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Navigating the infertility journey: One-night informational event planned for March 12

RESOLVE of West Michigan
2/24/15 12:59pm
metro Nonprofit Dispatches

This dispatch was added by one of our Nonprofit Neighbors. It does not represent the editorial voice of The Rapidian or Community Media Center.

Join us for a one-night event showcasing stories and art of infertile couples and an opportunity to learn more about the adoption process.

The ART of Infertility & Greater Hopes Family Services

The ART of Infertility is an infertility artwork, oral history and portraiture project and traveling exhibit. The exhibit educates, raises awareness and provides a creative outlet and community of support for those experiencing the effects of the disease of Infertility. The show includes facts and figures on Infertility, portraits, interviews and artwork, to bring awareness and help support those struggling with the disease. While much of the educational information on infertility is the same for each location, the goal of the exhibit is to use local artwork and stories. The exhibit displays the stories and photographs of individuals, couples and families in various stages of the infertility journey. 
 
Greater Hopes Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in September 1997. It became a licensed child placing agency on January 15, 1998. Since then the organization has worked with over 500 families who have adopted 615 children from all over the USA and 13 other countries. They have helped children of all ages be placed with loving adoptive families. Greater Hopes supports relative adoptions, and direct consent placements where the child’s parents choose the family who adopts their child. In November 2012, Greater Hopes began a Waiting Child Adoption program for Michigan’s children.

 

A baby crib filled with multiple fertility drugs and treatments representing the medical experience of infertility.

A baby crib filled with multiple fertility drugs and treatments representing the medical experience of infertility. /Liz Horn Walker, The ART of Infertility

Navigating The Infertility Journey Event Flyer

Navigating The Infertility Journey Event Flyer

RESOLVE of West Michigan, a peer-led infertility support group organization, is collaborating with The ART of Infertility and Greater Hopes Family Services to host an event dedicated to navigating the infertility journey. This unique, one-night event will take place on Thursday, March 12 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Greater Hopes Family Services located at 1345 Monroe Avenue NW in Grand Rapids. 

Liz Horn Walker, founder and creator of The ART of Infertility, will be will display artwork, portraits and stories capturing the experiences and challenges of infertility. Individuals are welcome to view the artwork and stories displayed. Time will also be provided for infertile individuals and couples to contribute to the nation-wide project by capturing their own stories and taking portraits. This portion of the event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and run until 9:00 p.m.

The second half of the evening will be dedicated to an informational session on the realities, struggles and joys of the adoption process in 2015. Adoption attorney and Greater Hopes Family Services founder, Cathy Raidna, will provide an overview of the adoption process as well as answer questions and concerns about the legality of adoption. This portion of the evening will run from 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Following this overview, individuals are invited to attend a more detailed orientation to adopting in West Michigan through Greater Hopes Family Services. The orientation to the adoption process with Greater Hopes will begin at 7:45 p.m. and run until 9:00 p.m.

It is the intention that this event will serve as a place to increase infertility awareness and serve to support those struggling to naviagate the often silenced journey of infertility. The event encourages infertile individuals and couples to bring family, friends and loved ones to The ART of Infertility exhibit so as to better inform others about the emotional struggle with infertility, as displayed through art and storytelling. 

Additionally, the event welcomes attendance from individuals throughout West Michigan interested in adoption and working with a smaller adoption agency. For more information or questions about the event, contact Maria Novotny (RESOLVE of West Michigan).

Maria Novotny has written previously about infertility in West Michigan for The Rapidian, you can read more here.

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