For those who have not seen our new staff bio pages, we have recently added introduction videos for the staff members. I’d like to take the opportunity over the next few weeks to feature a different staff member on the blog.
This week’s featured staff member is Michele Fried, who is the Founder and CEO of Adoption STAR.
Favorite type of food: “I am a gluten free vegan and love Thai and Indian food. If I would have someone prepare my meals full time, I would choose to be eat a raw food diet. Ever have raw pizza or raw tacos? Mmmm.”
Favorite TV show/movie: “I have favorite television shows that are based on who my viewing partner is: Mad Men with my husband. Heroes with my son Yale (though now cancelled!) and surprisingly, Switched At Birth (a new teeny bopper series) with my daughter Zenobia. This silly show actually keeps me engrossed as the story really touches upon birth parent / adoptive parent relationships.”
Favorite band/artist in high school: “For fear of being made fun of, I must take the fifth. Okay, forget it, I was (am) a proud Barry Manilow fan (attending many concerts in the 70’s and 80’s!)”
Favorite band/artist today: “I just like to switch on the radio and flip channels and stop on either a song from the past that makes me smile or something new that has a great beat or lyrics. My kids are a bit surprised but I range from listening to Top Forty Hits to Eminem.”
Favorite adoption book: ““A Mother for Choco” by Keiko Kasza.”
Favorite adoption movie: “Live and Become.”
Favorite aspect of working in the adoption field: I have so many that it is hard to list them all, but one “time” in particular that still touches me when I think about it was during our May 2010 Dazzling Decade celebration. I sat and watched one by one Adoption STAR adoptees (placed during our very first year to the present) light a candle in celebration of the agency and its work. I was fascinated by the smiles of the children who were old enough to understand that they were apart of something special. The last candle was lit by two special birth mothers. The evening truly defined what Adoption STAR and adoption is all about.
To read Michele’s full bio and see her video, click here.