Elevate 2021 - Introduction to Campaigns, Self and Opposition Research for Candidates
2021-10-14 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Detroit)
Archive:

Webinar

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (plain text)

Presentation (audio)

Trainer: Allen Nesbitt, Nesbitt Research, Founder and CEO, Nesbitt and Parrinello, Inc.

Guest Speaker: Rebecca Lamorte, Former Candidate for New York City Council District 5

What do you need to know when thinking about running for office? During our first webinar, we’ll give you a brief checklist of things you need to consider before starting a campaign. Then, we’ll hear from Allen Nesbitt of Nesbitt Research about self and opposition research. What is opposition research? Who should undertake it? How is it used? Our guest speaker will be Rebecca Lamorte about her experience running for New York City Council

About Allen Nesbitt

Allen Nesbitt is the founder and CEO of Nesbitt & Parrinello, Inc. Allen advises labor campaigns, climate causes, their allies, and senior government officials globally on risks in volatile public campaign environments. From the fight for better health care that is more affordable to the fight to save our planet, Allen’s teams have won some of the most meaningful campaigns of our day. Allen has advised the only Indian American in the 113th Congress; the first openly gay U.S. Representative from New York; the first openly gay mayor of Lexington, Kentucky; the first Black U.S. Representative from Nevada; and the first Black U.S. Senate nominee in Florida history.

About Rebecca Lamorte

Growing up in a politically active family on Long Island, Rebecca learned early on how deliberate, bold action can change people’s lives for the better. After a subway accident left her partially disabled, she saw an intimate portrait of how New York can work better for all communities, and was inspired to grow her involvement in efforts to make New York City a place where everyone can thrive.Rebecca cut her teeth on progressive politics at Fordham University and, in 2011, began working on labor and workforce issues in New York. She has worked for some of New York’s most prominent labor unions, leading the charge on legislative and issue-based campaigns about land use, housing, wages, and workforce safety and training. On campaigns like the Fight For $15 and the legislative push for the Construction Safety Act, for example, Rebecca observed how progressive policies can lead to tangible benefits for individuals and families in New York City.

In 2013 Rebecca was pushed on the New York City subway, resulting in lifelong mobility impairment and a degenerative pain syndrome in her left leg. The accident changed Rebecca’s life and made her want to fight not just for herself, but all disabled and vulnerable New Yorkers ignored and purposefully left out of planning and policy conversations. In 2021, Rebecca ran for New York City Council in Manhattan’s on a platform rooted in disability, economic, housing, and racial justice. She placed third in a competitive 7-person primary election and through her campaign elevated disability justice to become a citywide issue for all Mayoral and Council candidates.

Rebecca lives on the Upper East Side in Manhattan with her dachshund, Forrest. She works for the Mason Tenders District Council of Greater New York as a lobbyist representing the needs of unionized construction and other workers before New York City, New York State, and the federal government.

Rebecca Lamorte, a white woman with curly brown hair, smiles with her arms crossed over her chest as she stands in front of the Queensboro Bridge on a sunny day. Rebecca is wearing a gray dress, silver bracelet, and ring.

Allen Nesbitt, a Black man with short black hair and a beard wearing a light blue shirt, stands in front of a brick wall.

Sponsored by Run for Something Action Fund and ActBlue

Elevate 2021 - Your Story. Your Campaign. Your Brand Online.
2021-10-14 15:30 - 17:00
Archive:

Webinar

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (plain text)

Presentation (audio)

Trainer: Atima Omara, Founder and President, Omara Strategy Group

Guest Speaker: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley [Massachusetts District 7]

If you are thinking of running for office having a “why” is critical. It’s the foundation to understanding the parts of your story that will resonate with voters and create your campaign message that will be used throughout the campaign. Learn how to build this foundation well from the beginning. Our guest speaker for this session will be Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who has been a powerful advocate for the disability community in Congress.

About Atima Omara

Atima Omara is a nationally recognized award-winning political strategist, leader, advocate, and speaker who has focused her almost 20 year career on engaging youth, women, and people of color at the intersection of politics and advocacy in the progressive movement. As President of Omara Strategy Group, LLC, Atima provides training, coaching, and strategic political services to political candidates and organizations that center women, people of color, and other underrepresented communities in issue advocacy and campaigns. Over a decade, she has worked as campaign manager, field director, and other roles on more than a dozen federal, state, & local political campaigns in many red and battleground states across the country. She has also successfully led organizing efforts for voter registration, ballot initiatives, and GOTV operations. In addition to serving as a trainer in 2019 for NCIL’s Elevate Campaign training, she has trained hundreds of candidates and campaign staff for a number of organizations including: Emerge America, Higher Heights for America, Vote Run Lead, New American Leaders, and Running Start. She has a BA from the University of Virginia and an MPA from George Mason University.

About Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley

Ayanna Pressley is an advocate, a policy-maker, an activist, and a survivor. On November 6, 2018, Ayanna was elected to represent Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, making her the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Ayanna believes that the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power, and that a diversity of voices in the political process is essential to crafting more effective public policy.

Born in Cincinnati and raised in Chicago, Ayanna is the only child of a single mother and a father who was in and out of the criminal legal system. Ayanna’s mother, Sandra Pressley, was a tenants’ rights organizer who instilled in her the value of civic engagement. Thanks in large part to her mother’s dedication to activism, Ayanna has always been acutely aware of the role that government can play in lifting up families and communities.

