Regina Louise Kerr-Taylor

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...

, 30 December 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2019. is an American

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

, child advocate, and motivational

speaker Speaker may refer to: Society and politics * Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly * Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture * A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially: ** I ...

, who is best known for successfully navigating through more than thirty foster home placements as a ward of the California Juvenile Court system. Louise is the second child of the late singer/songwriter Tom Brock. Brock abandoned his daughter into the

foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community, treatment center, etc.), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family ...

system during the late-1970s to pursue musical interests.

Biography

Regina Louise was born May 2, 1963, in Austin, TX. She attended Molly Dawson elementary school and left at the age of eleven. Due to her father's estrangement, Regina turned herself in to the Richmond Police Department and was taken into custody the day before her thirteenth birthday. Louise bonded with Jeanne Kerr, who worked as a nurse at the shelter. Kerr expressed a willingness to adopt Louise, but a Contra Costa County court denied her petition. Louise lived in over 30

foster homes Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community, treatment center, etc.), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family ...

group homes A group home, congregate living facility, or care home (the latter especially in British English and Australian English) is a residence model of medical care for those with complex health needs. Traditionally, the model has been used for children ...

and

psychiatric Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions. See glossary of psychiatry. Initial psy ...

facilities before age 18. She now speaks and coaches organizations and individuals on issues of trauma and personal development, and is a

abolitionist. She currently resides in the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Go ...

. Author of the memoir ''Somebody's Someone'', Louise has appeared on National Public Radio's

All Things Considered ''All Things Considered'' (''ATC'') is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio (NPR). It was the first news program on NPR, premiering on May 3, 1971. It is broadcast live on NPR affiliated stations in the United ...

"Women Reunited Decades After Separation"

, 30 December 2003. Retrieved 05 January 2012. KQED Forum, CBC, BBC and the

CBS Early Show ''The Early Show'' is an American morning television show that aired on CBS from November 1, 1999 to January 7, 2012, and the ninth attempt at a morning news-talk program by the network since 1954. The program aired Monday through Friday from ...

. Louise and her story have also been covered in various newspapers and magazines."An orphan no more -- foster kid finds mom"

San Francisco Chronicle The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. The ...

, San Francisco, 25 April 2004. Retrieved 05 January 2012. After the 2003 release of ''Somebody's Someone'', Louise was able to reconnect with Kerr, now married to a man with the last name Taylor. On Nov. 20, 2003, in the same Contra Costa County courthouse where a judge had denied Kerr's request to adopt Louise decades ago, Kerr, then 59, adopted Louise, then 41, who then made Kerr-Taylor her legal last name. Her second memoir, ''Someone Has Led This Child to Believe: A Case History of Love'', was released July 10, 2018."Regina Louise"
Retrieved 05 January 2012.

Film

On April 20, 2019, Lifetime released ''I Am Somebody's Child: The Regina Louise Story''. The film stars Angela Fairley as Regina Louise,

Ginnifer Goodwin Jennifer Michelle "Ginnifer" Goodwin (born May 22, 1978) is an American actress. She is known for her starring role as Margene Heffman in the HBO drama series ''Big Love'' (2006–2011) and Snow White / Mary Margaret Blanchard in the ABC fan ...

as Jeanne Kerr,

Monique Coleman Adrienne Monique Coleman (born November 13, 1980) is an American actress known for her role in Disney's ''High School Musical'' movies, in which she plays Taylor McKessie. Early life and education Adrienne Monique Coleman was born in Orangebu ...

as Ms. Lewis,

Sherri Saum Sherri Michelle Saum (born October 1, 1974) is an American actress. Saum is best known for her co-lead role as Lena Adams Foster in the Freeform drama series '' The Fosters'' (2013–2018) as well as a subsequent guest star role in its spinoff ...

as an adult Regina Louise, and

Kim Hawthorne Kimberly Hawthorne is an American actress. She began her career appearing on Broadway and daytime soap operas, before landing supporting roles on the prime time dramas. From 2000 to 2005, Hawthorne was regular cast member in the CBC Television po ...

as Gwen Ford.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Louise, Regina 1964 births Living people American motivational speakers American women motivational speakers African-American activists Writers from Austin, Texas 21st-century American women writers 20th-century American women writers 20th-century African-American women writers 20th-century African-American writers 21st-century African-American women writers 21st-century African-American writers