Newsletter 4-2
January - March 2008
Connections for Community Leadership Links:
Program Areas:
- Connections for Community Leadership Home
- LeaderLINKS
- Leadership Development Training
- Supports and Connections
- Informed Communities
- Proud and Powerfull
- CONNECT
Other Links:
- Information for Participants
- Information for Partner Organizations
- Disability History
- Models of Disability
- Model of Leadership
- CCL Newsletter
- CCL Publications
- Contact Us
Communities of Power Links:
LeaderLINKS | Informed Communities | Proud and Powerful | U of M SERVE | Featured Leader | Cookie Gant Scholarship Fund | CONNECT | Upcoming Events | Subscribe
LeaderLINKS is up and Running!
LeaderLINKS is a statewide database used to link emerging leaders with each other and leadership opportunities throughout Michigan. LeaderLINKS is a unique tool allowing people with disabilities to learn about leadership opportunities, supports, and organizations as well as for leadership organizations to promote their programs to emerging leaders in Michigan.
Currently we have more than 2,000 leadership opportunities in the database including:
- Conferences
- Workshops
- Groups/Clubs
- Camps
- Internet Courses
- Trainings
How to access LeaderLINKS
Accessing the database is simple. You can call us toll-free and we will do the searching for you or you can search the database online.
Benefits of LeaderLINKS membership
By becoming a member of LeaderLINKS, you receive several benefits including:
- Access to search the database of leadership opportunities
- Access to search the database of leadership resources
- Receiving our quarterly newsletter
- Ability to network with other leaders in your community
- Assistance with finding and securing supports to attend opportunities
To become a member of LeaderLINKS, simply call us or register online.
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Informed Communities Going Strong
The Informed Communities grant is holding forums throughout the state on public policy issues. Last year, two forums on accessible and affordable housing were held in Kalamazoo and Genesee counties. This year, three additional forums are scheduled for Shiawassee, Allegan, and Marquette counties.
March 19, 2008 – Accessible Communities
Shiawassee County
This forum will cover topics relating to physically accessible communities. Participants will learn how to access the accessibility of a building, become familiar with the American’s with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), and receive information about the American’s with Disabilities Restoration Act. In addition, participants will learn leadership skills to assist their advocacy efforts around creating accessible communities.
May 9, 2008 – Voting
Marquette County
This forum will cover the importance of voting and using voting as a form of advocacy and leadership. Participants will learn how to register to vote, different options for voting, how to research candidates and ballot issues, and even get hands on experience with an accessible voting machine. Participants also will receive information about the government structures and on how to talk to elected officials.
March 19, 2008 – Accessible Communities
Shiawassee County
This forum also will cover the importance of voting, how to register to vote, and allow for the practice of voting. Participants also will learn how to ask candidates questions important to people with disabilities and how to choose which person should receive their vote.
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Proud and Powerful
Disability Pride
Accepting and honoring our uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity. Pride comes from celebrating our own heritage, culture, unique experiences and contributions.
Self-Empowerment
Knowing and feeling one’s pride and applying our unique voice, skills, and actions with energy and confidence to achieve a vision (of full citizenship in all places: personal relationships, home, school, work, community, institutions, etc.).
For more information about Proud and Powerful and to view more submissions, visit the Proud and Powerful website.
Picture Submissions
“Just like a nursing home you can’t get out!”
“Taking our message to the street.”
Submit your work and win a free t-shirt!
CCL is asking people with disabilities to send us your thoughts, your work, your stories, ideas, examples of experiences, events, and activities you are proud of which give you a sense of personal value and power. We are interested in gathering such personal pride and power intellectual paraphernalia to share with others with the goal of inspiring leaders and showing the world what a difference people with disabilities can make.
Proud and Powerful submissions can be made by:
Email: leadership@prosynergy.org
Fax: (517) 333-2677
Mail: Connections for Community Leadership, Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, 780 W. Lake Lansing Rd., Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823 (submissions will not be returned)
All submissions received before May 1, 2008 will be entered into a drawing for a free feisty and non-compliant t-shirt! The drawing will take place on May 7, 2008. Be sure to include your contact information with your submission so we can notify you if your name is drawn.
By submitting you work, you agree that your submissions can be shared publicly with through our newsletter, website, CONNECT E-zine, and other publicity materials.
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U of M SERVE
CCL teamed up with University of Michigan’s SERVE (on U of M’s campus), to organize and hold a workshop about disability history and culture, as well as on the inclusion of people with disabilities. SERVE is a student-run unit at the University of Michigan that works to provide students with opportunities to address serious social issues through community service, leadership training, social justice education, and social action. Student leadership teams and committees work together to plan and implement all of their programs as well as to determine their directions and priorities.
CCL presented a workshop in January at the SERVE’s organizations weekly social justice education meetings, for a group of about 40 students. These students organize service learning projects locally, nationally and internationally for their UM student peers. CCL staff explored disability history, culture, pride, and inclusion with the students through interactive activities. Students and staff watched a DVD entitled, “Disability Culture Rap,” which explored the long history of oppression, and reinforced the staff’s activities on disability culture and pride. This video brought a rich and educational discussion between staff and students.
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FEATURED LEADER
Matrix Theatre Company
This quarter we would like to feature a partnership between CCL and The Matrix Theatre Company. In 1991 The Matrix Theatre Company was opened as a “Theatre for Change,” a theatre for “hope and joy.” The theatre focuses on cultural, social, economic and political equity for all people and strives to be inclusive in all of its practices. The Matrix Theatre Company creates everything from scratch from their puppets of all sizes to more than 80 original screenplays.
The theatre company is deeply committed to the community around them. They use the power of original theatre to build community, change lives and foster social justice. This theatre creates opportunities for people to be creators, producers and audience members of original theatre. The plays and puppets are created and produced by and about the community.