In Congress, Ayanna has been dedicated to the kind of bold, activist leadership she emphasized throughout her history-making campaign. She has introduced legislation to support survivors of sexual assault and harassment, to fundamentally reimagine our criminal legal system, and to guarantee a good job for every person who wants one, among much else. And she has been a vocal advocate on behalf of our immigrant communities, led the creation of the Future of Transportation caucus, fought to protect critical reproductive rights, and worked closely alongside the disability community.

Rebecca Lamorte, a white woman with curly brown hair, smiles with her arms crossed over her chest as she stands in front of the Queensboro Bridge on a sunny day. Rebecca is wearing a gray dress, silver bracelet, and ring.

Ayanna Pressley, A Black woman with a bald head, wearing red lipstick and pearl earrings. She is wearing a black suit with a white blouse, and standing in front of a tan background.

Sponsored by Run for Something Action Fund and ActBlue

Elevate 2021 - POWER Fundraising: 5 Keys to Raising Money Confidently and Effectively (Even If You’re a First-Time Candidate and Never Fundraised Before!)
2021-10-21 13:00 - 14:30
Archive:

Webinar

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (plain text)

Presentation (audio)

Trainer: Domonique James, Founder and CEO, Politics with Purpose

Guest Speaker: Jessica Benham, Representative, Pennsylvania 36th Legislative District

If your campaign is a car, money is the fuel that allows you to go far. In this training session, Domonique James, Founder and CEO of Politics with Purpose will teach you the 5 components you need to set up a solid fundraising operation so you have the resources you need to run your best race and win. Our guest speaker for this session will be Pennsylvania State Representative Jessica Benham, one of the first openly autistic state legislators in the country, and the first openly bisexual woman serving in the Pennsylvania State House.

About Domonique James

Domonique James is an award-winning political and communications strategist on a mission to restore the American Dream and unlock the potential of individuals to transform their communities and the world.

Her cross-sector career in corporate, politics, government, nonprofit, and advocacy has established her as the go-to strategist to social change leaders and organizations. Domonique is an example of when society gets social impact right. She’s gone from a poor family to working for a US president, all thanks to an ecosystem of people, policies, and programs that broke barriers and unlocked her potential. As a result, Domonique has dedicated her life to disrupting broken systems, rising and reaching back to serve and empower others to achieve the same.

Her agency, Politics with Purpose, elevates Everyday Experts–– the leaders with the lived experience and issue expertise–– into the insiders and influencers who drive change in the media, politics, advocacy, and philanthropy. Politics with Purpose further partners with businesses and organizations to identify exceptional talent and develop innovative programs and policies that create pathways to opportunity and success for all.

Domonique is the descendent of a Black Civil War Soldier and fighting for social justice runs in her blood. For her impact, she’s been recognized as a top 40 Under 40 leader by PR Week and the American Association of Political Consultants. She’s further been recognized by Professional Women in Advocacy (now Women in Government Relations) and Campaigns & Elections Magazine. In addition, Domonique is an international speaker, trainer, and thought leader who has been featured in InStyle Magazine, Morning Consult, Communications Director, Der Spiegel, and Global Risk Insights. She’s a graduate of Spelman College, the leading historically Black College for women, and The Campaign School at Yale University.

About Representative Jessica Benham

Jessica Benham is the State Representative for Pennsylvania House District 36, covering portions of the City of Pittsburgh and its suburbs. Jessica was elected in November 2020 and is serving her first term. As a state representative, she has focused on fighting for access to healthcare, a clean and healthy environment, fair funding for education, and LGBTQ and disability rights.

Prior to her election, Jessica was the Director of Development for the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy (PCAA), a grassroots self-advocacy project run by Autistic people for Autistic people. Jessica is an advocate for Autistic rights, helping parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals better understand Autistic people and reducing barriers to employment for Autistic adults. Through her work at PCAA, Jessica worked to ensure that individuals with disabilities are treated fairly in the legislative process.

Domonique James is a Black woman with dark brown eyes and black braids. In this photo, she appears smiling with her arms crossed in front of a red brick background. She wears a white and black plaid shirt, a black blazer, and two bracelets (red and rose gold).

Ayanna Pressley, A Black woman with a bald head, wearing red lipstick and pearl earrings. She is wearing a black suit with a white blouse, and standing in front of a tan background.

Sponsored by Run for Something Action Fund and ActBlue

Elevate 2021 - Organizing Post Obama, Trump, and COVID
2021-10-21 15:30 - 17:00
Archive:

Webinar

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (plain text)

Presentation (audio)

Trainer: Khalil Thompson, President, Strategies for Change Group

Guest Speaker: Ashley Everett, Organizer and Strategist

This session will be a deep dive focus on how to create a campaign organization in the post-Obama, Trump and COVID-19 era. This training will look at tactics, best practices and open a discussion on how to evaluate engagement methodologies in this current environment. It will lay the foundation to how you start thinking about running for office, to becoming an operative, to connecting with communities and ultimately sharing a message that will resonate. Our guest speaker will be Ashley Everett, an experienced organizer and strategist who is passionate about building strong local field programs that connect to story, community, and culture.

About Khalil Thompson

Khalil Christopher Thompson is a native Washingtonian, born and raised in Washington, D.C.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Art’s Degree in Sociology. He started his career as intern for Senator Edward M. Kennedy in the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee and while weighing whether to stay, another Senator from Illinois called Khalil to move to Chicago, IL and help his run for the Presidency of the United States. He served Senator Barack H. Obama from 2007 until he was inaugurated in 2009. He also served on his 2012 Presidential campaign in North Carolina after finishing working for the 2012 DNCC.

