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Gabrielle Glaser is a New York Times Best Selling Author for her work on culture, health, and medicine. Her work has appeared in the "New York Times," "the Atlantic," "the Washington Post," and many other publications. She also has appeared on several television and radio programs.

Book: "American Baby: A Mother, a Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption"

The book covers the story of Margaret Erle and George Katz, two teenage children of Jewish refugees, in 1961. Margaret got pregnant at a time when abortion was illegal and birth control was hard to get. Her parents sent her to the maternity home run by New York’s Jewish adoption agency, Louise Wise Services. Social workers coerced her into signing away the rights to see her son, David, so she did not know his whereabouts or new identity. The lucrative, exploitative adoption industry claimed to be in the best interest of all, but it was founded on secrets and lies. The book covers Margaret’s story and search for her firstborn as well as exploring the ways to heal wounds from the dark time in our history of adoption.

Moderator, Ellen R. Portnoy, has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She previously worked for several not-for-profits in fund development and public relations.  For the past 12 years she worked for the Accelerated Schools of Overland Park. Ellen and her husband have two children, one of whom they adopted.  As an avid reader and community volunteer, Ellen served as the co-chair of the Jewish Community Center’s Jewish Book Fair for many years. She is excited to be part of the Gabrielle Glaser program.