We actively work to connect our leaders to civic engagement opportunities because we believe they can and will create solutions for our most intractable social problems—ultimately, all social justice issues are also disability issues. Here's our Q3 update.
In 2023, Disability Lead has identified and made connections to more than 130 opportunities for our Members with 44 successful connections. Some highlights include:
- Noa Fields was promoted to Programs Manager at the Poetry Foundation
- Angel Miles was awarded a scholarship to the Women Deliver 2023 conference
- Chad Turner was recognized as a Crain's Chicago Business Notable Leader in Finance
- Emily Blum was interviewed on WBEZ about the many barriers that exist for disabled people in the workplace
- Zhen Heinemann joined the Board of Directors of Full Spectrum Features
Beyond our work to directly connect our Members to opportunities and advancements, we are delighted to celebrate all the ways they're leading in their own right:
- Becky Brasfield wrote four articles on "Learning Languages" for Resources to Recover
- Andrés Gallegos was quoted in a Washington Post article about disabled people being designated a health disparity population by the National Institutes of Health
- Adam Ballard was quoted in a Chicago Tribune article about how disabled people not having access to public transit due to COVID-19 is a freedom of movement issue
- Kruti Shah inspired the Oak Park Public Library to host a Disability Pride March
Congrats, everyone! We look forward to sharing more stories of our leaders paving the way in December! If you have an advancement you’d like included in future stories, please contact Risa, rrifkind@disabilitylead.org.