M. Riben CV Print
Mirah Riben
Advocate Publications
Box 28 - Dayton, NJ - 08810
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Published Books
  • Riben, M. (2007). The Stork Market: America’s Multi-Billion Dollar Unregulated Adoption Industry, Dayton, NJ: Advocate Publications, 260 pages, 348 footnotes, ISBN: 1-4276-0895-4
  • Riben, M. (1988). shedding light on..The Dark Side of Adoption, Dayton, NJ: Advocate Publications, 189 pages, 135 footnotes, ISBN: 08187-010506


Published Articles & Op Eds
Published in journals, magazines, newspapers and newsletters:

  • Riben, M.. (2010). Facing the real issues in international adoption. Russia Beyond the Headlines. May 21
  • Riben, M. (2010). Adopting Haitian Orphans: Saving Children or Repeating Unsuccessful History? Conducive magazine. Feb/Mar
  • Riben, M. (2010). Will we repeat a sad history in Haiti? The Times of Trenton, Jan 26.
  • Riben, M. (2010) "Tragedy Exploited: A Sad History Repeating Itself in Haiti" DissidentVoice, Jan, 21; Humanitarian Texts, Jan 23.
  • Riben, M. (2010) "Who are the 143 Million Orphans?" Conducive magazine, Jan/Feb.
  • Riben, M. (2010) "Prophecy, Proselytizing and Profit: Adopting Christian Soldiers" DissidentVoice, Jan 1.
  • Riben, M. (2009) "Suffer The Children: The Exploitation of America's Most Vulnerable", Dissident Voice, Nov. 23.
  • Riben, M. (2009). "Fraud and Kidnapping Casts a Cloud on Guatemalan Adoptions" Adoption Today, Dec.
  • Riben, M. and Wright, B. (2009) "Reverse Robinhoodism: Pitting Poor Against Affluent Women in the Adoption Industry," Conducive Magazine, Oct/Nov
  • Riben, M. (2009) Madonna and Child Adoption Ethics: Rights versus profit. Associated Content, May 7.
  • Riben, M. (2008). Interview with Adam Pertman, Adoptive Families Magazine, Nov. In press.
  • Riben, M. (2008). M. Helping Adoptive Parents Understand the Role of Families of Origin: From the Viewpoint of a Mother who Lost aCchild to Adoption. Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform, PEAR-NOW.blogspot.com, Feb 13.
  • Riben M. (2008). States' sealed records discriminate against adoptees, families. USA Today, Feb. 25.
  • Riben, M. (2006). Rickie Solinger Speaks On Adoption (Interview with historian and author), Communicator, IA: Des Moines, Concerned United Birthparents, Spring, cover story.
  • Riben, M. (2006). “Dear Bastards: Demand Equality!” Bastard Quarterly, Bastard Nation, Vol. 8, No 1, Spring/Summer.
  • Riben, M. (1995). Open Adoption: Optimum or Oxymoron, Adoption Therapist, Dallas, TX: Hope Cottage, Vol. 4, No. 2, Fall, 13-16.
  • Riben, M. (1995). A Perspective on Family Preservation, Decree, American Adoption Congress, Summer, p.5.
  • Riben, M. (1995). Between the Lines: Seeking True Culpability, Communicator, IA: Des Moines, Concerned United Birthparents, July/Aug, 16-17.
  • Riben, M. (1994). Dealing With Death, Adoption Therapist, Dallas, TX: Hope Cottage, Vol. 6, No. 4, Fall, 5-8.
  • Riben, M. (1992). A Last Resort: Adoption should be a solution that suits children, not childless couples. Utne Reader, Nov/Dec, Vol. 4, 53-54.
  • Riben, M. (1991). Adoption not Abortion? Chain of Life, CA: Berkeley. Nov/Dec. Issue # 16, 6.
  • Riben, M. (1992). A Last Resort: Adoption should be a solution that suits children, not childless couples. Social Issues Review Series, Vol. 4.
  • Riben, M. (1990). Adoption: A Women's Issue, Chain of Life, CA: Berkeley Issue #5, January/February, p 4.
  • Riben, M. (1991). A Last Resort: Adoption should be a solution that suits children, not childless couples. Macrocosm USA, 147.
  • Riben, M. (1988) Class and Discrimination in the Denial of Adoptees Equal Rights in Adoption: The Case For Open Records, A Source Book for Political Action. J. Sweely (Ed.) University Press of America, Inc., Waltham, MA. In Press.
  • Riben, M. (1987). Jews and Adoption, The Jewish Press, NY: Brooklyn, Jan. 23-29.
  • Riben, M. (1987) Coping with the Heartbreak of Loosing a Child to Adoption, Jersey Woman, May/June.
  • Riben, M. (1987) Adoption May Not be the Best Option, Suburban Parent, May.
  • Riben, M. (1984). They Call Us Birth Mothers, Family Journal, July.
  • Riben, M. (1984). The Cabbage Patch Phenomenon: More Than Just Kids' Stuff, The Women's Newspaper of Princeton, Feb. 12-13