Khalil founded the Strategies for Change Group as a desire to help those he had met on the campaign trail and turn their passion for service into a reality of elected office. Khalil has grown Strategies for Change Group from an idea to a reality. Providing their clients who strategic political evaluation and execution, Strategies for Change Group is a growing leader in the industry. He has serviced almost 45 clients ranging from individual campaigns, unions, small businesses, and leaders.

Khalil has also served County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III for two years and Mayor Muriel E. Bowser for four years in their respective administrations.

Khalil created the Distinguished Gentleman breakfast series. The series gathers African American men from all sectors, working or seeking work, and brings them together to have candid conversations with each other. The series has grown to 3 cities and more to come.

Khalil recently served as the Senior Advisor and National Campaign Manager for the National Urban League’s 2020 Civic Engagement Program. This program connects the ninety Affiliates of the National Urban League in engaging the communities they serve to be a part of the civic process through voter registration, voter communication and engagement.

Khalil currently serves as the Executive Director for Black Men Vote (C4) and Black Men Engaged (C3) organizations, which focuses on African American male civic participation. Khalil simultaneously has his consulting firm which has clients from NARAL, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, US Chamber of Commerce, Book Nook, Jaime Harrison for US Senate and Rev. Raphael Warnock for US Senate.

Khalil C. Thompson lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Meghan and their child Olivia Grace. While he is working hard to make Strategies for Change Group a top tier firm; he also attends John’s Hopkins University and is working on a master’s degree in government with a concentration in Political Communication. He enjoys playing golf and chess.

About Ashley Everett

Ashley Everett is an organizer, strategist and former high school history teacher who has held several campaign jobs; Warren for President, Nevada Democratic Party and most recently, Working Families Party. Ashley is super passionate about how story, community & culture all work together to build strong field programs. As a Latina, Latinx representation and Spanish language justice are important to her. A person living with Multiple Sclerosis, Ashley also enjoys podcasts, astrology (she’s a Sagittarius) and electing progressives into office.

Domonique James is a Black woman with dark brown eyes and black braids. In this photo, she appears smiling with her arms crossed in front of a red brick background. She wears a white and black plaid shirt, a black blazer, and two bracelets (red and rose gold).

Black and white photo of Ashley Everett, a young woman with short curly hair and wearing black blazer.

Sponsored by Run for Something Action Fund and ActBlue

Disability Employment – Insights and Experiences from Independent Living
2021-10-26 15:00 - 16:00
How do you navigate the employment market when you have a disability? Should you disclose your disability to your employer? What does it take to maintain a job after you start working? To learn more, register for NCIL’s upcoming webinar!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and NCIL has created an intersectional and intergenerational panel featuring speakers from across the IL movement. The hour-long discussion will be moderated by Antoine Hunter and talk about the panelists experiences, knowledge, and expertise on disability employment. Register now to take part and learn tips, tricks, and tactics to entering and staying in the workforce.

Target Audience: Individuals with disabilities who want tips to get a job and keep it. While CIL staff are welcome to join, the panel will focus on tips for individuals rather than details on operating an employment program.

PRESENTERS:

Bronna Crase, Director of Programs and Supported Employment Services, Central Iowa Center for Independent Living

Marie Dagenais-Lewis, Disabled Art Activist, Content Associate @ Diversability, & Social Media Manager @ Omnium

Brian Dennis, Workforce Program Coordinator – Disability Services, Iowa Workforce Development

Antoine Hunter – Moderator, Director & Founder for Urban Jazz Dance Company, Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival, #DeafWoke

CART Captioning and ASL Interpreting will be provided.

Marie Dagenais-Lewis

Bronna Crase

Brian Dennis

Antoine Hunter

Image Descriptions:

Bronna Crase: Mature woman with blonde shoulder length hair, wearing a royal blue jacket over a black high neck shirt. Women layers a silver and black necklace over the black shirt. Woman is smiling with head tilted slightly.

Marie Dagenais-Lewis: Marie, a pale skinned woman with dark hair pulled back sits on a set of rainbow painted stairs as she looks up towards the camera; she is wearing dark lipstick paired with a black fishnet cropped hoodie over a dark metallic dress.

Brian Dennis: Photo is of an African American male, wearing a blue shirt, white t-shirt, and glasses.

Antoine Hunter: A Native American African-American person with dark chocolate skin from his mother. He has almond shaped eyes with long lashes. He has long black dreadlocks tied in a low ponytail and a full beard. Antoine is wearing a large brown wrap and looking artistically at the camera.

Elevate 2021 - Harnessing Your Power to Advocate for Change
2021-10-28 13:00 - 14:30
Archive:

Webinar

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (plain text)

Presentation (audio)

October 28, 2021; 1:00 to 2:30 PM Eastern

Trainer: Dom Kelly, Senior Fundraising Manager and Disability Council Lead at Fair Fight Action

Guest Speaker: Vilissa Thompson, Founder and CEO of Ramp Your Voice

Change doesn’t just happen after Election Day; whether you’re running for office, working or volunteering on a campaign, or are at an organization working to get out the vote, you have the power to advocate for greater access and inclusion. Here you’ll learn how to make the case that change can’t wait until and learn strategies to advocate for your community. Our guest speaker will be Vilissa Thompson, a nationally renowned leader and expert who educates the public and political figures about the plight of disabled people, especially Black disabled women and femmes.

