The Disability Leadership Grant supports concrete ways for people with disabilities, especially those who experience oppression from intersecting identities, like race and gender, to lead their communities and engage in local government.
The idea for the grant was born out of our Disability Program’s Disability Power PDX which provided people with disabilities training and practical experiences to impact public policy. Following the program, participants and other community members called on Civic Life to support a “next step” that would continue to build leadership capacity for people with disabilities. We are thrilled that this new grant program was driven and informed by the community. Civic Life is also partnering with McKenzie River Gathering Foundation to support grant recipients.
“Thank you so much for centering our communities with disabilities and reminding us that disabilities are in all of our communities,” said Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty during Civic Life’s Disability Leadership Grant presentation to council. “I like to say that we are all just temporarily-abled so I am thrilled to support these grants.”
The following organizations will receive up to $10,000 for their individual projects:
The Curiosity Paradox
Disabled Students Union
Linda K.Akagi & Associates, LLC
To find out more about our Disability Program, please visit their website.