Featuring ACS Mentor Parker Johnson

A virtual interview hosted by Andrea Chatwin

What does it feel like to grow up in a space where you are deeply loved, but rarely mirrored? When your family not only looks different but experiences life differently than you?

A protective "bubble" at home is often designed to keep the harsh realities of the world out. However, for an a BIPOC child or youth navigating predominantly white domestic spaces, that bubble can unintentionally create isolation. When the world inside the home does not reflect the realities of the world outside, kids are left without a vital "practice ground" for their identity. This contrast makes navigating the complexities of race, community, and personal boundaries outside the safety of home and family incredibly disorienting.

Beyond the visible hurdles, there is an entire layer of invisible challenges that children and youth face when they are raised in biracial families: internal conflicts, racism, microaggressions, and systemic discrimination that can go unnoticed by caregivers, teachers, and peers. This discussion dives into these hidden struggles, while holding space for the challenges unique to adoptees and children/teens in care such as belonging, the silent pressure to conform, and the internal balancing act of identity.

THE INTERVIEW

Join mentor and speaker Parker Johnson for an intimate, lived-experience conversation that pulls back the curtain on this journey. Andrea Chatwin, adoptive parent and agency founder will guide the interview drawing from Parker’s experiences both past and present: personal childhood reflections, adolescent difficulties, family of origin history, being raised in a white community current work in community, and with youth. This conversation will leave participants with a deeper level of insight as well as practical suggestions of how to move forward in this complex parenting journey. We look forward to sharing this unique experience with anyone parenting BIPOC children and youth in a transracial family.

ABOUT YOUR FACILITATOR

Parker Johnson, BA, holds a degree in Psychology with a focus on social psychology and a Minor in Education. His diverse professional journey spans intensive outreach with at-risk inner-city youth to leading vital community engagement portfolios and multi-year equity projects on Vancouver Island. As the founder of a dialogue-based consultancy, Parker is highly skilled in facilitation, conflict management, and creating spaces where diverse populations can connect across socioeconomic and cultural demographics.

Parker is an adoptee, born in Savannah, Georgia, USA, who grew up in a transracial family. Combining his personal history with his professional path gives him a unique capacity to understand and honor the individual journeys of youth who have experienced racism and discrimination. He brings to his mentoring work a profound passion, insight, and kindness that inspires lasting change in the young people who spend time with him.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday July 25, 2026
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm (30 min discussion)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (registration required)
Note: This will not be recorded.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Email Andrea Chatwin directly: info@achildssong.ca to confirm that this event is a good fit for YOU