Kara was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She married her high-school sweetheart and together they traveled for a number of years before attending college. Kara went on to receive a BA, MA, a law degree from the George Washington University, and later a LLM from the University of Washington. Her husband and sons constantly keep her on her toes. Any moment of free quiet time she can find is spent designing, reading, and cooking; but storytelling is her passion. In January 2018, she wanted to see where in Africa her father's family came from. Her over-the-counter DNA test revealed she was 50% something, but she had zero African DNA. This meant the man on her birth certificate couldn't possibly be her genetic father. She lost her bi-racial identity with the click of a mouse. Kara discovered she was 50% Jewish. The DNA pandora's box she opened led to an identity crisis. Because there were few resources for people with misattributed parentage experiences, she co-founded Right to Know, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental human right to know your genetic identity through education, mental health initiatives, and advocacy. Kara is leading advocate for genetic identity rights and people impacted by misattributed parentage. She has appeared on many podcasts, in multiple television interviews and articles, and has been a frequent speaker on her DNA surprise, the right to know, and the complex intersection of genetic information, identity, and family dynamics.
"""My Re-Birthday Book"" is a brilliant addition to any home library for the MPE community. It seamlessly blends the elements of a baby book with the profound journey of an adult finding their way in the world. Kara's ability to capture the essence of human experience makes this book not only a delightful read but also a thought-provoking one. This helpful tool will walk you through rediscovering your identity and reflecting on your journey of self-discovery. ""My Re-Birthday Book"" is a testament to the enduring power of family, the importance of embracing our past, and the beauty of writing our own stories.- Laura Olmsted, Lead Genetic Genealogist and Executive Director & Founder DNAngels The Re-Birthday Book is indispensable in rebuilding identity after a misattributed parentage experience (MPE) and DNA surprise. There are so many questions that come up when navigating this discovery and the Re-Birthday Book helps put things into perspective and make choices you could easily get stuck in without the guidance of the Re-Birthday prompts. - Dr. Jodi Klugman-Rabb, LMFT, PsyD, Identity Expert and Professor of Counseling Psychology at Dominican University of CA"