Adoption, Conversations Of A Sistah, Tracy L. Bell, Tracy L. Bell - Blog Talk Radio

The Woman who adopted Florida teen, on “Conversations Of A Sistah”

The ReadyWriter

Generated by IJG JPEG Library
Generated by IJG JPEG Library

Hey “Conversations Of A Sistah” family., Do you remember this story? I wrote about it almost a year ago, about fifteen (15) year old Davion Navar Henry, who had been in foster care his entire life and desperate for a family to call his own, so he had taken matters into his own hands by going to a local church and pleading for a loving family to adopt him. It all started, after he learned, his biological mother, who gave birth to him while she was in prison, had passed away, that’s when he asked his caseworker, Connie Going, if she would take him to church so that he could make his request known to the people there and she agreed.

Davion’s story was not only heart breaking but so compelling it made prime-time news. As it turns out, the state didn’t find Davion a home, so he asked Connie Going, the Eckerd adoption specialist in charge of his case; if she would become his mom. Apparently Davion felt comfortable enough in knowing that Connie would take care of him and provide him the family structure he yearned to have. Connie Goings in turn, left the Eckerd adoption agency after many years and her adoption of Davion was finalized on April 22,2015.

attach

Join me tonight at 6:30 p.m. on “Conversations Of A Sistah” via blog talk radio, as I sit down with Ms. Connie Goings, as she’ll share her story and journey with the challenges she may have faced with the adoption of Davion Navar Henry and how it’s adjusted into his new life as her son.

All “Conversation links” in this post, makes it possible to access the show!!

See you on the air!

Published by The ReadyWriter

Writer, Published Author, CEO of ReadyWriter Production Company and Blog Talk Radio Host.

138 thoughts on “The Woman who adopted Florida teen, on “Conversations Of A Sistah””

  2. Of course I remember this story the young man was all over the news. But what I thought was that he was eventually placed somewhere and he didn’t like the family they placed him with. Tracy please clear this up. I’m curious.

    Like

    Reply

      4. Morning Fam. Let’s tune in and pray the best for Davion 🙂 because LAWD knows we are already in the midst of racial turmoil.

        Like

      5. Good morning y’all….as long she raise him NOT to abandon his black heritage it’s all good to me. so I hope this is something Tracy will address. Oh and that family photo? Looks like he was photoshopped into the pic 🙂

        Like

      15. Hey y’all.
        Whatz going on with this story it’s up to 40 shares on FB 😛 Go head Tracy aka Blog Queen

        Like

      34. I guess jumping to conclusions and assuming is the thing to do here b4 the show just to hear yaselves talk.. LOL Mm

        Like

  6. so many questions to be asked….will she make sure he knows his culture? will he date black girls or just pursue white? I mean who will be this boys male mentors and will they treat him right? will she treat like the others. Trace you don’t have a picture of the whole family? what up?

    Like

    Reply

  10. If she’s a good mom she’ll supply he needs of a loving home and a healthy environment. As always I look 4ward to Tracy’s discussions.

    Like

    Reply

  11. Beautiful pic. a little awkward but ok. I’m not going to judge this woman’s intentions of adopting a young black male until I hear her position later on the show. Celebs adopt black kids all the time so I guess it’s the trend now? O_O

    Like

    Reply

  13. I can’t wait to HEAR this show. I wanna know how the young man is doin after going from home to home. I wanna know his mental and emotional well being is being aided. everything else is secondary IMO.

    Like

    Reply

  15. yeah the picture look all wholesome and what NOT but the bigger picture here is…. will this woman be ready for the challenges she will face with raising a black male in a racist society? lets keep it real people this woman has her hands full. and will this young black male have the right mentors in his life? what will she do to nurture his well being? These are the questions we should be ready to ask and have addressed for tonight’s show. Damn what the picture look like!!!

    Like

    Reply

    1. the bigger picture here is…. will this woman be ready for the challenges she will face with raising a black male in a racist society?
      ********
      CoSign!!! Exactly!

      Like

      Reply

      1. the bigger picture here is…. will this woman be ready for the challenges she will face with raising a black male in a racist society?
        ********
        So TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        Like

      2. will this woman be ready for the challenges she will face with raising a black male in a racist society?
        ********
        to add to that I believe she lives infl. the state where black men are hunted,

        Like

      3. the bigger picture here is…. will this woman be ready for the challenges she will face with raising a black male in a racist society?
        ********
        HOLLA

        Like

      4. will this woman be ready for the challenges she will face with raising a black male in a racist society?
        ********
        TRUE but I’m sure she’s weighed every consequence. Won’t know till after the show.

        Like

  16. Wow. The story is interesting. a white woman adopting a black man child. I wonder is she is getting him counseling. Like what is his mentality having grown up in a foster home? I’m curious. O_O

    Like

    Reply

      2. she didn’t leave Eckerd. She was fired!
        ——–
        Fired. Quit. the bottom line is she isn’t there. she’s moved on.

        Like

      6. she didn’t leave Eckerd. She was fired!
        ——–
        Sounds like she left because she didn’t agree with a lot that was being done in the system. she’s better off because now she’ll be calling her own shots. Kudos to her and please don’t be a hater this woman is MAKING MOVES.

        Like

  20. I’m wondering so many things. Like what type of male figures will he have? will she celebrate his AA heritage, what values will she instill? And the list goes on.

    Like

    Reply

    2. I’m wondering so many things. Like what type of male figures will he have? will she celebrate his AA heritage, what values will she instill? And the list goes on.
      —–
      all good points.

