♫♫ >>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

>>> GOOD DAY, AND WELCOME TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

I´M YOUR HOST OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AND TODAY WE´RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT I DIDN´T KNOW ABOUT UNTIL FAIRLY RECENTLY.

IT IS CALLED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CONFERENCE ON DISABILITY.

IT WAS CO-FOUNDED BY TWO MEN.

RONALDO FALDER.

>> THANK YOU VERY HAVING US.

>> TO MY ANNOY YANS, IT WASN´T UNTIL FAIRLY RECENTLY THAT I HEARD THAT THE CONFERENCE EVEN EXISTED BECAUSE, QUITE HONESTLY, AFRICAN-AMERICANS PRIMARILY REPRESENT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

SO I´M SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.

FOR OUR AUDIENCE, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CONFERENCE ON DISABILITY.

>> IF YOU DON´T MIND, I´LL START IT.

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CONFERENCE ON DISABILITY IS THE PREMIER AFRICAN AMERICAN CONFERENCE IN THE U.S. THAT ADDRESSES THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN RACE AND DISABILITY.

THE CONFERENCE JUST HELD ITS 11th ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A UNIQUE CONFERENCE.

WE´VE GOT MANY WORKSHOPS, MANY VISITORS OVER THE YEARS.

AND HOW THE CONFERENCE CAME INTO DEVELOPMENT, THE ORIGINAL CONFERENCE WE DID AROUND AFRICAN-AMERICANS WAS DONE BACK IN 2022 WITH THE ARIZONA SENATE FOR DISABILITY LAW.

THAT´S PRIOR TO MEETING DAVID.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME MONEY TOGETHER AT THE ARIZONA PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AND DO A CONFERENCE BACK IN 2002 AROUND AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND DISABILITIES.

AND THAT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE HELD AT SOUTH MOUNT COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE PHOENIX LO AND BEHOLD, TEN YEARS LATER, I MEET WITH DAVID, AND WE WERE HAVING LUNCH ONE DAY AT THE BUILDING WHERE DAVID PREVIOUSLY WORKED, AND WE JUST HAD A LUNCH CONVERSATION TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS FIELD FOR MANY YEARS.

I HAVE BEEN IN THIS FIELD SINCE 1984.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE CLEARLY SAW IN ARIZONA IS THE UNREPRESENTATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN PRETTY MUCH ANY ASPECT OF POLICYMAKING, PARENTS, OLDER FOLKS.

WE HAD THIS CONFERENCE, WHY NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE SET OUT TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO.

DAVID GOT SOME BOX LUNCHES.

I GOT SOME SPEAKERS.

AND WE PUT THE FIRST CONFERENCE TOGETHER IN THREE WEEKS.

THAT WAS THE FIRST CONFERENCE.

AND WE JUST HAD A VISION.

AND SO THAT STARTED FROM 150 PEOPLE TO OUR LAST VIRTUAL PRESENTATION.

WE HAD OVER 7,000 PARTICIPANTS.

>> WOW.

>> THAT´S A BRIEF STATE OF THE CONFERENCE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

>> WE HAVE A PROGRAM OF SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

ONE THING WE WANTED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOAL OF SERVICES THAT MUST BE MET.

WE DO EMERGENCY PLANNING PRESENTATIONS, EXCUSE ME.

SO WHAT WE DO, WE WORK WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE STATE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE -- THEIR NEEDS ARE MET IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES.

WE ALSO WORK WITH THE FIVE CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE AND THAT WE MAKE -- WE WORK WITH THEM IN ENSURING THAT THEY REACH OUT TO THEIR CONSUMER BASE AND FIND THAT THEIR CONSUMERS AROUND THE STATE HAVE THEIR NEEDS MET.

IT IS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE DO, FROM REACHING OUT TO HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO WORKING WITH CONSUMERS ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING.

AND THEN ALSO WORKING WITH THE YOUTH ACROSS ARIZONA.

SO IN PART, WE DO QUITE A FEW THINGS.

AND ALSO WE DO HAVE SOME MONEY THAT WE DO COVID EDUCATION AND I WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY IN REGARD TO REACHING OUT TO THEM IN REGARD TO PLANNING WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

COVID HAS BEEN A VERY DEVASTATING EVENT THAT HAPPENS TO THE COMMUNITY.

