Shades of Belonging Receives Funding to Bridge Research and Relationship for Jewish Adoptees of Color

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA - March 24, 2026 The Jews of Color Initiative (JoCI) has awarded a new grant to Shades of Belonging for its newest phase: From Research to Relationship. This project moves beyond data collection to establish a pilot program that centers the voices and agency of Jewish adoptees of color.

Building on the initial Shades of Belonging study, this initiative addresses the isolation often felt by those at the intersection of adoption and Jewish identity. The funding will support a structured process of engagement designed to transform individual insights into collective action.

Bridging Connection and Creation 

From Research to Relationship will focus on three primary objectives:

1. Needs & Interest Assessment: Engaging the community to identify both the support structures missing in Jewish life and the specific types of programming Jewish adoptees of color want to lead and join.

2. Pilot Community Circle: Launching a facilitated space where participants build a shared sense of belonging while simultaneously collaborating on a project, product, or program designed to serve the broader Jewish adoptee community.

3. Participatory Change-Making: Moving beyond conversation to collective building. Participants will take an active role in creating the very resources, programs, or community spaces they want to see, ensuring efforts to support our Jewish adoptee community are shaped by those within it.

A Statement from Project Lead Dr. David McCarty-Caplan 

"This grant allows us to take the next step; from what we learned in our research to developing data-informed programs intended to build transformative community relationships. Our goal is to create a space where Jewish adoptees of color find a deep sense of belonging, and also the tools to build something meaningful together. We are moving from research to active, participatory creation."

About Shades of Belonging 

Shades of Belonging is an initiative dedicated to navigating the intersections of race, faith, and the adoptee experience. While the broader work spans diverse identities, this specific project centers the lived experiences of Jewish adoptees of color to challenge existing communal narratives and foster deep, authentic belonging within the Jewish world.