Ideas worth spreading

My story of love and loss as a transracial adoptee

2,083,814 views | Sara Jones • TEDxSaltLakeCity

A mysterious tattoo on her forearm was all that linked Sara Jones, adopted as a child by white parents, to her South Korean origins. Searching for her birth family taught her that transracial adoption stories often frame new lives abroad as strokes of luck that call for endless gratitude, obscuring a far more complex reality. Through her experience of loss and discovery, Jones offers guidance on what adoptive parents can do to protect their children's unique cultural and personal narratives.

A mysterious tattoo on her forearm was all that linked Sara Jones, adopted as a child by white parents, to her South Korean origins. Searching for her birth family taught her that transracial adoption stories often frame new lives abroad as strokes of luck that call for endless gratitude, obscuring a far more complex reality. Through her experience of loss and discovery, Jones offers guidance on what adoptive parents can do to protect their children's unique cultural and personal narratives.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxSaltLakeCity, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Elevate inclusivity as our workforces diversify, leaders need new skills that inspire their current and future workforce.

Learn more about efforts to educate, support, connect, collaborate, galvanize and give voice to intercountry adoptees.

Advocate and empower humane adoption, immigration and a restorative justice system for transracial and transnational adoptee communities

About the speaker

Inclusion advocate

See speaker profile

Sara Jones creates global diversity and inclusion strategies to elevate inclusive work cultures.

SBS TV, 2018 | Watch

"Miracle of the Yoon Tattoo"

My adoption journey was filmed by SBS TV (South Korea) and aired on the “Y”. The segment is reproduced here with permission from SBS with English subtitles (turn “CC” on).

Glenn Morey and Julie Morey, 2019 | Watch

Side by Side

A notable documentary film project about Korean adoptees.

| Listen

Adapted

A podcast about the transracial adoption experience (focusing on Korean adoptees throughout the world).

Nancy Newton Verrier | Gateway Press, 1993 | Book

The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child

Sara Jones | DisruptHR, 2019 | Watch

"It’s Time to Stop Talking About Diversity"

Challenge your thinking about including men in the workplace.

Sara Jones | Silicon Slopes Tech Summit, 2020 | Watch

"The Art of Inclusive Leadership"

How to shift your mindset, engage the talent around you and apply an inclusive lens to the work of building your team culture.

Sara Jones | Edie Kochenour Memorial Event, 2020 | Watch

"Creating and Sustaining Inclusive Workplace Cultures: The Hard Truths"

About TEDx

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community.

Find a TEDx event near you

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxSaltLakeCity, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Elevate inclusivity as our workforces diversify, leaders need new skills that inspire their current and future workforce.

Learn more about efforts to educate, support, connect, collaborate, galvanize and give voice to intercountry adoptees.

Advocate and empower humane adoption, immigration and a restorative justice system for transracial and transnational adoptee communities