AS A RESULT, WE WANT A LIST OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO THE COMMUNITY, HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN BE BETTER SERVED BY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.

ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT PROVIDE PROGRAMMING SERVICES.

AS A RESULT OF THAT COVID, THE REAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HIT QUITE HARD.

SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS REACH OUT TO THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES TO FIND OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND CREATE SOME BEST PRACTICES.

NOT ONLY CAN WE USE THIS CURRENT PANDEMICS BUT EMERGENCIES IN THE FUTURE.

>> OKAY.

SO WITH REGARD TO THE PANDEMIC AND WITH, SAY, EMERGENCIES, HOW HAS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY BEING AFFECTED?

>> AS MANY OF US KNOW, IS THAT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES LIKE LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, LACK OF OUR LIVING ENVIRONMENT.

WE ALSO LIVE IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS A HIGH POPULATION OF POLLUTION, SO AS A RESULT, WE HAVE HAD SOME COMORBIDITIES THAT HAS IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY.

SO AS A RESULT, THE DEATH RATE OR THE CASE OF LONG COVID HAS BEEN MORE OF AN IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY THAN IT HAS BEEN TO OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION AND THE WORLD.

>> OKAY.

SO I MADE THE ERRONEOUS ASSUMPTION THAT YOU WORKED TOGETHER IN THE SAME SHOP.

HOW DID THE TWO OF YOU MEET?

>> I HAVE KNOWN RONALDO SINCE THE COMPANY I WAS WORKING FOR, I MET RONALDO BRIEFLY I MET HIM BEFORE AND THEN I WENT TO THE CONFERENCE HE HAD AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT HE SPOKE ON IN 2002.

AND THEN HE AND I WORKED AT THE SAME BUILDING FOR SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THAT, AND WE WERE NEIGHBORS.

SO ONE DAY WE WERE JUST -- LIKE I SAID, WE WERE HAVING LUNCH, AND WE REALIZED THAT WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.

WE HAD THIS WONDERFUL CONFERENCE ROOM, THIS WONDER F GYMNASIUM.

WE HAD THIS WONDERFUL FACILITY THAT PEOPLE COULD MAXIMIZE.

AND WE SEE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE NOT COMING HERE ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE SAT OUTSIDE AND HAD LUNCH AND SAID IT´S A SHAME PEOPLE ARE NOT MAXIMIZING THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> WELL, I SALUTE YOU BOTH BECAUSE I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

I DON´T THINK I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE CONFERENCE UNTIL MAYBE 2018, 2019.

AND I´M LIKE, OKAY, WELL, WHATEVER.

WHEN DOES THE CONFERENCE TAKE PLACE?

>> WE USUALLY DO THE CONFERENCE FEBRUARY AROUND BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH THE CONFERENCE.

AND SO WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE HAD OUR LAST CONFERENCE IN PERSON, AND WE HAD OVER 400 PARTICIPANTS IN PHOENIX AT THE CONFERENCE.

SO WE HAD TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.

DO WE CANCEL THE CONFERENCE?

WHAT DO WE DO?

SO WE DECIDED TO TRY THE CONFERENCE IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I´M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS TO IMPORTANT THAT REALLY MAKES THE CONFERENCE ACCESSIBLE IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, DAVID AND I WORK AT DIFFERENT COMPANIES.

DAVID WORKS FOR THE INDEPENDENT LIVING MOBILITY.

I WORK FOR THE PROTECTION AGENCY FOR ARIZONA, WHICH IS THE ARIZONA CENTER FOR DISABILITY LAW.

BUT I´M ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE UNIVERSITY CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE AND OUR DB PLANNING COUNSEL.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL OF OUR DB NETWORK PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE ARIZONA COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER ARIZONA SENATE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCES.

SO WE POOL ALL OF OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND WE USE THREE DIFFERENT PLATFORMS IN A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE.

SO AS I MENTIONED TO YOU EARLIER, WE WENT FROM IN PERSON TO A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE.

SO WE HAD ALL THE RESOURCES.

AND I´M GOING TO SAY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT THIS ORGANIZATION WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE TOGETHER.

THAT´S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS CONFERENCE.

AND, SO, WE HAVE HELD IT EVERY YEAR IN FEBRUARY.