The Matrix Theatre Company has been working on “Inclusive Theatre Initiative.” In August 2007 the theatre held a retreat with Mike Ervin, a pioneer in the disability theatre movement. The theatre is working on making its space, the production and the audience experience more inclusive of all communities through assistive technology. The company is holding weekly writing circles to produce a play about the inclusion of people with disabilities. For more information on the writing circle, acting, or any of the other classes visit the Matrix Theatre Company website.
Nominate Someone
Do you know someone who is an outstanding leader in their community? Do you know of an organization that is doing a great job of including people with disabilities in their leadership program(s)? Send us the name and contact information of someone or an organization you think deserves to be the featured leader. Please include a paragraph (or two) demonstrating their leadership and why you nominated them.
Nominations can be submitted by:
Email: leadership@prosynergy.org
Fax: 517-333-2677
Phone: 1-866-532-2669
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Cookie Gant Scholarship Fund
Cookie Gant was a disability activist, a performance artist, a powerful raiser of consciousness, a relentless supporter of diversity in every part of life, and a loyal and perceptive friend. Her passing was an irreplaceable loss in all of our lives.
One of Cookie's goals was to help other disability activists experience conferences and other leadership development opportunities that would make them more effective in the movement. Connections for Community Leadership and Michigan Disability Rights Coalition have created a scholarship fund in memory of Cookie to achieve her goal.
Funds can be used for leadership development opportunities such as conference, trainings, workshops, and retreats. The opportunities must further the mission and vision of CCL and MDRC and are subject to prior approval. Funds may be used for travel expenses, attendance fees, lodging, and other expenses that are a barrier to attending the leadership opportunity.
To be eligible for funds, you must:
- Reside in Michigan
- Be a person with a disability (any age)
- Be involved in systems change efforts
- Not be supported by agency funds (not employed at an advocacy agency)
To request an application call us toll-free at 1-866-532-2669 or email us at leadership@prosynergy.org. You also can download the application and criteria online.
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Upcoming Events
Upper Peninsula Youth Leadership Forum
July 26-28, 2008 - Northern Michigan University
This will be the First year for this innovative, exciting leadership development program for people with disabilities in Upper Michigan. It’s a three-day program which includes many exciting and educational activities to help you toward your career goals. The U.P. Youth Leadership Forum (U.P. YLF) will be July 26 to July 28, 2008 at Northern Michigan University in Marquette MI. U.P. YLF is for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities living in the U.P. who have demonstrated leadership potential in their communities and schools. About 24 students with disabilities will be selected to attend the program. There is no charge to students.
If you have questions about this project, please contact Colin Van, American Indian Outreach/Youth Development Specialist at the Superior Alliance for Independent Living Center, at; (906)228-5744 or e-mail at; covan@upsail.com or fax; (906)228-5573.
Stories in Community: 8th Annual Retreat for Disability Activists and Allies
May 16-18, 2008 - Leaven Center
As disability activists and allies, which stories do we tell about our embodied experiences of disability, race, violence, class, gender identity, and sexuality? What words, ideas, and images emerge from our experiences of community and isolation, pride and shame, joy and activism? How do these stories shift, settle, or become tangled over time as our bodies change? Drawing upon disability culture, conversation, journal writing, music, and movement, we will spend the weekend telling stories and exploring these questions.
We will create space for telling stories of who we are, telling stories of oppression and privilege. We will examine the ways our stories not only repeat, but also contradict, each other. We will explore the power of story to reach across chasms of power, to struggle against willful ignorance, and to insist upon wholeness. In addition to storytelling, we’ll have time to rest, relax, and hang out.
For more information or to register, visit www.leaven.org or call 989-855-2606. Cost is $185 and includes, lodging and meals. Need financial assistance to attend? Apply for the Cookie Gant Scholarship Fund at www.copower.org/mdrc/cookiesfund.htm.
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CONNECT
CONNECT is one of the many areas of CCL. CONNECT is a statewide network connecting college students with disabilities involved with disability organization on their campuses to each other and the resources available to them in their communities.
Membership Drive
Are you a college student with a disability? Would you like to CONNECT to other college students with disabilities? Would you like to learn about leadership opportunities in your community, at the state, national and international level? CONNECT can help! CONNECT is a statewide network connecting college students with disabilities to each other and the resources available to them in their communities. CONNECT recently opened up its membership to ALL students with disabilities who are or wish to be leaders in their communities.
Benefits of becoming a registered CONNECT member are:
- You will be the first to know about new CONNECT projects and opportunities.
- You will be invited to attend the Annual CONNECT Leadership Retreat.
- You will be connected to other students with disabilities and their allies from around the state of Michigan.
- You will be registered for the CONNECT E-Zine, which connects subscribers to leadership opportunities, scholarship information, internship/job opportunities and networking events.
- You will have support to start a disability advocacy organization on your college campus.
There is no better time to join than today! To become a member of CONNECT, send an email to CONNECT@prosynergy.org. To learn more about CONNECT visit the CONNECT website or visit CONNECT’s myspace page.
Monthly E-zine
The CONNECT E-zine is an electronic newsletter connecting subscribers to leadership opportunities, scholarship information, internships, and networking opportunities for college students with disabilities.
If you would like to attend any of the CONNECT events, receive the E-zine, or get additional information, please contact Theresa Squires at 1-866-532-2669, email connect@prosynergy.org, or visit the CONNECT website.
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Subscribe
To subscribe to the CCL newsletter, please send an email to leadership@prosynergy.org with "Subscribe" in the subject line. If you need to receive the newsletter in an alternative format such as large print or plain text, please note that in the email or call 1-866-532-2669.
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Connections for Community Leadership is funded by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council.
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