About Dom Kelly

Dom Kelly is the Senior Fundraising Manager at Fair Fight Action, a voting rights organization founded by Stacey Abrams, and a passionate disability justice advocate. He also founded and leads Fair Fight Action’s Disability Council composed of prominent disability advocates and policy experts from across the country. Dom is one of a set of triplets with Cerebral Palsy and has been involved in disability advocacy since he was four years old. Starting when he was a young teenager, Dom and his brothers toured around the world with their rock band, touring and collaborating with artists like Indigo Girls, Joan Baez, The Bangles, and more and releasing 6 records over 15+ years. He is now retired from music, but with a decade of experience in digital and editorial strategy, he has devoted his life to progressive politics and advocacy and is finishing up his second master’s degree in nonprofit leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. Dom currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Catie, their dog Vivi, and their cat Pippi Longstocking.

About Vilissa Thompson

Vilissa Thompson, LMSW is the Founder & CEO of Ramp Your Voice!, an organization focused on promoting self-advocacy and strengthening empowerment among disabled people. Being a Disability Rights Consultant, Writer, & Activist affords Vilissa the opportunity to be a prominent leader and expert in addressing and educating the public and political figures about the plight of disabled people, especially disabled Black women and femmes.

In addition to her activism work, she is represented as a speaker by CCMNT Speakers.

She also acted as a consultant for the Sen. Elizabeth Warren 2020 Presidential campaign, where she assisted in the development of the Disability Rights & Equality policy plan.

She created the #DisabilityTooWhite viral hashtag in 2016 that addressed the lack of diversity within the disability community, and how a lack of representation impacts disabled people of color and their ability to feel fully included and accepted within the community. Demanding that diverse disabled experiences be seen within media and the collective community is a mission for Vilissa’s activism focus, and she aims to make this a permanent reality.

Everything she does revolves around being unapologetically herself – Black, disabled, and making good trouble to shake up the status quo.

Domonique James is a Black woman with dark brown eyes and black braids. In this photo, she appears smiling with her arms crossed in front of a red brick background. She wears a white and black plaid shirt, a black blazer, and two bracelets (red and rose gold).

Black and white photo of Ashley Everett, a young woman with short curly hair and wearing black blazer.

Sponsored by Run for Something Action Fund and ActBlue

Elevate 2021 - Fundamentals of Digital Media
2021-10-28 15:30 - 17:00
Archive:

Webinar

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (plain text)

Presentation (audio)

Trainer: Loryn Wilson Carter, Principal, Jefferson Park Consulting

Guest Speaker: Tory Cross, Senior Policy Advisor at Be A Hero

This training will cover best practices for using social media tools to mobilize voters, tell your story, and move supporters from online to offline. During this session, our guest speaker will be Tory Cross, an experienced disability advocate and organizer who worked as a digital organizer during the 2020 General Election.

About Loryn Wilson Carter

Loryn Wilson Carter is a digital content creator, communications strategist, and writer. Her passion is developing strategies for companies that want to improve their outreach to people of color and women. She fulfills this passion through her strategic communications firm, Jefferson Park Consulting, which provides reputation management and brand renewal for companies, brands, and organizations.

Loryn is the co-founder of Black Girl Digital, a community for black women who work in digital careers, and has a passion for addressing the lack of diversity in the digital space. She is a graduate of George Washington University and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She is the author of Win the Internet the Remix: an updated guide of social media best practices, which is available now on Amazon.

About Tory Cross

Tory (she/her) is a disabled queer survivor, organizer, and disability advocate. She worked as a digital organizer during the 2020 general election with the Texas Democratic Party and on Jon Ossoff’s successful US Senate campaign. She currently works as a Senior Policy Advisor at Be a Hero, focused on improving policies for disabled people. At any given time, she can be found within two feet of a book, a cat, a cup of coffee, or all three.

Loryn Wilson Carter, a smiling brown-skinned African-American woman with short dark brown hair wears an orange dress, a gold necklace, and red lipstick.

A shoulders up photo of Tory Cross, a smiling white woman with red hair and black glasses, wearing a navy blazer and a light teal shirt. She is in focus and there is a tree, foliage, and a building.

Sponsored by Run for Something Action Fund and ActBlue

Elevate 2021 - Campaign Outreach Methods: Paid, Earned and Owned Media, Direct Mail, and Email Marketing
2021-11-04 13:00 - 14:30
Archive:

Webinar

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (plain text)

Presentation (audio)

November 4, 2021; 1:00 to 2:30 PM Eastern

Trainers:

Paid, Earned, and Owned Media: Stuart Rosenberg, Principal and Account Lead, Foundation Blue Media

Direct Mail: Kara Turrentine, Founder, Turrency Political

Email Marketing: Phil Perry, Vice President of Client Services, Woolf Strategy

During this training, we will hear from three experts in the fields of paid, earned, and owned media; direct mail; and email marketing about the basics of these campaign outreach methods and how to effectively use them in your campaign to connect with voters.