  • Riben, M. (1983). Adoption: A Circle of Love, Mothering, Winter.
  • Riben, M. (1983). The Sealed Record Controversy, The Women's Newspaper of Princeton, May.
  • Riben, M. (1983). The Changing Climate of Foster Care, The Women's Newspaper of Princeton, Aug.
  • Riben, M. (1980). The Midwife as a Working Mother. Mothering, No. 17, Fall, p. 65.
Self-Published Online:
  • Riben, M. (2008). Great Expectations for Young Mothers, OpEd News, July 5.
  • Riben, M. (2008). JUNO: Separating Fact from Fiction. OpEd News, Feb. 17.
  • Riben, M. (2008). The Juno Mystique: Separating Fact from Fiction, Associated Content, Feb. 15.
  • Riben, M. (2008). Michael Moore Blows it on This One! OpEd News, May, 27.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Pro-Life/Anti-Family, Associated Content, Dec. 31.
  • Riben, M. (2007). When Pro-Life is Anti-Family, OpEd News, Dec. 31.
  • Riben, M. (2007). The Baby Chase Pits Women Against Women: Who "deserves" to Parent? Associated Content, Dec. 22.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Adoption: Pitting Women Against Women, Op Ed News, Dec. 22.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Rethinking Adoption: The Role of the Religious Right, OpEd News, Nov. 11.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Is Promoting Adoption Healthy and Wise? Associated Content, Aug. 13.
  • Riben, M. (2008). Family Secrets, OpEd News, July 27, 2008
  • Riben, M. (2007). Is Promoting Adoption Healthy and Wise? Associated Content, July 25.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Revictimizing Victims, OpEd News, July 4.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Creating Motherless Children: Wombs for Rent, Associated Content, May 21.
  • Riben, M. (2007). A Mothers' Day Letter to Angelina Jolie, OpEd News, May 13.
  • Riben, M. (2007). All In One Day's News, OpEd News, May 6.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Guilty Until Proven Innocent; The Dark Side of Adoption, OpEd News, May 3.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Childless Mother: Guilty Until Proven Innocent. CounterCurrents, May 3.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Adoption: The Child Commodities Market is Big Business, Associated Content, May 1.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Adoption And The Role of The Religious Right, CounterCurrents, Nov. 4.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Babies and Big Business: The Child Commodities Market, OpEd News, April 25; CounterCurrents, April 25.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Mothers' Day Letter to Angelina Jolie...OpEd News, May 13.
  • Riben, M. (2007). All In One Day's News, OpEd News, May 6.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Guilty Until Proven Innocent; The Dark Side of Adoption, OpEd News, May 3.
  • Childless Mother: Guilty Until proven Innocent. CounterCurrents, May 3.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Adoption: The Child Commodities Market is Big Business, Associated Content, May 1.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Adoption And The Role of The Religious Right, CounterCurrents, Nov. 4
  • Riben, M. (2007). Babies and Big Business: The Child Commodities Market, OpEd News, April 25, 2007, CounterCurrents, April 25.
Published Book Reviews
  • Riben, M. (2008). Review of Birthmark by Lorraine Dusky, Mothers in Action, Origins-USA, Winter.
  • Riben, M. (2001). Review of Adoption and Loss: The Hidden Grief by Evelyn Burns Robinson, Bastard Quarterly, Winter. Bastard Nation.
  • Riben, M. (1995). Open Adoption: Differing Experiences, review of The Open Adoption Experience by L.R. Melina and S.K. Roszia, Chain of Life, Winter.
  • Riben, M. (1991). Review of What Lisa Knew, by Joyce Johnson. Communicator, IA: Des Moines, Concerned United Birthparents, June/July.
  • Riben, M. (1990). Review of Recreating Motherhood by Gena Corea. Communicator, IA: Des Moines, Concerned United Birthparents, Nov., p 3.
  • Riben, M. (1990). Review of Birth Bond by Gediman and Brown. Communicator, IA: Des Moines, Concerned United Birthparents, March.
  • Riben, M. (1989). Review of Lethal Secrets by Annette Baran, Communicator, IA: Des Moines, Concerned United Birthparents, Nov., p 12.
Speaking Engagements

