Jeff Forney is an adoptee and an LA based photographer focusing on advertising, music and celebrity. He is in reunion-currently working on a project in the adoptee world called the ‘Innocent People Project’ where he aims to share the adoptee experience. In this powerful episode, Jeff speaks to the issues surrounding adoption with deep compassion. He believes in the power of human stories and the healing it can create. Jeff feels a non-adoptee’s view on adoption is not an adoptee’s view on adoption, in between is a gap he hopes to fill. As he so eloquently states; 'Adoptees carry burdens, some being the burden of explanation, the burden to be affirming and the burden of loyalty. An adoptees ‘book of life’ starts on chapter two. How often does one purchase a book and start on chapter two?? Confusion would set in. What is going on? Who are these people and what is their purpose? What would normally be an introductory chapter to characters and plot, is now a whodunnit that would impress Hitchcock. This project does not look to make a single story into a stereotype. Each story is unique and valid adding to the many stories that make up the adoption mosaic. Often people come into the adoption world with innocent intent falling into the hands of an adoption industry that needs some serious reworking and legislation. We are a global community of disconnect that is finding its voice, in real time. A minority hidden in plain site, covered in guilt, shame and self worth issues as well as potentially a whole host of others. Some adoptees fall out of the ‘Adoption Issues Tree’ and hit only one branch, and some hit every single one of them. It’s different for everyone, yet we all have a common thread. Stay curious…and be grateful. Gratitude loosens the grip of inadequacy. Gratitude is liberating.





For more about Jeff and the ‘Innocent People Project’;
https://jeffforney.com/
https://jeffforney.com/innocentpeople/

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/