Who am I?: An innovative conference exploring transracial adoption

Join us for an innovative conference hosted by the Bridge Foundation, exploring the complexities of transracial adoption through the lens of lived experience, artistic expression, and psychoanalytic thinking. This unique event brings together voices from across disciplines to foster deeper understanding, reflection, and meaningful dialogue around belonging and identity across racial and cultural boundaries.

Presenters: Dionne Draper and Deborah Barkham

Dionne Draper is an award-winning producer and singer of Trinidadian and Jamaican roots. She founded Sing With Soul in 2013 and in 2019 produced and toured her one-woman musical, DAWTA. In 2023 she produced DAWTA The Podcast and in 2024 founded DAWTA CIC to support the cultural wellbeing of transracial adoptees.

Dionne Draper will be presenting sections from her one-woman show DAWTA about her experience as a transracial adoptee.

Deborah Barkham is a psychodynamic child psychotherapist working at The Bridge Foundation and in private practice in Bristol. Before training as a psychotherapist with the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust, Deborah had a 30-year career as a teacher, SENDCo and Safeguarding lead in diverse, multicultural schools in areas of economic disadvantage. A focus of her professional work was on the importance of identity and belonging for children and families who were displaced due to migration or seeking asylum.

Deborah Barkham will be presenting a paper on her clinical work with a young transracial adoptee.

Chair : Anita Bradford

Anita Bradford is an Art Therapist and a Group Analytic Psychotherapist. She has worked in schools, in the voluntary sector and privately with adults and children, in families, groups and individuals for the last 20 years. She is currently Assistant Clinical Lead in the Bridge Psychotherapy Service at the Bridge Foundation and joint lead for commissioned work. She has worked with adopted families for many years.

Who Should Attend :

Adoptees, adoptive families, therapists, mental health professionals, social workers, artists, academics, and anyone interested in adoption, race, and identity.

Additional Info :

✅ CPD certificates will be issued to all attendees.

Also check out other Arts events in Bristol, Music events in Bristol, Sports events in Bristol.