About the Presenters: Kelly Pittman is the Director of Neurotechnology at A Chance To Grow, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children and adults overcome physical and emotional challenges through brain-based therapies. An Emotional Freedom Coach and award-winning author of Unleashing Happiness, Kelly’s greatest teacher has been her daughter, Jayna, adopted from China at age two. Together, they share their powerful journey of healing and connection. In their presentation, The Myth of Rejection: Two Sides of a Transracial Adoption, Kelly and Jayna offer insight into trauma, attachment, and resilience—inviting families to move beyond fear and rebuild extraordinary, connected relationships.
Jayna Pittman graduated summa cum laude from the University of Northwestern through the prestigious Act Six Leadership Program. She now serves as the Kids Operations Specialist at a local nonprofit, where she helps families build stronger connections through understanding and compassion. Mirroring her mother’s advocacy, Jayna is passionate about empowering parents to meet their children where they are—emotionally and developmentally—and to never give up. Together, Jayna and her mom share their story to inspire hope and demonstrate that even relationships once thought impossible can become extraordinary.