Radio:
  • "Speaking of Adoption" (2008) with Donna Montalbano, WOON Radio, Oct. 28
  • "Speaking of Adoption" (2008) with Donna Montalbano, WOON Radio, Jan. 8.
  • The American Perspective (2007) The Student Operated Press, Judyth Piazza, April 12.
  • The Adoption Show : Voices Ending The Myth (2007) Michelle Edmonds, June 17.
Television:
  • RT-TV Russian-American television interview (2010). April 29 regarding the Russian freeze of American adoptions.
  • RT-TV Russian American news network (1020). April 9 Interview regarding Artyem Savilliev, 7-year-old boy set back to Russia alone by Torry Hansen
  • RT-TV Russian-American news network (2010). March 15 Interview regarding beating death of Nathaniel Craver, the latest in a series of Russian children adopted by Americans to be abused, many murdered.
  • Morton Downey Junior Show (1989). Panel discussing open records with Joe Soll and Carol Gustavson
  • Joan Rivers (1989). segment with Grace Anne Smiegel, grandmother of Lisa who was killed by Joel Steinberg
  • Morton Downey Jr. Show (1988). The Dark Side of Adoption
  • Geraldo Rivera Show (1988).“Private Adoption: White Knights or Flesh Peddlers?”
  • Community View (1987). Interview, July. Jackson Cablevision, NJ: Jacksonville.
Conference Presentations:
  • Riben,M. (2010. "Universality of Grief Experienced by Mothers Who Lose Children to Adoption". Identity in Adoption: Glimpses Beneath the Mask. 37th New England Adoption Conference presented by Adoption Community of New England, Inc. April 17, Bellingham, Mass.
  • Riben, M. (2009). "Adoption Fees: Ethical Considerations for all Parties in Adoption." Adoption Law Institute Dec. 18, Practising Law Institute, New York Center-New York, NY
  • Riben, M. (2009). "The Empowerment of (American) Mothers Who Have Lost Children to Adoption" Association of Research for Mothering (ARM), Mothering and the Environment, York University, Toronto. Oct. 23
  • Riben, M. (2009). "Reexamining Goals: Open Records versus Equal Access," American Adoption Congress 30th Annual National Conference, Transforming Families, Connecting Lives, April 25.
  • Riben, M. (2007). Alternative Routes to Permanency: Is Adoption Always the Best Choice? Adoption Ethics and Accountability Conference sponsored by The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute and Ethica, Inc., October.
  • Riben, M. (1997). Children Caught in the Middle: Divorce, Adoption & Other Separations, Plenary session, American Adoption Congress 18th Annual Conference, Baltimore MD, April 25-28.
  • Riben, M. (1995). Adoption/Surrogacy. Women, Culture and Society class, Rutgers University, Department of Women’s Studies
  • Riben, M. (1989). In the “Best Interest” of All: Equal Rights for Adopted-Separated Persons, American Adoption Congress, Region 3 Conference, Inequality Must End, October 1.
  • Riben, M. (1989). Adoption Loss: Its Profound Effect on Women and Society's Exclusion of Them, Celebration of Our Work: Mosaics of Inclusion, Presented at the 7th Annual NJ Research Conference on Women, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, May 23.
  • Presented at countless other conferences including: Parents of Tomorrow, Adoption Forum, Council on Equal Rights in Adoption, Origins (NJ), and Concerned United Birthparents
Teaching
  • Substitute taught at Staten Island College fro Phyllis Chelser, Women’s Studies
  • Guest lectured at Rutgers University, Women’s Studies.
Recent Press
  • Bourbeau, Mary Ann (2008). South Brunswick author hopes book raises awareness on adoption issues, The Home News Tribune, Sept. 14
  • Harbatkin, Erica (2007). Group keys on adoption, , , The Home News Tribune, Nov. 11
  • Murino, Chris (2007). Birth info not easily obtained by adoptees: RegDay serves to inform residents about adoption information hurdles, Sentinel (North Brunswick/ Brunswick). Nov. 15.
Awards and Recogitions
  • 1997-1998. Who’s Who in American Women, 20th edition
  • Golden key National Honor Society, Rutgers University Chapter, recognition of outstanding undergraduate achievement
  • 1998. University College Dean’s list.
  • 1992 – 2000. Recipient University College academic scholarship.
  • 1989. “Outstanding Achievement Award to an Author”, People Searching News, Florida. Jone Carlson, Editor.
  • 1982 – 1983. Dean’s List, Middlesex County College.
Volunteer History
  • August 2008 – August 2009. Vice President of Communication, Origins-USA.org.
o Serves as chief spokesperson and strategist to develop and implement internal and external communications, covering the broad range of the organization's issues and initiatives.
o Oversees all media relations efforts, organization reputation management, and the creation and implementation of strategies to promote the organization's initiatives, visibility, growth, empowerment, uplift and education.
o Liaison to other adoption and non-adoption originations whose mission and goals overlap or are supportive of Origins-USA’s.
o This newly created position involves working directly with the president of this national nonprofit that advocates for mothers’ rights and keeping natural families together.
o Collaborates with officers, Board of Directors, and chairs of the Public Relations, Fundraising and Membership committees.
  • August 2007- Aug 2008. Public Relations Chair and member of the Board of Directors, Origins-USA.
o Responsible for directing the Public Relations Committee in seeking opportunities to create and disperse Press Releases and to send Action Alerts to members and supporters when issues require letter writing and other outreach activities
o Identify opportunities for publicity
o Attend regular board meetings and report committee activities.
  • 1999-2000. President, University College Literary Society, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
o Oversees publication of literary journal and “open mic” poetry readings.
  • 2001. Editor in Chief, The Podium: A Publication of University College Literary Society, Vol. III.
o Oversees the selection of editing of poetry, short stories and essays for publication in the literary journal.
  • 2000. Assistant Editor, The Podium: A Publication of University College Literary Society, Vol. II.
  • 1999 - 2000. Secretary, University College Governing Association, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
  • 1988 - 1989. Director-at-Large, American Adoption Congress.
o Organized “Red Tape Ceremony” at the Hotel Roosevelt, New York, resulting in press coverage of the need to unseal adoption records
o Organized “Speak Out” and rally as part of March on Washington DC for Open Records
  • 1978 – 1995. Co-founder, Origins, a NJ-based national organization for women who lost children to adoption.
o One of five mothers who conceived the idea, developed a mission and plan of action, named the organization, and began delivering services
o Promoted our support groups in local newspapers and through self-help hotlines
o Edited monthly national newsletter
o Coordinated conferences, marches and demonstrations, including a candle light vigil in New York City after the tragic death of Lisa Steinberg
o Facilitated monthly support group meetings for mothers dealing with depression, denial guilt, PTSD, feelings of low self-esteem – all recognized consequences of having lost a child to adoption.
o Supported mothers who had never told anyone of their loss
o Helped mothers prepare for and deal with the myriad emotions of search and reunion or being found
o Comforted mothers who’s search ended with a grave or a child in a very bad situation
o Received referrals of mothers from social workers
o Helped two mothers keep their babies by offering them each temporary shelter in my home. One married her baby’s father and the mother of the other young lady relented and let her return home after seeing the baby
  • 1977 – 1981. La Leche League Leader.