WHEN WE WENT TO THE VIRTUAL FORMAT, PRIOR TO THE VIRTUAL FORMAT, IT WAS A ONE DAY CONFERENCE WITH 24 WORKSHOPS.

SO WE HAD ONE DAY WHERE WE CRAMMED A LOT OF THINGS INTO THE CONFERENCE AND ONE DAY WE WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THE COST OF THE CONFERENCE WAS REASONABLE.

WE HAD SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FAMILIES.

WE NEVER TURNED A FAMILY AWAY IN PERSON AS LONG AS WE HAD THE CONFERENCE.

SO WHEN WE WENT TO THE VIRTUAL FORMAT, WE HELD A CONFERENCE, THE ORIGINAL ONE, OVER THE WHOLE MONTH OF FEBRUARY BACK IN 2021.

THAT WAS PRETTY INTACT.

SO IN 2022, WE SHORTENED THE CONFERENCE TO THE FIRST, I THINK, TWO WEEKS IN FEBRUARY.

BUT WE HAD MORE WORKSHOPS IN A WEEK.

SO THAT´S KIND OF THE FORMAT OF THE CONFERENCE.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR SPEAKERS, WE HAVE -- WE FOCUS A LOT ON ARIZONA, BUT WE ALSO HAVE NATIONAL SPEAKERS FOR THE CONFERENCE.

WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER COME IN WITH THE ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION AS SPOKEN AT THE CONFERENCE.

WE HAVE HAD FROM IOWA TO UC DAVIS TO NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.

BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A SERIES OF THE COLLABORATION THAT IT TAKES TO PUT ON THIS AFRICAN AMERICAN CONFERENCE.

>> DO PEOPLE IN YOUR NETWORK REQUEST CERTAIN ISSUES BE COVERED?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> SO HOW WE WORK, FIRST OF ALL, WE´RE THE ARIZONA PROTECTION APP.

SO WE HAVE A MANDATE TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES, RIGHT, FOR CITIZENS OF ARIZONA.

SO WE START WITH THAT PREMISE, OKAY?

SO WE DO WORK AROUND OUR PRIORITIES AND SPECIAL EDUCATION OF ABUSE AND NEGLIGENT.

THAT IS BUILT IN.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR PARTNERS WITH THE COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.

OUR OPENING PRESENTATION HAS A DOCTOR WHO SPOKE IN 2022.

WE HAVE OUR UNIVERSITY CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY.

WE WORK WITH THEM WITHIN THE FRAME WORK OF WHAT THEY DO.

DAVID COMES FROM THE INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY, SO WE BRING THOSE COMPONENTS INTO THE CONFERENCE.

AND, SO, WHAT WE DO IS WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MEET THOSE SERVICES, BUT WE PUT A PESHL TWIST IN TERMS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

WE JUST DO MARKETING.

WE DO SOME THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THE CONFERENCE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION CALLED THE ARIZONA SENATE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCES, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY BASED.

IT IS NOT A DISCIPLINE ORGANIZATION.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DELIBERATELY DID WITH THIS CONFERENCE WAS TO EXPAND OUTSIDE OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE SO OFTEN THE DISABILITY TALKS TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

IT IS LIKE TALKING TO THE CHOIR.

SOME ARE RELUCTANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS MAY NOT BE UP-TO-DATE.

IT´S EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY, TOO, SO IT WORKS BOTH WAYS.

AND, SO, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AS A CONFERENCE.

AND THAT´S WHY WE´RE ABLE TO -- THIS IS OUR LETTER HERE PLANNING FOR OUR SEMINAR THIS YEAR.

I WILL SAY ESPECIALLY SINCE WE´VE GONE VIRTUAL.

I HAVE BEEN REACHED OUT BY MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, OKAY?

CONSERVATIVE BLACK COLLEGES, HBCUs AND UNIVERSITIES.

HOW DO YOU DO IT IN ARIZONA?

AND I SAY TO THEM, NO, THAT´S REALLY NOT THE QUESTION.

THE FIRST QUESTION IS WHY DID WE DO IT IN ARIZONA?

YOU KNOW, AND THAT´S REALLY THE FIRST QUESTION.

THE UNITED STATES HAS A GROWING POPULATION.

BUT OUR NUMBERS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS, I THINK ARIZONA HAS SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE.

AND OUR POPULATION IS BETWEEN 6% AND 7%.