About Stuart Rosenberg

Stuart is a gifted strategist and campaign manager with extensive experience throughout the country. From municipal work and state legislative work all the way to working on two Presidential campaigns, Stuart has the knowledge and experience to address nearly any issue that may arise during a campaign. Successes include serving as Campaign Manager for Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s re- election campaign in 2013, digital and media consultant for the 2016 New Mexico House (one of only four state legislative caucuses to flip from Republican to Democratic), Wisconsin State Field Director for Tammy Baldwin for Senate in 2012, and digital vendor for New Mexico State Senator Harold Pope, Jr., the first African-American ever elected to the New Mexico State Senate. Prior to hitting the campaign trail, Stuart served as the Midwest and Florida Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign from 2006 – 2008. Stuart has a JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MPP from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In his free time, Stuart wonders aloud how the Milwaukee Bucks were so lucky to get the Greek Freak to sign a supermax contract with the Bucks as well as spends time with his wonderful wife, Erin, and their three great and loving cats, Smokey, Sherbet, and Sherman. Stuart is a Type 1 diabetic and a severe asthmatic. Stuart also has vitiligo.

About Kara Turrentine

Kara Turrentine is Founder of Turrency Political, an award winning campaign management consulting and direct mail firm. Kara is also the Co-Founder of BlackBrown Partners. Kara works with candidates and causes across the nation to create exceptional moments of connection that affirm trust while offering an opportunity to exchange ideas and establish a firm relationship with key audiences. When Kara is not on the campaign trail, she enjoys traveling, live music, and hosting her family and friends over a good meal.

About Phil Perry

Phil is a strategic communications expert with extensive experience developing and executing digital campaigns that achieve concrete client goals. As Vice President of Client Services at Woolf Strategy, he develops strategy and leads the day-to-day operations for Woolf’s clients, using his digital expertise to capture the attention of journalists, policy influencers, and voters.

Previously, Phil was a senior account manager at Adfero, where he worked with the U.S. Travel Association, Department of Veterans Affairs, and AT&T. At Burson-Marsteller, he managed award-winning crisis and issue management campaigns for clients including the Nuclear Energy Institute and Ford. Before that, he was an international political consultant with Penn Schoen Berland and the technology director for President Obama’s 2008 campaign in Florida. He also worked at the Florida Democratic Party managing the party’s digital operations and heading up outreach to the LGBT community.Phil holds a B.A. in business management from the University of Florida. He has served on the board of directors for Lead4Life, a Maryland non-profit that helps underserved youth, and the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus. Phil is a diehard Gator and can be found training for marathons, coaching track and field, and spending time with his husband and four dachshunds in Jacksonville, Florida.

Stuart Rosenberg, a bald white man with a goatee, is smiling with a white wall backdrop. He is wearing an orange collared shirt. The photo is cut off a few inches below his shoulders.

Kara Turrentine is an African American woman with shoulder length black hair. She is wearing a black suit with a soft blue shirt that has a bow at the neck. Kara wears red framed glasses and a big smile in front a golden background.

Phil Perry, a white man with brown hair. He is wearing a blue button-up shirt.

Sponsored by Run for Something Action Fund and ActBlue

Webinar: Campaigning with a Disability
2022-03-21 13:00 - 14:00
Transcript

We need more people with disabilities representing our communities in elected positions. But the process of running for an elected position can be inaccessible, intimidating, and unclear. Join this webinar to learn about the process of campaigning from people with disabilities who have done it!

This webinar is co-hosted by the REV UP Voting Campaign at the American Association of People with Disabilities and the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). The webinar will include a presentation from Sarah Blahovec, Voting and Civic Engagement Director at NCIL.

This webinar will include ASL and live captioning. For additional accommodations or to request Spanish captions or audio, contact Lilian Aluri at laluri@aapd.com as soon as possible.

Community Living Summit
2022-08-17 15:00 - 16:30
Archive:

Recording

Presentation (PDF)

The University of Kansas Research and Training Center on Independent Living in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living, will be presenting a Community Living Summit. This webinar summit will be a presentation and forum providing information about Community Living Programs, how Centers for Independent Living can use the programs, and other important resources that are available.

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge.

Target Audience: Executive directors, program managers, consumers, and staff members of Centers for Independent Living and State Independent Living Councils

Presenters for the Summit include:

Dr. Jean P. Hall is the director of the Research and Training Center on Independent Living (RTC/IL) and the Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies. Jean is the principal investigator (PI) for the Research and Training Center on Promoting Interventions for Community Living, a NIDILRR-funded project, and the PI for the Kansas Disability & Health Program, a CDC-funded project which seeks to improve access to health promotion activities and services for Kansans with disabilities.

Lillie Greiman works as a Project Director at the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) and has been with the center since 2012. She works across numerous projects with partners across the country and is passionate about the collaborative work the RTC:Rural does to improve the lives of people with disabilities in rural communities. Her focus areas are: housing, community participation, rural community development and spatial and demographic analysis. She’s originally from Helena, MT but has lived in Missoula for 15 years where she attended the university and earned her MA in geography.

Kelsey Goddard is an associate researcher at the Research and Training Center on Independent Living (RTC/IL). Kelsey works with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) across the United States to document the effects that CIL services have on consumers with disabilities. Kelsey has presented research findings to the United States Access Board in Washington, DC and served as a committee member on the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns in Topeka, KS. Kelsey identifies as a person with a disability and strives to bring awareness to disability concerns through the intersection of research, policy, and advocacy.

Ryan Henley is a research assistant at both KU’s Research and Training Center on Independent Living and the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities. Ryan graduated with an associate’s degree in general studies from Johnson County Community College, and was a participant in the Project SEARCH program. At the RTC/IL, he assists with literature reviews and works with survey and transcript data for Promoting Interventions for Community Living.

