Meet the California Alliance for Adoptee Rights (CAAR) Leadership
Our dedicated leadership and committee members are committed to advancing transparency, justice, and legislative advocacy for adoptee rights in California.
Meet Our Leadership Committee
Lori Whisler Schultz
Co-Founder/Leadership/Public Information
Lori was adopted in 1960 through a private adoption arrangement. She grew up in a small farming community in the central valley in CA. After high school graduation, she attended California State University, Bakersfield where she earned a bachelors degree in Economics with a minor in Business Administration. She then earned a teaching credential, an administrative credential and a MEd, Educational Management from La Verne University. Prior to becoming a teacher, school administrator, and district level director, she worked in accounting in private industry. She is now a consultant. Although told of the adoption when the family adopted a child older than her, her family did not discuss the specifics of the adoption. After her first child’s birth, she embarked on a journey to discover her biological roots using non-identifying information from California and later commercial DNA testing for health insights. Eventually she met with relatives on both sides and learned of her origins, California law still prevents her from obtaining her original birth certificate. For her, this journey has highlighted the need for legislative reform that will allow adoptees unrestricted access to their original birth record, the same right enjoyed by every other non-adopted person. In 2018, Lori connected with Emily Bernhardt Troper online and together they founded the California Alliance for Adoptee Rights (CAAR).
Emily Bernhardt Troper
Co-Founder/Leadership/Media
Emily was born in 1970, adopted and raised in Los Angeles California, and has been an adoptee activist since 1989. Emily is a preschool teacher, a doula, and has four young adult kids. She has been in reunion with her birthparents for over 30 years, and was shocked to learn she could never have her original birth certificate, even with consent from everyone involved. Emily recently had to step back from active participation in CAAR due to health problems, but she is wholeheartedly supporting the cause and cheering us on!
Paul Kimball
Leadership/Outreach
Paul Kimball is a California born adoptee. Born in Fort Bragg in 1962, he lived with his first mother for 5 days and was consequently relinquished to Children’s Home Society where he lived in foster care for four months. He then lived with the Kimballs in Berkeley who finalized his adoption on his first birthday. Paul grew up in Berkeley, graduated from the University of the Pacific, undergraduate in Music Education, and earned a Master’s degree in the Kodaly Method from Holy Names College. He is a retired music teacher, conductor, and french horn player. He and his wife Dominee are proud parents and grandparents. Paul is a proud member of CAAR and will continue to work with legislators, adoptees, birth mothers, and all those who wish to see that adoptees have the same basic rights as every other citizen. He is the author of We are all Human Beings/An Adoptee Ponders.
“The fundamental right to know who you are and where you come from drives Paul to work on the importance of adult adoptees to be able to access their original birth certificates. It’s the first document that says you exist, you are someone, and these are the facts of your birth. Very simple and so very profound.”
Wendy Turk
Leadership/Communications
Wendy Turk was born in April 1962 and was placed with her adoptive family at 5 days old, through a private adoption arranged by her birth mother’s doctor, who was also her adoptive mother’s doctor. Wendy grew up in Los Angeles, received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCLA, and her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. After practicing law part time while raising her son, Wendy ultimately used her legal skills to take over a family business, managing property. She also has volunteered for the past 15 years as an advocate for various political candidates and causes, both on her own and as an organizer. Wendy is a late discovery adoptee, finding out at age 56 that she was adopted, after both her adoptive and biological parents had passed away. Using her advocacy skills, Wendy pursued every avenue possible to learn about the circumstances of her adoption and about her biological family. She was shocked to find out she couldn’t obtain her original birth certificate or adoption records. She ultimately found her biological family through DNA testing. She wanted to connect with other adoptees to see what could be done about overturning California’s sealing of adoption records, which led her to join and become active in California Alliance for Adoptee Rights. Wendy believes it is a fundamental human right to know one’s true identity, and will keep fighting until we have unrestricted access to our original birth certificates, the same rights as all other California born persons enjoy.
Committee Responsibilities and Community Engagement
The California Alliance for Adoptee Rights Leadership Committee guides our mission to advance legislation granting adults adopted in California unrestricted access to their original birth certificates. Our leadership ensures transparent decision-making and develops strategic initiatives to support this goal.
Committee members collaborate both within the state and on the national level on legislative advocacy, educational outreach, and resource development. By monitoring policy changes and promoting dialogue with California legislators, we work to inform the public and promote passing of legislation leading to unrestricted access to original birth certificates for adults adopted in California. Within this process, we rally our nearly 500 members to engage with action items and events for which their input is critical.
We welcome community involvement. Whether you are an adoptee, an ally, or an advocate, your participation strengthens our efforts. To learn more about our current initiatives or to contact our leadership, please bookmark this site and sign up here for notification of opportunities to get involved.