About
Our Origin Story
Parts of Me was founded by three people united by a shared frustration: donor conceived people have been nearly invisible in the cultural landscape.
Two of our founders are donor conceived. Growing up, they never saw themselves reflected in the books they read or shows they watched. They didn’t know another donor conceived person. They has no sense that people like them existed in the world.
Our third founder is a parent who used donor conception to build her family. She wanted her children to see characters like them in the media they consumed. She searched for stories featuring donor conceived kids and found almost nothing.
We want something more for this community. We want the full depth and breadth of donor conceived experience represented— peace, grief, anger, curiosity, joy, ambivalence. We want the full diversity of experience represented—recognizing that donor type, family structure, disclosure timing and method, and countless intersecting identities all shape how people understand and navigate donor conception.
That’s why Parts of Me exists.
Our Mission
Parts of Me enhances authentic representation of donor conceived people across all forms of arts, media, and culture.
Our Vision
A future where donor conceived people see themselves reflected and validated in the cultural landscape.
Our Values
- Dignity and Respect: We recognize the inherent dignity of every donor conceived person and commit to representation with nuance, authenticity, and respect.
- Truth and Transparency: We value honesty in storytelling and organizational practices, acknowledging the complex realities of donor conception.
- Inclusion and Diversity: We celebrate the diversity of donor conceived people and strive to represent the full spectrum of experiences.
- Autonomy and Agency: We respect the right of donor conceived people to control their own narratives and make informed choices about their identities and relationships.
- Intergenerational Justice: We consider the long-term impacts of our work on future generations of donor conceived people and their families.
Our People
Karyn Hladik-Brown
Karyn, as a donor conceived person, was always disappointed by the lack of books growing up that reflected her lived experience, so she wrote her master’s thesis about it. Her belief that every child deserves mirrors influences her work as a high school librarian and as a reviewer for School Library Journal. Karyn serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors.
Taylor Hovish
Taylor is a donor conceived person and author of “A Kids Book About Donor Conceived People.” Her expertise in child development and special education drives her passion for equity focused community service. Taylor is excited to establish new avenues to support DCP representation as President of the Board of Directors.
Laura Runnels
Laura is a solo parent to two donor conceived children, the aunt of a donor conceived child, and the founder of Donor Conception Journal Club, where she synthesizes and shares research findings. For her day job, she is a nonprofit consultant in the public health sector. Laura serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors.
Support Our Launch
You can help us create the culture we deserve. Your support funds donor conceived creators, builds resources people are searching for, and shifts how stories are told. Representation shapes reality—and you’re part of making that happen.
Stay Connected
Our monthly newsletter keeps you up to date on our work. Whether you’re a donor conceived person seeking mirrors, a parent looking for resources, a creator seeking support, or an ally committed to representation—our newsletter keeps you informed and connected.
