Disability Pride Festival a Success
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (left) spoke at Advocating Change Together’s (ACT) Disability Pride Festival in July outside the State Capitol. ACT’s Nikki Villavencio (right) looked on. Several ICI staff members attended the event.
The Institute on Community Integration was among several sponsors of Advocating Change Together’s (ACT) second annual Disability Pride Festival on July 18 outside the Minnesota State Capitol.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (pictured above at left) spoke at the event, and Gov. Tim Walz earlier had issued a proclamation proclaiming July as Disability Pride Month.
“Minnesota acknowledges the long history of isolation and discrimination against people with disabilities and recognizes decades of historic and nationally renowned activism and advocacy efforts led by the disability community,” the proclamation asserts. “Minnesota acknowledges that celebrating culture, community, and the ADA is only a starting point, and there remains significant room for progress toward fully equitable, accessible, and inclusive communities for all people with disabilities in our state.”
Several ICI staff members attended the event, along with hundreds of people with disabilities, direct support professionals, and others who advocate for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities of choice.
“I am not alone, and I enjoy this very much,” one attendee said in remarks captured by an MPR News camera during the event.
“It’s time to celebrate us and what we do as a community,” another said.
“Disability pride. What that means to me as someone who identifies with a disability is that I can advocate for the things that I need, and I can help other people advocate for the things that they need. We can increase understanding in society that disability is the one population we all become part of,” said Nick Wilkie, a coordinator with the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living and a longtime ICI friend and collaborator.
“A lot of times when we talk about disabilities, it’s a negative, or we’re talking about the barriers, but today we’re celebrating these differences,” said Meredith Kujala, a longtime disability advocate who has written for ICI’s Impact magazine.
DuPree Edwards (pictured below at right), a self-advocate who works at ICI, helped entertain the crowd with his rap music.
Several disability service providers also attended the event, which featured music, information tents, and food.
“Today is about showing appreciation and getting everybody together,” said Tiana Collins, who supports people with disabilities through the Empower Me Group, a Woodbury, Minnesota-based provider specializing in employment supports. “I love helping people find new things to explore that they enjoy.”
ACT’s Nikki Villavencio (pictured above at right) closed the event with a powerful call to action.
“Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to come together for celebration, liberation, connection, and movement-building,” she said. “We at ACT want to be an active part of the movement with all of you. We are dedicated to empowering individuals … and we strive to create a more inclusive community. Say it with me: Disability pride, disability power!”
DuPree Edwards (right), a self-advocate who works at ICI, rapped with an audience member at the festival.