Join us for a LIVE LinkedIn event, hosted by National Council for Adoption and Talk About Adoption, in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month. Tune in as we come together to discuss adoption from every perspective.

Featured panelists include Jade Amez, Shantell Krabill, Lynea, Tony Parsons, Deb Shugg and Bryan Wolfe and Sarah Zagorski.

Jade Amez is an Asian-American children’s book author and proud Midwesterner. She loves fall for its vibrant colors and start of football season, measures distance in time, and is a big fan of cheese (but not a Cheese Head). Growing up, Jade rarely saw books that featured adoption, mixed-race, or multicultural families. This inspired her to share her story that teaches families come in all forms – you don’t have to look like everyone in your family to call them family. Her book introduces these topics in a way that’s more accessible for children who may not have the words to voice their own experiences, and encourages you to reflect on your own journey, while expanding your understanding of what 'family' and 'home' can truly mean.

Shantell Krabill is an adoptee, birth mother, Native American woman and board member of Talk About Adoption.

Lynea is a birth mother, founder of Life After Placement and advocate for birth mom healing and post-placement support.

Robert "Tony" Parsons is a transracial adoptee, former foster youth, and a dedicated advocate with a background in public policy, education, and child welfare. He is committed to empowering individuals, fostering collaboration, and advancing equity. With degrees from Michigan State University and Georgetown University, he has held roles at Youth Villages, the Capacity Building Center for States, and the Michigan College Access Network. The director of public policy and finance at Oakland Thrives, Tony works to align government institutions, elected officials, and community leaders to transform the City of Oakland to better support children, youth, and families. His involvement in various community initiatives and his leadership in organizations such as the Emerging Leaders Advisory Council, currently their chairman, and the National Foster Youth Institute demonstrate his commitment to social justice and his ability to drive positive change.

Bryan Wolfe, a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, is a dedicated leader, community advocate, and Bryan–College Station, Texas native. With a distinguished career as a healthcare executive, Bryan brings a wealth of professional and personal experience to every endeavor he undertakes. Today, he continues to make an impact by serving on several healthcare technology and medical product company boards, where he provides strategic insight into organizational operations and supports promising entrepreneurs through mentorship and investment.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bryan’s life is deeply rooted in faith, family, and community. He and his wife of nearly 25 years, Melany, share a passion for supporting families through Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach—a nonprofit organization that provides vital resources for young parents and offers a unique, compassionate approach to adoption. Together, they are the proud parents of six children and the joyful grandparents of two granddaughters.

When he’s not serving others, Bryan enjoys spending time with his family, traveling with Melany, and cheering on the Aggies at football games. A firm believer in keeping God at the center of his life, Bryan credits his faith as the foundation of his personal and professional life.

Deb Schugg has more than 35 years of experience working with families of vulnerable youth. She has extensive experience offering individualized, trauma-informed coaching to foster and adoptive families in crisis and training professionals who work with families throughout the nation. Deb is a family coach and trainer at Kinship Center/Seneca, as well as a senior consultant with the National Center on Adoption and Permanency.

Deb is the mother of eight children from culturally diverse backgrounds, seven of whom were adopted as sibling groups from the foster-care system. She and her husband also provide permanent connections for several young adults, most of whom are Deaf and identify as LGBTQ. They are also kinship caregivers to three of their grandchildren. Deb’s use of lived experience to illustrate clinical content in a meaningful and memorable way is the hallmark of her teaching style.

Sarah Zagorski is an adoptee, former foster youth of Hispanic heritage and board member of Talk About Adoption.

Moderators : Callie Jett, birth mother and founder of Talk About Adoption, and Leah Sutterlin, international adoptee and adoption communications manager at National Council For Adoption

The full line-up for the 14th annual Kansas Book Festival is available now, just click here. On Saturday, September 20, all events will take place at Washburn University, hosted by the Washburn Library. The 2025 Festival involves an amazing lineup of 50 speakers, including NY Times Bestsellers and winners of national book awards. Their presentations cover fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s books. The festival always includes outdoor performances, a book-art exhibit, food trucks, and exhibitor tents with 40+ publishers, nonprofits, and individual authors.

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, join us for a very special AAPI Creatives Celebration—an evening dedicated to uplifting the vibrant voices of our local AAPI authors and illustrators. These stories deserve to be celebrated with food, drinks, and joyful connection!

What’s in store for this event:

• A casual mix-and-mingle Q&A session with our AAPI guests

• Book signings

• A raffle for 10 lucky schools (hello, teachers and librarians!) to win free author visits for the next school year

• Goodie bags featuring bookmarks, Asian candies, store discounts, bindis and more

 RSVPs encouraged but not required.

Join us for Read Across America Day and the kickoff of our virtual fundraiser week!

Get inspired as we hear from three incredible local authors.

Plus everyone who joins our virtual call will be entered into a giveaway to win a set of five children’s books by local BIPOC authors and illustrators.