SO OUR POPULATION IS SMALLER.

WE´RE ONE OF THE SMALLER GROUPS IN THE STATE.

OFTENTIMES WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY AND OUTREACH, THEY´RE REALLY NOT TALKING ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MAKING POLICIES REGARDING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IN ARIZONA BUT THERE ARE NO AFRICAN AMERICAN VOICES ON THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO -- WHEN THEY´RE ADDRESSING DIFFERENT PERSONALITY IN SCHOOL DISCIPLINE.

YOU DON´T SEE AFRICAN AMERICAN VOICES AT THE TABLE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE KIND OF FOCUS ON IN TERMS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> AND YOU´RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

THERE IS LOW REPRESENTATION, PARTICULARLY IN LEADERSHIP IN REGARDS TO DISABILITY RIGHTS.

DAVID, DO YOU SEE THAT CHANGING OR NOT REALLY?

WE´RE STILL IN A RUT.

>> YOU KNOW, IT´S ALWAYS ONGOING.

WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE.

ANY TIME YOU MAKE A PUSH, THERE IS ALWAYS KIND OF A PUSHBACK.

SO IT´S SLOW.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HAS MADE INCREMENTS OVER THE YEARS.

I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS A GLASS HALF EMPTY.

OR, EXCUSE ME, HALF FULL.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WE´RE MAKING SOME HEADWAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AND YOU´RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT LEADERSHIP.

IT HAS TO COME FROM LEADERSHIP THAT OFTENTIMES, ESPECIALLY JUST FROM THE COMMUNITY, THERE IS LACK OF LEADERSHIP FOR THOSE MAKING DECISIONS FOR THOSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

I HAD AN EXAMPLE WHICH REALLY STAYED WITH ME.

A DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WAS CONTACTED AND ASKED TO BE PART OF A CURB CUT CAMPAIGN.

HE SAID MY COMMUNITY IS INTERESTED IN BEING SAFE ON THE STREETS BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, I´M A PERSON OF COLOR.

THEY COULDN´T QUITE MAKE THE CONNECTION.

SO HE SAID, OKAY, MY PRIORITY IS HERE.

YOUR PRIORITY IS OVER THERE.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE INTERSECTIONALTY, WHICH IS WHAT WE´RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COUNCIL OF RIGHTS, WE ALWAYS SAY IT IS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND IT IS FOR FOLKS THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

THAT´S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PROVIDERS, POLICYMAKERS CAN COME AND DIRECTLY HEAR FROM AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN A PLACE.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE SO OFTEN SOMETIMES AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE RELUCTANT TO BE ON POLICY BOARDS AND PARTICIPATE BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THERE IS A LOT OF JUDGMENTALS THAT´S HAPPENING.

TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE ABOUT THE CUTS IN SAFETY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN TERMS OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, WE KNOW THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN TERMS OF DISABILITY, THEY´RE FACING DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION.

THEY´RE FACING RACE DISCRIMINATION.

IT IS A DOUBLE WHAMMY.

WHAT WE TRY TO DO, I´LL GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE.

A LOT OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS WORK AROUND SPECIAL EDUCATION.

AROUND SPECIAL EDUCATION, THERE ARE SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT REALLY IMPACT AFRICAN-AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY AROUND DISCIPLINE, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> REMOVAL FROM SCHOOLS.

SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE FROM THE CONFERENCE IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION, WE´RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WHICH IS AROUND DISCIPLINE, AROUND MORE RESTRICTIVE SETTINGS, AROUND ACCESS TO THE GENERAL CURRICULUM AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES.

THAT´S HOW WE VIEW THE INTERSECTIONALTY IN TERMS OF WORKSHOPS.

SO THE INFORMATION IS THE SAME IN A SENSE, BUT YOU TARGET THAT INFORMATION BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT´S HELPFUL BEING FROM THAT COMMUNITY, HAVING A BETTER TOOL IN UNDERSTANDING REALLY WHAT´S KIND OF GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, WE´VE HAD MANY PEOPLE, EVEN FROM OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BROUGHT THE SUBJECT UP ABOUT CHANGING THE NAME OF THE CONFERENCE TO DIVERSITY.

AND THAT´S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DAVID AND I WE PUSHED BACK IS, NO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORD AFRICAN AMERICAN IS RIGHT THERE SO THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS, IT IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY.

