Earlier this year, United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region invited us to partner with them in producing a 21-Day Equity Challenge focused on disability justice. The 21-Day Disability Justice Challenge will take place during the month of October and invites participants to learn more about disability from a position of equity and pride. It is designed to raise your awareness, increase your understanding and shift your perspective about disability in our culture.
Once registered, you will receive an email each week-day morning during October with information about various disability justice topics and opportunities to learn more by watching videos, listening to audio clips, reading articles and answering discussion questions. You are encouraged to take at least 15 minutes each day to review the material in the email, choosing the style of learning that works best for you. You may choose to explore this work on your own, with friends and family or organization-wide.
When asked what outcome he hoped to gain from the 21-Day Challenge, Joel Cooper, President & CEO of Disability Network Southwest Michigan said, “This online virtual format provides an outstanding opportunity for a large number of community members to gain extensive knowledge of disability justice. It will raise awareness of the stigmatizing of disability and set up future interactions that can change behavior and add new voices of advocacy in our communities.”
Disability Network Southwest Michigan has been a long-time partner of United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region. Chris Sargent, President & CEO of United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region said, “United Way works for a vibrant community where all people can realize their full potential. Awareness and understanding are important first steps in changing isms – racism, sexism, ageism, ableism. The feedback we got around our previous racial justice challenge was extremely powerful, we’re excited to see the same around disability justice.”
In addition to the online self-paced learning, two online community conversations will be held during October for participants to join in a group discussion facilitated by Disability Network staff.