o Facilitated monthly meetings to help mothers learn the womanly art of breastfeeding
o Responded as needed to answer questions and provide support between meetings
o Attended national conferences and read to keep up-to-date on latest medical and eemotional aspects of breastfeeding and mothering

Employment

  • Advocate Publications. 2007 – present.
o President and CEO of sole proprietary publishing business
o Create, establish and run viable self-publishing company currently offering two titles and other items consistent with a dedicated philosophy of educating and advocating for families
o Locate, negotiate and coordinate with subcontractors such as editors and printers
o Obtain Library of Congress and ISBN numbers
o Design, maintain, and update website and content
o Oversee all media relations efforts, and promotional strategies, visibility, public relations and growth
o Establish distributors such as Amazon.com
o Maintain fiscal stability and oversee payment of appropriate taxes and fees
o Consult with and assist authors and aspiring authors with similar goals about various means of publishing today
o Evaluate new publishing projects
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. 1990 - 2003
o 2001-2003. Departmental Administrator, NJ EcoComplex,
- Provided administrative support to unit management by assisting with the coordination and administration of programs, projects, and/or processes and with the preparation and control of records, statistics, reports and documents. Schedules appointments, arranges and coordinates logistics for events and meetings. Processed various administrative documents and data. Created informational materials consistent with the mission, vision, role, and goals of the research unit.
- Managed a five-year $5M NASA grant to establish and maintain the NJ NASA Specialized center of research and training (NJ-NSCORT).
- Oversaw all secretarial, clerical, fiscal, purchasing, travel, payroll and reception duties of this off-campus high-tech research center in Burlington County, which includes six laboratories, a 120-seat auditorium, two classrooms, and a media room
- Set up arranged conferences and tours of the facility and adjacent greenhouse, liaison within and outside the unit, Rutgers, county and state
o 1997-2001 Administrative Assistant, NJ EcoComplex
o 1994-1997 Principal Secretary, Department of Plant Science
o 1992-1994 Secretary, Center for International Conflict Resolution and peace Studies
o 1990-1992 Secretary, Social Science Research Center

Education
Sociology Major, University College Honors Program, Rutgers, the State University of NJ. 1994 - 2001

Organizational Memberships
  • Lifetime member Origins-USA.org
  • Lifetime member Bastard Nation, Bastards.org
  • Member American Adoption Congress (AAC)
  • Member Adoptive Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform (aPEAR)


August 10, 2010
 
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