Topic: Join us virtually for Marla Smith of Support Texas Adoptee Rights (STAR) for an overview and update on original birth certificate access, with a focus on the state of Texas.

Date: March 1, 2023

Time: 7PM Central Tim

Registration: Registration is required. You will receive the Zoom link and reminder once registered and again closer to the event. 

More about the topic...

With legislative sessions underway across the country, including Texas, this presentation from Marla Smith, a director on the board of Support Texas Adoptee Rights, will give an overview of the adoptee rights birth certificate access movement. Marla will also present an update regarding the current status and progress in the "closed records" state of Texas. Adoptee rights groups in Texas have been working on getting legislation passed for decades and the group currently spearheading the effort is Support Texas Adoptee Rights (STAR), with House Bill 2006 filed this session. We are excited to hear from Marla about how we can get involved and support STAR in this effort this session. 

More about our presenter...

Marla Smith was adopted through Hope Cottage in Dallas Texas and has been in reunion with her birth family since 2017. She became involved with STAR soon after her reunion testifying at the State Capitol in support of adoptee rights. She believes that equality for all adoptees means having the choice to access their history with respect, honesty, and dignity. She is currently the Treasurer of the STAR Board and enjoys the resulting sense of accomplishment and simple peace that comes from a well-organized spreadsheet.

Marla attended the University of Virginia where she received her Bachelor of Architectural History. She received her Master of Architecture from the University of Texas. Marla is a registered Architect, practicing individually as MSmith Workshop as well as collaborating with other architecture firms and was a founding Partner with Christy Seals in Loop Design. Marla has also taught full time at the University of Texas School of Architecture since 1997, instructing various courses including Visual Communications, Technical Communications, Design II Studio, Advanced Design Studio, Building Information Modeling, Individual Instruction, and Sound Building Workshops. In her free time she enjoys yoga, woodworking, gardening, music and loves riding her bike.