OKAY?

AND SO WE HAVE THE CONFERENCE AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS IN THE CITY.

SO RATHER THAN GOING TO AFFLUENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT IS A SAFE PLACE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM DEREK LAST YEAR, HE´S OUR CLOSING SPEAKER FROM ONE OF THE UNIVERSITIES OF IOWA PROGRAMS, HE TALKED ABOUT MOVING FROM A SAFE PLACE TO A BRAVE PLACE.

AND THAT MEANS HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

AND MOST OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU HAVE AROUND AFRICAN-AMERICANS OFTENTIMES ARE A SAFE PLACE BUT NOT A BRAVE SPACE AND REALLY ISSUES ARE NOT TRULY BEING ADDRESSED IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE TRY TO DO THAT AT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CONFERENCE, IS TO HAVE SOME LEGITIMATE CONVERSATIONS SO WE CAN ADDRESS PARTICULAR ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT SUGAR COAT IT OR JUST BRUSH WITH SOME PAINT OVER IT TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD.

A LOT OF TIMES EMPLOYEES WILL GET TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR OR ON THE STAFF AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT ISSUES AROUND EMPLOYMENT OR THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE OFFICE, RIGHT?

SO YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT´S IN HUMAN SERVICES THERE.

AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE POLITE.

AND EVERYBODY DOESN´T NECESSARILY EXPRESS THEIR TRUE FEELINGS BECAUSE OF RETALIATION.

THE PERSON YOU EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS MIGHT BE THE ONE TO RETALIATE AGAINST YOU.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> SO IT BECOMES ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FACE AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BUMP MY HEAD AGAINST WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HERE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IN ARIZONA, WE DON´T HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE DISCIPLINE ISSUE OR DISPROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION, RIGHT?

IT IS A MATTER OF ARE YOU COLLECTING THE DATA FROM THE DISTRICT?

ARE THE TOOLS THAT YOU ARE DETERMINING, IS IT A TOOL THAT YOU DESIGNED SO YOU DON´T SHOW DISPROPORTIONALLY.

WE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR PROGRAMS GO OUT TO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND START SERVING.

SO THAT´S SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE AT THE CONFERENCE.

SOMETIMES THEY´RE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR PEOPLE.

>> I´M CURIOUS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS SOME PRIORITIES OR SOME BRAVE CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE THAT HAVEN´T IN YOUR MIND.

>> YEAH.

THAT´S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND I THINK ONE THING ABOUT IT IS LEADERSHIP, IS THAT IN DISABILITY COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, IT´S KNOWING WHEN TO TALK TO A PERSON OF COLOR.

SOMETIMES WHEN A PERSON SEES SOMEONE, IT GIVES THEM MOTIVATION THAT THEY CAN MAKE IT, TOO, IF THEY -- YOU KNOW, IF THEY´RE PART OF THE PROCESS.

SO WHAT I FIND IS THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I WANT TO SEE IS DECISION MAKERS BECAUSE UNTIL SOMEONE JUST LIKE ME IS AT THE TOP TO MAKE A DECISION, SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL NOT BE THERE.

AND SO THAT´S BASICALLY WHAT I SEE AS A PRIORITY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT WHEN THE DECISION IS MADE ABOUT WHEN THE SERVICES AND DOLLARS ARE SPENT, THEY ARE OFTEN NOT SPENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> RIGHT.

HAVE YOU HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

HAS THAT BEEN EVEN DISCUSSED?

>> SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO.

WE TRY TO WORK WITH POLICYMAKERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE REACH OUT TO OUR AGENCIES.

AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO IT AS WE PLAN FOR THE CONFERENCE, THOSE DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE AN OBLIGATION SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, WE TRY TO BRING THEM INTO THE CONFERENCE AS NOT JUST SPONSORS BUT ALSO PARTICIPANTS BECAUSE SO OFTEN PEOPLE WILL GIVE YOU MONEY AND THEY FEEL IT´S AN OBLIGATION.

THAT´S IT.

SO AS PART OF THE OBLIGATION, WE HAVE THEM SIT DOWN WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WE TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT WE DO FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE IN POSITION OF POWER, WE TALK WITH THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALLOCATING THE RESOURCES FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CONFERENCE.

SO IT IS AN ONGOING DIALOGUE WITH OUR DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS.

