OUR STORY

For years, I struggled with questions about my identity. Who am I? Where do I  fit in? As an adoptee, I searched for podcasts, articles, and resources that spoke openly about the adoption experience. I wanted to hear from people who had lived it, who understood the emotions, the struggles, and the victories. But after an exhausting search, I came up empty. Adoption was a awkward topic to many people. This created a challenge when trying to find people who would openly talk about their emotions and experiences.

Talking to my adoptive parents about certain questions felt uncomfortable. I worried that expressing my curiosity about my biological family would seem like I was rejecting the family I already had. It wasn’t that I didn’t love them, I just needed a space to process my emotions without guilt. Eventually, I was fortunate enough to find comfort, understanding, and a place to share. But something still weighed on my heart.

I realized there was a need for something bigger—a space where adoptees and adoptive parents could come together to learn, listen, and connect. A place that provided the resources I had long searched for. So, during my senior year at California Baptist University, I took a leap. Given the opportunity to create a four-month project that could extend beyond graduation, I launched The Harbor Network.

What started as a passion project has now become a growing platform. I collaborated with professionals to create a thriving podcast, Signed, Sealed, Adopted, where adoptees and those within the adoption community share their real, raw stories. I poured my own experiences into our magazines, offering insight and connection for those on similar journeys. And through merchandise, events, and outreach, we spread the message of community and belonging.

The Harbor Network is the resource I wish I had growing up. My hope is that it becomes a lighthouse for any adoptee seeking clarity, a parent seeking understanding, or anyone wanting to learn more about the realities of adoption. No one should have to navigate this journey alone. Here, every adoptee finds their shore.

Chelsey Morgan

Founder of The Harbor Network