On Wednesday, November 19th, my social justice group and I went to Manhattan Family Court to volunteer at their Adoption Day event. At this particular event, around a third of the children being adopted had been abused with their former families/guardians. When we got there, thirty minutes early, there was already a huge line leading up to the security check-in, and once we got upstairs, there were at

least sixty people sitting and waiting for their trials. At the main table, there were balloons reading “congratulations” everywhere, and even a little sign welcoming their “LREI student volunteers.” We set up at the table as the first two families went into the courtrooms to finalize their adoptions. As soon as they came out, everyone clapped and we gave them all of the goodies that were spread out on the table. Each child would get a backpack, a stuffed animal, gloves, a bracelet, and a book. After the first two cases, Roy and Diane, the two people coordinating the event, asked one of the families if it would be okay for us to sit in on their case. Shockingly, they said yes and we got to witness the adoption of their new 18-month old baby Rachel. The parents even asked us to take a picture with Rachel in front of all the decorations, and after handing out more goodies and meeting more volunteers and coordinators, we got to sit in on two more cases.

In the midst of all this, we got a quick chance to talk to Diane, a co-chair of the event about her history with Administrative Child Services and her career. “I used to work at a court focusing on child abuse cases,” she says when we explain to her what we’re studying. She then went on to explain some of the horrible things she’s seen and heard about. “If you can’t handle it, you just walk out, you know? That’s why I’m so grateful to be working in adoption now. You get to see the hopeful side of it all.”

All in all, we are so thankful to Diane, Roy, the man who introduced us to them, Mr. Solufo, and all of the incredibly friendly people at the Manhattan Family Court for letting us have this incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We hope to work with them again soon!