Welcome to One Nonprofit's Journey in Disability and Racial Justice
Alicia Munson, C.P.O., The Arc Minnesota and MNCCD Board Co-Chair Jillian Nelson, Community Resource & Policy Advocate, Autism Society of Minnesota and MNCCD Anti-Discrimination & Intersectionality Committee Co-Chair Brittanie Wilson, Communications Officer, Minnesota Council on Disability and MNCCD Anti-Discrimination & Intersectionality Committee Co-Chair
One Nonprofit’s Journey in Disability & Racial Justice2021 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Conference
Who We Are
● Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson: MNCCD Anti-Discrimination and Intersectionality Committee Co-Chair, Communications Officer for Minnesota Council on Disability
● Alicia Munson: MNCCD Board Co-Chair; The Arc Minnesota CPO
● Jillian Nelson: MNCCD Anti-Discrimination and Intersectionality Committee Co-Chair, AuSM Community Resource and Policy Advocate
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About MNCCD
The Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD) is a broad coalition of over 30 advocacy organizations and support providers—as well as individuals who have disabilities—working to address public policy issues by collaborating, advocating, educating, influencing change, and creating awareness
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● Understanding Ableism & Disability Justice
● Asking “how do disability and racial justice fit into our work and organization?”
● Reviewing strategies and response
● Shifting an organizational culture towards justice
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Learning Goals
Understanding Ableism
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“Ableism is a system that places value on people’s bodies and minds based on societally constructed ideas of normality, intelligence, excellence, desirability, and productivity” that “leads to people and society determining who is valuable and worthy” - Talila “TL” Lewis
Understanding Ableism
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At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability.- Access Living
Real World Implications
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● People with disabilities still underrepresented in decision-making but disproportionately impacted by key decisions
● Disability community still regarded as a separate “issue” or community
● People who have disabilities directly affected by the work that ALL of our organizations do
What is Disability Justice?
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● Disability justice is a framework that examines disability and ableism
● It was developed starting in 2005 by the Disability Justice Collective a group of "Black, brown, queer and trans" leaders
● Leaders include Patty Berne, Mia Mingus, Stacey Milbern, Leroy F. Moore Jr., Eli Clare, and Sebastian Margaret
What is Disability Justice?
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● Intersectionality
● Leadership of the most impacted
● Anti capitalist politics
● Commitment to cross movement organizing
● Recognizing wholeness
What is Disability Justice?
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● Sustainability
● Commitment to cross disability solidarity
● Interdependence
● Collective access
● Collective liberation
Disability & Racial Justice
● Core principles of disability justice are intertwined with racial justice movements
● BIPOC leaders who have disabilities have always been engaged in racial justice work
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Building Understanding at MNCCD
Historically, MNCCD has disproportionately centered white people who have disabilities, and placed most “value” on their families, direct support professionals, service providers.
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Being Called to Disability Justice
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● Summer of 2020
● After George Floyd was murdered, MNCCD responded nearly two weeks later
● Outreach from coalition partner
Our Reaction
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● Owned our inadequate response and apologized
● Issued a statement in solidarity
● Made a commitment to center intersectionality
● Began our journey of aligning with disability justice
Keep asking questions
● Where are we getting information from?
● How are we making information more accessible to more people?
● How are we building meaningful relationships and TRUST with people who have intersecting identities?
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Keep asking questions
● How are we striving to center lived experience of those most impacted?
● Who is not at the table?
● How are we forging paths for future leaders?
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Contact Us
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● Britt Hernandez-Wilson - [email protected]
● Alicia Munson - [email protected]
● Jillian Nelson - [email protected]
Breakout Sessions
Investing in BIPOC Organizations: Lessons for White Funders and Partners 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | October 14
Organizational Transition Horrors and How to Avoid Them 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | October 14
Systems-Disrupting, Authentic, and Innovative Youth Engagement Practices 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | October 14
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