September 5, 2023
Hello everyone, this is Theo Braddy, Executive Director of NCIL, with another message I entitled, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.
This life-changing song, sung by the Righteous Brothers, goes like this,
“You lost that lovin’ feelin’. Whoa, that lovin’ feelin’. You lost that lovin’ feelin’
Now it’s gone, gone, gone.”
These words resonate with me, and I’ve chosen to incorporate them into this message for a specific reason.
During my 31 years as CEO of the CILCP, my staff has heard me say this too many times. I’ve often found myself using this song to make a point. Working in the Independent Living movement, I occasionally observed signs of burnout or a sense of complacency among my dedicated staff.
To drive home the significance of our mission, I would kick off our meetings by playing the Righteous Brothers’ song, concluding with the moving phrase, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.”
Theo Braddy – A black man with a bald head, a salt and pepper full beard wearing eyeglasses, sitting in a wheelchair. Theo smiles while addressing the audience at NCIL’s 2023 Annual Conference on Independent Living.
I would then share insight and history of why our ancestors, like Ed Roberts, Judy Heumann, and Justin Dart started this movement and why it is our turn to push on!
I reminded them that the second generation always quickly forgets about what the first generation had to go through – the hiding in back rooms, never to be seen or talked about; being committed to institutions where beatings, violence, and death occurred; were carried like infants up staircases; having to be told every day what you could or could not do; being talked about and referred to as you sit right there listening, etc. I could go on, but if you lived that life, you already know the many other examples.
Today, after benefiting from the sacrifices of our ancestors of the movement and some of the OGs like me who are still around, the second generation can often quickly forget.
So, today I am reminded of my staff being burned out or being too comfortable, and I ask the question – have we lost that lovin’ feelin?
I challenge you all to recall why we are in this fight. Numerous battles still await us, and we must remain resolute in our commitment.
If you don’t know this about me, let me clarify – I am a leader and was built to lead. I am a fighter, and I was built to fight. I am a visionary, and I was built to cast a BIG vision.
I was hired to lead NCIL. I was hired to fight for NCIL and those whom NCIL represents. I was hired to cast a BIG vision – and this is the big vision – I see us coming together and not fighting among ourselves, fighting injustice of all kinds. No one being left behind – yeah, it’s BIG! Most of the meaningful and impactful stuff I know of started small and became BIG.
We can become BIG! The simplest step you can take right now to join this fight is to visit members.ncil.org and become a member, whether individually or as an organization. I need you and NCIL needs you!
Now, I am going to sit back in my wheelchair and again listen to the Righteous Brothers’ song and hope you have not lost that Lovin’ Feelin’.
This is Theo Braddy, Executive Director of NCIL, be well.
About NCIL
NCIL is the longest-running national cross-disability grassroots organization, driven by and dedicated to people with disabilities. Since its founding in 1982, NCIL has represented thousands of organizations and individuals, advocating tirelessly for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities across the United States.
Image: Theo Braddy – A black man with a bald head, a salt and pepper full beard wearing eyeglasses, sitting in a wheelchair. Theo smiles while addressing the audience at NCIL’s 2023 Annual Conference on Independent Living.