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Research Initiative

Shades of Belonging: Exploring Religious Identity and Sense of Belonging Among Jewish Adoptees of Color

This research project will utilize qualitative and quantitative data to gain insight on the experiences of Jews of Color (JOC) adoptees and their racialized Jewish identity formation. This research, conducted in partnership with other Jewish organizations, is designed through the lens of Critical Race Theory. The data collected from this research will work to expand our understanding of transracial adoption and racial equity. 

Watch as Dr. David McCarty-Caplan presents the findings of this groundbreaking research and interviews two JOC adoptee survey participants on their experiences.

Research Timeline

01

Gathering Data from JOC Adoptees

In collaboration with the funders and other supportive Jewish and Adoptee organizations, the researcher distributed the survey in Fall '23 into Winter '24 to capture insights from JOC Adoptees nationwide.

02

Hosting 1:1 Interviews

Thirty survey respondents are selected at random to participate in an hour long 1:1 interview with the researcher. in Winter '24. Participants were randomly selected from a diverse list of volunteers.

03

Shades of Belonging Festival May 5, 2024

The research concludes with a community festival in Spring '24 to celebrate and uplift the experiences of Jews of Color; particularly as they relate to adoption. Hosted at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center in LA, this will be a multi-faceted event intended to build community among Jewish adoptees, Jewish people of color, their families, and allies.

04

Data Analysis & Publishing

The researcher will analyze the survey and interview data and insights during Summer '24. To make the results transparent to the JOC Adoptee community, an initial report of the key findings will be shared LIVE to the public and on this website before submitting to journals for publication. Watch recording.

05

Submit for Publication

In Fall 2024 and into early 2025, the presentation and data will be turned into articles for publication at various journals in a hope to bring these valuable insights to a broader audience.

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