Susan Ferguson is the Chief Program Officer at accessABILITY, the Center for Independent Living in Central Indiana. accessABILITY advocates with and empowers all people with disabilities through supports and services. This work allows Susan to live out her personal values of Social Justice, Empowerment, Dignity, and Curiosity. Susan has spent her 30-year career in social services and nonprofit leadership. She has developed a reputation for effective supervision and team development resulting in improved retention and performance. Susan’s experience includes leadership in family preservation, mental health services, victim services, and disability services. Susan earned her MBA from Western Michigan University and CFRM (Certificate in Fund Raising Management) from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Tammy Themel is the CEO of accessABILITY, where she carries out the strategic plans and vision established by the Board of Directors. She drives the team at accessABILITY towards “more is more” – more services, for more people with disabilities, leading to more independence and ultimately a better community for everyone. She is passionate about pressing for a change in the domestic violence and sexual assault that impacts persons with disabilities, which happens at a much higher rate than the population as a whole. Tammy has an MBA from Purdue.

Keshia Walker brings people and services together at accessABILITY, Center for Independent Living in Central Indiana. Keshia is the Inclusive Employment Advocate; BIN Liaison for the Inclusive Employment Program at accessABILITY. This program opens conversations with people of all disabilities at any point along their employment journey. Keshia has a degree in Psychology/Pre-Med from IUPUI and her BIN certification from Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. Her passions include promoting access to medicine in underserved communities and advocating for inclusive and equitable employment for individuals with disabilities. Keshia is passionate about working alongside her peers with disabilities and playing a part in helping this marginalized community grow and prosper.

Randi Christine Gray is a Graduate Research Assistant who does work around exercise and physical fitness for individuals with physical disabilities. She is currently in her Ph.D. program for Counseling Psychology at the University of Kansas. She holds a Master of Science in Education in Health Education and Psychology of Physical Activity, B.A. in Psychology, and B.A. in Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies. Randi has previously worked as a Health Educator working with individuals with disabilities to improve their physical health. She continues to work in research on mental and physical health and is working towards her certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

Lyndsie Koon joined the RTC as Associate Director in October 2019. She holds a PhD in Sport and Exercise Science, with a focus on the social psychology of sport and physical activity, from the University of Northern Colorado. She comes to the RTC after serving as a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her research explored the exercise challenges and needs of adults aging with long-term mobility and sensory disabilities and evaluated the potential of various technologies to support and motivate physical activity participation. At the RTC, she focuses on physical activity and disability and assists with measuring the impact of the Home Usability and Out and About interventions on participants’ home usability, community engagement, problem-solving skills, and self-determination.

Regional IL Showcase Archives
2022-11-09 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Archived webinar

Transcript (Word)

Presenters:

Bill Henning, Boston Center for Independent Living – Bill will share their state’s successful legislative campaign to add significant state funding for CILs.

Peter Johnke, Vermont Center for Independent Living – Peter will describe VCIL’s successful rural transportation program.

Sharif Brown, Alliance of Disability Advocates (Raleigh, NC) – Sharif will present their prison reentry program called ADA Reentry.

Regional IL Showcase Archives
2023-01-26 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Archived webinar

Transcript (Word)

Presenters:

Amy Tweedle, Spa Area Independent Living Services (Hot Springs, AR) – Amy will speak about SAILS’ program, which combines health and wellness with emergency shelter.

Candace Coleman, Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago (Chicago, IL) – Candace will speak on the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act (CESSA), which was passed into law last year. Candace will explain what CESSA is, how it was passed, and the steps being taken to implement it.

5 for 5: Independent Living Budget Increase Campaign Launch
2023-02-13 14:00 - 15:30
Archive:

Archived webinar

Transcript (Word)

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (plain text)

Presentation (audio)

Join NCIL as we launch our new advocacy campaign, 5 for 5! We are asking Congress for $500 million to support Independent Living Services. Join us to hear more about this effort and how you can help!

Agenda

Welcome

The importance of Centers for Independent Living to our community

Current IL funding and appropriations process

How you can help!

Visit 5for5campaign.com or reach out to jessica@ncil.org for more information.

NCIL Listening Session on the End of COVID Federal State of Emergency
2023-03-30 13:30 - 14:30
Archive:

Webinar recording

Transcript (Word)

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation – plain text (Word)

With the Biden Administration’s announcement that the COVID state of emergency is scheduled to end on May 11, 2023, we want to hear from Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils how your state is preparing for this and how they are working with you to inform and plan with your consumers for any changes and impact to them.

We have invited representatives from the Administration for Community Living to hear your concerns and feedback.

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge.

Target Audience: Staff and volunteers of Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86416078328

RESOURCES:

ACL: Public Health Emergency “Unwinding:” Changes to Medicaid Enrollment and Eligibility

ACL: COVID-19 Resources

ACL: The End of Pandemic-Era Flexibilities in Medicaid Home- and Community-based Services: What Agency Leaders Need to Know (pdf)

Reach out to jessica@ncil.org for more information.

Regional IL Showcase Archives
2023-04-26 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Archived webinar

Transcript (Word)

Presenters:

Suzanne de Beaumont, New York Association for Independent Living (NYAIL): Suzanne will speak about the Open Doors statewide program that the NYAIL brings to 24 Centers across the state.

Gerilyn Capps-Anderson, Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL) – Gerilyn will speak to the implementation of the Open Doors program at her Center for Independent Living.

Todd Holloway, Center for Independence – Todd will speak about The Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning. It is a statewide disability advisory group that provides technical advice on physical and programmatic accesses and effective communication strategies.

Rally to Protect Medicaid
2023-05-23 14:00 - 15:00
Archive

Webinar recording

Transcript (Word)

NCIL and other organizations have been meeting with Congressional offices telling them to back off Medicaid, but we need your help!

The U.S. House of Representatives’ bill passed on April 26 includes radical work requirements for Medicaid enrollees ages 19 to 55 in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling.

We need to tell Congress to keep Medicaid OUT of debt ceiling negotiations.

People with disabilities rely on Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) to live independently in their communities and NOT IN NURSING HOMES!

Cuts to Medicaid and the proposed work requirements would cause more red tape and would make it even harder for people with disabilities, their families, and the workers who support them to access the care they need to survive.

Find your Representative: congress.gov/members/find-your-member

Rally to Protect Medicaid

NCIL will also be hosting an online rally on Tuesday, May 23 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern.

CART and ASL will be provided. If you need any additional accommodations, please contact Jenny Sichel at jenny@ncil.org.

Follow Up NCIL Listening Session on the End of COVID Federal State of Emergency and “Medicaid Unwinding”
2023-08-10 13:30 - 14:30
Archive:

Webinar archive

Transcript (Word)

As a follow up to our previous listening session held in March, we want to hear from Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils how your state is dealing with the ending of the public health emergency and how states are working with you to inform and work with your consumers for any changes and impact to them.

Representatives from the Administration for Community Living will be present to hear your concerns and feedback. Reach out to jessica@ncil.org for more information.

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge.

Target Audience: Staff and volunteers of Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils

See also:

ACL: Public Health Emergency “Unwinding:” Changes to Medicaid Enrollment and Eligibility (https://bit.ly/3JLUAV5)

ACL: COVID-19 Resources (https://bit.ly/3DN6Xhg)

Tools and Strategies for Independent Living Advocates Mentoring Families of Children with Disabilities
2023-09-25 15:00 - 16:30
A Webinar Collaboration of The National Council on Independent Living and The National Resources for Access, Independence, Self-determination and Employment (RAISE) Technical Assistance Center

Parent-led organizations and disability-led Centers for Independent Living have a shared objective of facilitating the transition of youth with disabilities to post-secondary education, employment, and independent living. Join this webinar to hear from a panel with lived experience about how families and CILs can collaborate to support the self-determination, empowerment, and independent living goals of youth preparing for and experiencing transition.

More Calls, Increased Needs – Trends in I&R
2023-11-08 15:00 - 16:00
Archive (requires creating a free account at AdvancingStates IQonline Learning Center)

Join the National I&R Support Center (https://bit.ly/40jHSoI) for the webinar More Calls, Increased Needs: Trends and Developments in I&R/A Services.

This webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern. The National I&R Support Center is led by ADvancing States in collaboration with NCIL.

This webinar will draw on findings from the 2023 Aging and Disability I&R/A National Survey. This comprehensive survey explored the landscape of I&R/A services in areas such as staffing, referrals and unmet needs, partnerships, standards, training, and more.

Presenters:

Mary-Kate Wells, Program Director, National Council on Independent Living

Nanette Relave, National I&R Support Center Director, ADvancing States

Pre-registration is required for this webinar. Space is limited so make sure to register as soon as possible.

Image: National Information and Referral Support Center Logo

NCIL and Verizon Present: Affordable Connectivity Program – The Basics
2023-11-30 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Webinar Archive

Transcript (Word)

This webinar will detail information about the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (fcc.gov/acp) – a program that allows eligible applicants to receive funds that help defray the costs of broadband internet. Representatives from both NCIL and Verizon will provide insight into what the program is, who is eligible, and how to use it, along with other opportunities that may better fit an individual’s needs

Resources mentioned during webinar

Affordable Connectivity Program | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov)

Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program | BroadbandUSA (doc.gov)

Free Internet with the Verizon Forward Program and ACP | Verizon

Presenters

Theo Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living

Ted Vagelos, Verizon/ TracFone, Vice President Business Development & New Products and Services

John Valletta, IL Coordinator and Technology Coach at Ocean State Center for Independent Living

Introducing A Home Usability Peer Network
2023-12-06 15:30 - 16:00
Webinar archive

Transcript (Word)

Presentation Slides (PDF)

Resources:

About Home Usability

Home Modifications Fact Sheet for Centers for Independent Living

What is the Home Usability Peer Network?

The Home Usability Peer Network is a collaboration between the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and the RTC: PICL at University of Kansas to support and connect Centers for Independent Living (CILs) to resources about programs that support home modifications.

Do you want to learn more about resources and approaches to housing programs and services?

Do you want to develop a home usability or modification program at your Center?

Do you want to grow and expand your current home modification programs?

Join us for a kick-off webinar at 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern on December 6 to learn more about home usability and discuss how a peer network can support your housing and home usability work. Peer calls will start in January 2024.

Image: Flyer with the NCIL and Research and Training Center on Promoting Interventions for Community Living (RTC: PICL) logo and two houses. Text: Introducing a Home Usability Peer Network. December 6, 2023; 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern. A kickoff webinar for CILs to connect and share resources about programs that support home usability and modification.