      Like

      Reply

  22. This is Connie. Yes, please tune in. I reached out to Tracy for this interview so I am open and can answer anything. First , Davion was born in into foster care and raised by a system which failed him from the beginning. He could have going with relatives, with out a doubt. More so when he was much much younger and had less trauma from being in the system.
    Davion is connected to our family because he and my other son, who was also raised in FC were best friends in a program ( warehousing for foster children). Not as a social worker but as a family we took him to pastors who are friends of mine in the black community so we could find a family and let him speak out to ask for one. Davion is an amazing a brave soul and he deserves everything in life. No families came forward but we continued to speak out in the community. The the story went Viral. Thats when the state wanted to use him for their poster child. I was VERY vocal about what was happening which was why I was terminated. I was given a congressional award in adoption 5 months before they let me go, but my reputation remains nationally is solid. I spoke out FOR Davion and have always had his back.
    When he went to Ohio they sent him back in 4 months.They were not equipped to deal with some of his anger ( which he rightly has). It was then after the state isolated him and 4 months later he reached out to me after getting his cell phone and asked me to adopt him. I said yes right away.
    I knew it would not be easy but he deserves more than he has got and we have always loved him.

    I had to fight the system to adopt him, because after he was not marketable he was written off as a bad kid who will age out of foster care. Again, he deserved so much more!

    I am a single mom, but have built my life to embrace diversity but especially my community of which I have lived and breathed for many years. My neighbor hood and church are definitely not “white” and my children attend a school which is majority black. I chose to raise my children and live my life this way a long time before Davion became my son. Its just who we are. As far as who we are surrounded by, because I cannot do this alone.
    Davion’s mentor Richard has been with him 3 years and he is family. I could not raise either of my boys with out him. Both boys go to boxing in a gym where we are surround by amazing families. We are now connected to Davion’s biological family and see them often. In fact he is spending this weekend with his cousin, a police officer in clearwater. If you ask him he has the all of his life right here and is finally looking forward to becoming the man he hopes to be.

    Does Davion have challenges ahead… yes. You don’t survive trauma in foster care with out working through what it has done to you. But he now has the ability to grow, to love ,attach and trust and to build meaningful relationships.
    But as he finds his purpose in his life he without a doubt help others. I am honored and blessed to be his mom, no matter how difficult it gets he will have us next to him.

    So please tune in…

    Like

    Reply

    1. Kudos to you Connie but you will have a chance to share your story tonight with Tracy but “thank you” for sharing so much. and YES of course the majority of us will be tuned in. God bless you!

      Like

      Reply

    4. Good show Connie. You have a huge heart and a deep calling for what U do. Blessings to you, Davion and Taylor. and your other children.

      Like

      Reply

    5. Oh wow Connie you blew me away. Tracy is also such a great host and always ask all the RIGHT questions. Thank you for sharing more. This is why we love the show because it heralds great and constructive conversation. Our Love to Davion 🙂

      Like

      Reply

    6. Connie my prayer is that you remain grounded in your community and your local church. When you mentioned that on the air I knew you were on the RIGHT TRACK. May God continue to use you for His glory. God bless U…. XoXo

      Like

      Reply

  26. As long as this Kid is raised knowing his culture and understanding diversity I commend this woman. can’t judge until I hear the show.

    Like

    Reply

  29. Awesome the woman who adopted Davion is going to be on the show in another 30 minutes to be exact. As an avid reader of this blog I def remember the story but thank U Tra for linking it in the write up. You Rock! 😛 Tuning in.

    Like

    Reply

  32. she’s a single mom and that’s a challenge within itself. it’s a lotta black men being raised by single moms. as long as she’s aware of the challenges she’ll face more power to her. It’s easy to judge when U don’t know. I’d rather tune in and hear her talk it LIVE.

    Like

    Reply

  35. No judgements but she Is raising a black male/man child. she has big shoes to fill AND LOTS OF THINGS EXPECTED OF HER. GOD BLESS HER FOR HER EFFORTS IF NOTHING ELSE.

    Like

    Reply

    1. I think the immediate family was wrapped up in the system so he never had a chance.The system just stopped looking but there were more family members which we have met now.So he has many people who love and care for him. I am just the blessed one who gets to call him my son.

      Like

      Reply

      1. Hey Connie….you were a great guest. I TRULY enjoyed your story. Your bravery is commended. You Go Girl!!!

        Like

  42. Awesome Guest Connie Goings was…God knows her heart and Davion wanted to be with her and her family. I will pray that God gives her the strength and wisdom needed to aid these boys. God bless her O_o

    Like

    Reply

      1. Lay me at the throne
        Leave me there alone
        To gaze upon Your glory
        And sing to You this song
        Please take me to the King

        Like

  44. I hope she gets all the aid and support she can from her programs, church and community for those boys. I have sooo much RESPECT for her. Good show and great Guest Tracy

    Like

    Reply

  45. Connie please keep us posted when Davion goes to college and all of the other things he will experience growing up. I pray he becomes a strong man in the long run. Kudos to you for giving him the love and support his own family could not. wow it’s hurtful but a sad reality.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you for the prayers. He is so intelligent and has a good heart, now he just needs to believe in himself.I promise to keep you posted.He is one of thousands of children who sit and wait….a definite sad reality for sure.

      Like

      Reply

  47. show was sad Trace. why should these kids suffer? Connie was right in saying “they didn’t ask to come here” and his family live in the same city and being raised by someone else. wow.

    Like

    Reply

  57. Great show Tracy.
    Connie sounds like she not only want the best for Davion but for all the young males left behind by the system. Damn shame!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment