" Ain't no destination. We just keep journeying." – Zahra Alabanza
Kinship care has been the method of choice when children are unable to reside with their biological parents. However, this is not always the best or DESIRED option, especially when children don’t know certain sides of their family and/or there is a perception that one’s family hasn’t shown up for them in times of need. This is the conundrum Zahra Alabanza found herself in at the age of 12, after being kidnapped by her father, abandoned, and spilt up from her siblings.
Although there were challenges along the way, the girl grows up and makes the best of the cards she’s been dealt. Just when Zahra is living her absolute best life in these Chi-Town streets, she finds out that her nephews have been placed in the foster care system. This is a full circle moment for her, and despite not being the “cookie-baking” type, she decides to raise her nephews, and reimagines what motherhood and family constellations can look like.
Zahra’s lifelong preparation coupled with her professional expertise as a social worker provides revelations and stark lessons for us about how to play chess, not checkers, when it comes to foster care system and deciding to formally adopt your kin. Listen in and listen up to this story about loss, grief, grace, compassion, and a continuous journey toward healing so that one doesn’t repeat generational trauma.
Check out the Recommended Adoption Resources in the Show Notes and SHARE!
SHOW NOTES
CONNECT WITH US!
- Black to the Beginning on Instagram
- Black to the Beginning on Facebook
- Black to the Beginning on Youtube
- Zahra Alabanza on Instagram @zahra_ala
RECOMMENDED ADOPTION RESOURCES
- Guides and Handbooks for Kinship Caregivers
- LISTEN: Voices of Fostered Adults and Kin that Care The Black Adoption Podcast: S1E4, S2E1, S2E2, S2E10
- REQUIRED READING: Black to the Beginning Reads Bookshop - A carefully curated list of #BTTBreads...for the culture!
SUPPORT THE BLACK ADOPTION PODCAST
- SUPPORTER: Make a monthly contribution of $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99
- PayPal/Zelle: info@blacktothebeginning.com
- SHOP Black to the Beginning
SHARE YOUR BLACK ADOPTION SOTRY
#FOSTERCARE #KINSHIPADOPTION #AFRICANAMERICANADOPTION
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.