Nthabi (she/her) is a transracial, international adoptee from Lesotho. In 2021 she graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a BA in Criminal Justice. Currently, Nthabi is working with Santa Cruz County Probation with plans to attend law school to represent those unjustly impacted by the criminal/legal system. In 2022 Nthabi was a first-time youth counselor for Pact Family Camp West.

Peter (he/him) is a Bay Area native and a transracial adoptee. He and his family attended several Pact camps when he was younger. Peter has a passion for and background in youth development through sports, and looks to continue impacting children’s lives in various ways.

Javonte (he/him) is a same-race domestic adoptee from San Francisco, CA. He is a local multimedia artist with years of experience as a youth mentor with a focus on the arts. His experience as an adoptee inspired him to work with Pact youth and provide a safe space for creative expression and constructive conversations about issues of identity and family.

Jake (he/him) is a transracial adult adoptee from California, a graduate of New York University with degrees in Music and Black Cultural Studies. He currently works as a freelance producer and songwriter as well as with the community organization US4US in his native San Francisco. He has been a member of the Pact community since he was three years old and is excited to serve on Pact’s Board and as a youth mentor and counselor at Pact Camp and in the year-round youth program.

Deepa (she/her) is an international transracial adoptee born in Nepal and raised in the Bay Area. She received her BA in Psychology and is  currently working as a behavioral therapist, with plans to attend graduate school in the near future. Deepa is a Pact Camp and Youth Club alum.

Raquel (she/her) is the adoptive mother to two Latin@ persons. She has been an active member of the Pact community for over a decade. As a Pact staff member, she contributes her experience with non-profit organizations and human resources, as well as her dedication to ethical adoption reform.

Deanna (she/her) is a multiracial (African American/white) single parent who has found great commonality between her own experience of racial ambiguity and that of many adoptees of color. She brings that understanding to all her work at Pact, as well as a passion for educating adults and supporting children in defining their identity in positive ways in a racialized world. She has been involved in organizing Pact Family Camp since 2009, and became Camp Director in 2011.

Sean L. Sparks (he/him) is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist whose work primarily focuses on attachment disruption, adoption, and racial identity development. He was adopted through LA County foster care, raised in a transracial family, and has parented five children. Sean worked in child welfare for 15 years, managing county-contracted programs and as a therapist in community-based agencies. Sean began his private practice in 2019, and is part of an adoption-focused collective of therapists in Southern California. Sean works with all configurations of clients, from children to adults and families. Sean recently completed a 60-hour somatic training which he is integrating into his work with clients.