WENDELL, N.C. _ Eleven-year-old Tianna Godwin will tell you siblings ought to have close relationships.
"It would bother me if I wouldn't be able to know who my family members are," Tianna said. "I want to know all my family members and who's connected to me."
There was a time, however, when it was uncertain whether she would know her two older sisters, Keara and Briana Miller, at all. All three were adopted by two different families as young children, but their adoptive parents, who were able to meet through an adoption and county agencies, made a promise to give the girls the opportunity to know each other and form relationships.
The inter-family promise ultimately resulted in a Wendell-based nonprofit, Bridging the Gap with Adoption, that Calvin and Malessia Godwin founded in March to extend the cause to siblings in other families who were separated by adoption.
"It's a good thing what my mom is doing, because some people don't get to see their sisters and their brothers," Tianna said.
GETTING THEM TOGETHER
The Millers moved to Arizona in 2010 but used to live in Charlotte, making it easier for the three sisters to visit each other monthly when they were younger.
"My husband suggested, 'Why don't we have the young ones overnight so they can get to hang out and get to know each other?'" Malessia Godwin said.
About three years ago, the Godwins and Millers formed a nonprofit that had a similar mission. That organization later became Bridging the Gap with Adoption.
"The theory behind it was they would get together once or twice a year, go on vacation, catch up, know that they had extended family," said Keara and Briana's father, Quentin Miller. "This kind of system is kind of a breath of fresh air because (Malessia Godwin) can open up a different type of avenue of community awareness just through the organization. I don't think there's too many other organizations out there that are attempting to do what she's doing."
Even after the Millers moved, Tianna has been able to visit with her sisters for annual trips to theme parks or national landmarks.
A 2013 trip to Disney World included the sisters and adopted siblings from other families. The group is planning a trip to Atlanta to visit historical sites and the aquarium next summer.
MORE OUT THERE
The sisters are just three of the nine siblings the Godwins have ties to through adoption, and have worked to bring together again.
They found out through social workers that their 9-year-old adopted son, Elijah, has one biological brother and four sisters _ including a sister who lives in Zebulon and a brother who lives in Garner.
"I just love children and truly in my heart believe children should know each other," Malessia Godwin said. "They didn't ask to be here and they should have the choice to know others from their heritage."
Bridging the Gap with Adoption now serves about 16 children ranging in age from 4 to 14, mostly from eastern Wake County. Godwin said the group is looking to reach more separated siblings who are up to 18 years old.
The group is not a biological sibling locator service. In most cases, the adoptive parents know where their child's siblings are. The Godwins' organization brings the siblings from different families together for educational seminars, community outreach and other fun events where they can learn and bond together.
