family group meetings for reunification with the children’s parents, Dondra and Clayton’s son and daughter-in-law. The reunification did not work out and Dondra and Clayton took custody of the children. On September 22, 2009, Dondra and Clayton finalized their adoptions of Jamal, Ra-kin, Mika-il and Shakira, all four of whom have special needs. Clayton urges others to adopt, especially in kinship circumstances. He said it’s been more rewarding to see the results of great parenting through his adopted kids and considers adoption a second chance. “I feel honored to be in a position to be able to come to the rescue,” Clayton said.
Billy and Sharmaine Russell
Naijia, 7; Charvez, 5; William, 4; Billy, 3
Sibling Group “Meant to be” Part of Russell Family
Billy and Sharmaine Russell became interested in adoption after the African American Adoption Agency did outreach at the couple’s church. Billy and Sharmaine had wanted a third child and chose to adopt rather than conceive. Once the couple began adoption training, they saw a picture of a sibling group and from then on, never considered adopting anyone else. “It was meant to be,” Sharmaine said of choosing to adopt the kids. Billy and Sharmaine had the four children for 10 months before finalizing their adoptions October 9, 2009. Sharmaine left a more than 10-year-long career in sales to stay home with her children, a decision she called “rewarding.” Sharmaine has since been on a parent panel and has encouraged others to adopt, resulting in two of her friends currently filling out paperwork to become adoptive parents.
Patricia “Pat” Wright
Javen Killen-Dame, 7
Quiet Toddler Becomes Exceptional “Chatterbox”
Pat Wright is adopting Javen Killen-Dame, 7, on National Adoption Day November 21, 2009, after six years as Javen’s foster mother. At 21 months of age, Javen came to Pat unable to speak. Pat is now happy to report that Javen is now a “chatterbox” and has scored above the Minnesota averages on standardized tests. Though Javen is in second grade, he will soon begin third and fourth grade level academics. Pat describes Javen as “very blessed and happy,” and though Javen was burned very badly after an accident with matches in 2008, he has healed well with the help of skin grafts. Pat said it has been very rewarding to watch Javen grow. Javen’s foster mother to his biological father or foster grandmother is still in his life as is his biological great uncle Casey, who was adopted by Javen’s biological father’s foster mom. His foster grandmother adopted his biological dad’s uncle, Casey. Casey has worked on the “Lord of the Rings” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” films as an animator. Casey is also a very important presence in Javen’s life.