SO WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF OUR FOLKS ARE MISSED-LEVEL FOLKS, SO THEY´RE NOT AT THE VERY TOP, SO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

SO THEY PLAY THOSE POLITICS AND WORK WITH THOSE FOLKS.

THAT WHAT WE DO AND WE CONSTANTLY HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

BUT IT IS ALWAYS HISTORICAL BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE COME FROM PRIVILEGE, THEY DON´T WANT TO HEAR FROM ME.

SO THERE IS ONGOING DIALOGUE.

I THINK WHAT´S REALLY IMPORTANT, I´M GOING TO SAY THIS, IS WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

THERE IS A LOT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED FROM VARIOUS LEADERS TO COMMUNITY LEADERS TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED ON THE AMOUNT OF PUSHBACK THAT WE´VE GOT EVEN FROM OUR OWN COMMUNITY, OKAY?

>> OKAY.

>> IT IS REALLY INTERESTING WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PUSHBACK OR SOME OF THE LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THE CONFERENCE.

OKAY?

SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS WE ALSO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID AT THE LAST CONFERENCE, I SHARED OUR RECAP WITH YOU, IS WE HAVE SEVERAL WORKSHOPS AROUND CURRENT ISSUES.

COVID-19 IS A CURRENT ISSUE.

SO WE HAD A WORKSHOP IN COVID-19, THE IMPACT ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> WE HAD TWO DOCTORS THAT CAME IN AND GIVE GOOD, CONCRETE INFORMATION TO OUR AUDIENCE.

THEN YOU CAN DECIDE AT THAT POINT BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OFTENTIMES IT CAN BE OUR RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED SPEAKING ABOUT TOPICS THAT THEY DON´T KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

THAT´S THE UNIVERSAL TRUTH.

>> THIS IS THE BRAVE CONVERSATION.

>> RIGHT.

>> OKAY?

>> THAT´S UNDERSTANDABLE.

>> WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS NOT QUALIFIED TELLING OUR FAMILIES, OH, KEEP YOUR KIDS IN THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION.

WE TELL PARENTS, THAT´S NOT YOUR JOB.

YOUR JOB IS TO EDUCATE YOURSELF.

THEN YOU MAKE THE DECISION.

>> RIGHT.

>> OR IN THE PAST WE´VE HAD, AND JUST SO LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITIES, SOME RELIGIONS AS WELL, THAT´S MENTAL HEALTH.

YOU DO THAT PART.

>> SO CLEARLY WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> YES.

>> I CLARIFY IS THAT SOME OF US SADLY DON´T KNOW WHAT WE MEAN BY WHEN WE SAY E.D.

YOU MEAN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

WE´RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT TO BRING TO LIGHTEN OUR AREAS OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE AND I´M SO SORRY THAT WE PRETTY MUCH RAN OUT OF HIM.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT, GENTLEMAN, WE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP AGAIN.

YOU WERE ONCE VISITED BY REPRESENTATION FROM THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THEY SENT THREE REPRESENTATIVES TO YOUR CONFERENCE.

SO I´M HOPING THAT WE CAN AGAIN REVISIT THIS AND PERHAPS EVEN HAVE -- AND I´M NOT SELF-PROMOTING, BUT I THINK WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT´S AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF OUR TERRITORIAL STATUS AND WHAT THAT PERSPECTIVE CAN BRING TO THE NATIONAL AUDIENCE BECAUSE WE NEED AS MUCH HELP AS WE CAN GET.

>> WE´RE PINING FOR IN PERSON FOR 2023 AND WE´RE MOVING IT TO TWO DAYS.

IT WOULD BE A GREAT MAJOR WORKSHOP.

WE MAY HAVE A VIRTUAL CORE IN THAT, BUT WE WILL BE MEETING IN THAT AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS DOING.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

WE WOULD BE AMENABLE TO IT.

WE DID A REPORT CALLED SHADOW CITIZENS, WHICH INCAPSULATES A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO YOUR AUDIENCE.

LISTEN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

YOU HAVE BEEN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AS A DISABILITY ADVOCATE FOR MANY YEARS.

I LOVE THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.

AND LET´S NOT LET THIS BE THE LAST TIME, OKAY?

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

FOR NOW, STAY SAFE AND STAY STRONG.

BYE-BYE.

♫♫ THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.