Shannon Quist
Why Fiction Matters in Adoption Stories: Writing with Shannon Quist
Join Belonging for an enlightening evening with Shannon Quist, an acclaimed author, scholar, and adoptee rights advocate, as she explores the power of fiction in telling adoption stories and why it matters.
Shannon, a domestic transracial adoptee from Texas, has dedicated her work to uncovering and reshaping the often overlooked narratives of adoption. Her fiction, poetry, and public scholarship challenge mainstream assumptions and offer powerful counternarratives to dominant stories about adoption in the U.S.
What to Expect:
The event begins with a brief reflective writing prompt centered on identity and belonging.
Shannon will share how she uses fiction to blend personal and academic experiences, crafting stories that push back against biases and societal norms around adoption.
Together, we’ll explore the concept of Ghost Kingdom stories, where fiction provides a way to reflect on the adoptee experience in nuanced and transformative ways.
The evening wraps up with an interactive Q&A, where you can engage with Shannon and ask questions directly.
This 75-minute Zoom event offers a unique opportunity to delve into themes of identity, trauma, and resilience through the lens of an adoptee.
Whether you’re an adoptee, an academic, or someone interested in identity and belonging, this event will provide space to reflect, learn, and connect through the transformative power of fiction.
Reserve your spot today! https://tinyurl.com/BelongingShannon
Upcoming Events
America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries
Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., Ph.D.
James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University
Imani Perry, JD, Ph.D.
Henry A. Morss, Jr. and Elisabeth W. Morss Professor of Studies of Women, Gender and Sexuality and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University and the Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute
ON ZOOM
Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better
David Epstein
Science writer and best-selling author
Megan Twohey
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times
Evanston Township High School Auditorium
Note: Event start time is Central Time (CT).
NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Post-event reception in ETHS’s Alumni Hall, open to all.

Churn: The Tension That Divides Us and How to Overcome It
Claude M. Steele, Ph.D.
Lucie Stern Professor in the Social Sciences, Emeritus, at Stanford University
Marcus Campbell, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Evanston Township High School D202, Evanston, IL
Evanston Township High School Auditorium
Note: Event start time is Central Time (CT).
NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