Home Usability Peer Network Meeting
2024-01-09 14:00 - 15:00
Archive:

Transcript

Presentation (PDF)

The Home Usability Peer Network meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. ASL and CART will be provided. To request additional accommodations or to ask questions, please contact Mary-Kate: Mary-Kate@ncil.org.

Register

IL Network and ADVC Update and Community Listening Session
2024-01-31 14:00 - 15:00
Webinar archive

Transcript

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), in collaboration with the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative (ADVC) powered by USAging, invites Centers for Independent Living, ADVC grantees, and the Independent Living Network to participate in a webinar offering updates on the ADVC project and how CILs are engaging in vital vaccination activities.

We also want to hear from you! During the webinar, we want to hear from the IL Network about the on-going challenges and needs your community is facing to help people with disabilities get vaccinated and stay safe and healthy in their communities.

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge.

Target Audience: ADVC Grantees, Centers for Independent Living, Statewide Independent Living Councils, and others involved in the Independent Living Network.

If you have any questions please contact Mary-Kate at mary-kate@ncil.org.

What is the ADVC?

The ADVC has distributed funding to organizations across the aging and disability networks to support an array of vaccination education and promotion activities, including community vaccine clinics, in-home vaccinations, transportation to vaccination sites, and outreach and education for older adults and people with disabilities. The ADVC is funded through a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

This webinar is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)) through USAging as part of a financial assistance award to USAging totaling $74,999,835 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official view of, nor an endorsement, by USAging, ACL/HHS.

Home Usability Peer Network Meeting
2024-02-13 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-03-12 14:00 - 15:00
Archive:

Webinar recording

Transcript

Presentation (PDF)

Presentation (Word)

The Home Usability Peer Network meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. ASL and CART will be provided. To request additional accommodations or to ask questions, please contact Mary-Kate: Mary-Kate@ncil.org.

Register

NCIL Listening Session: Housing
2024-02-15 14:00 - 15:00
Webinar archive

Transcript (Word)

Finding affordable and accessible housing is one of the biggest barriers to independence for persons with disabilities.

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Housing Subcommittee wants to hear from you to help inform where to focus our federal advocacy for 2024!

What barriers do you or your consumers face when it comes to finding housing?

What programs are working? What programs are not working?

Is Housing being addressed in your State Plan for Independent Living?

What is your CIL’s relationship with your Public Housing Authority?

We want to hear it all!

Target Audience: Staff members of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), consumers of CILs and persons with disabilities who have encountered barriers to affordable and accessible housing.

If you need any accommodations, please reach out to NCIL’s Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, Jessica Podesva, at jessica@ncil.org. ASL and CART will be provided.

Please note, the purpose of this event is to hear concerns and challenges related to housing needs in your communities to identify systemic advocacy issues. We will not be able to address or provide advice on individual housing cases at this event.

Visit NCIL’s Advocacy & Action Center at: members.ncil.org/action

End Subminimum Wage Webinar
2024-03-14 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Despite decades of progress for disability employment protections and civil rights, it is still legal to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage. Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act has allowed employers to pay disabled workers subminimum wage for close to 90 years. Recent data has shown that disabled employees working under a 14(c) certificate earned an average of $3.34 per hour with many workers making even less than this.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), and the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) are hosting a webinar to discuss and educate the public on why advocacy is necessary to end this harmful practice and the actions you can take to support this important policy change.

Target Audience: Everyone! Persons with disabilities, disability advocates, employers, family members of persons with disabilities. This event and a recording will be open to the public.

If you need any accommodations, please contact NCIL’s Director of Advocacy and Public Policy Jessica Podesva at jessica@ncil.org. ASL and CART will be provided.

Budget 101! Overview of the Federal Appropriations Process
2024-03-28 15:00 - 16:30
Archive:

Archived webinar

Transcript (Word)

Presentation in PDF

Presentation in Word

Join the National Council on Independent Living and the United Spinal Association for a collaborative webinar on the Federal Appropriations Process.

Agenda

Welcome

What is an Appropriation?

Overview of the Appropriations Process

Effective Appropriations Advocacy

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge and open to the public. A recording of this webinar will be made available to members of both organizations following the event.

ASL and CART will be provided. If you need any accommodations or have any questions, please contact Jessica Podesva at jessica@ncil.org

Employment Resource Hub Peer Call
2024-04-02 13:00 - 14:00
Archive:

Webinar recording

Transcript

Presentation in PDF

Presentation in Word

Register

Register for the monthly Peer Network Calls

Announcements

NCIL’s Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network will be a one-stop resource center to support people living with paralysis and other disabilities to access community and employment resources.

NCIL to Launch Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network with Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grant

Monthly Meetings

Each peer network call will cover a resource that people with disabilities can use to support their employment journey. The Employment Resource Hub and Peer Network is designed for individuals with disabilities, including individuals living with paralysis and the Independent Living community. We also invite peer advocates, IL Skills Trainers or other IL staff seeking to learn how to use different employment tools in order to provide peer support to consumers.

Beyond Payroll: Optimizing Your Organization’s Financial Processes
2024-04-03 14:00 - 15:00
In Partnership with ADP, NCIL Presents: Beyond Payroll – Optimizing Your Organization’s Financial Processes

Archive:

Webinar recording

Transcript (Word)

Whether your Center for Independent Living (CIL) or Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) has 5 or 50+ staff, effective organizational practices are essential to the day-to-day operation of CILs and SILCs.

Join a conversation to explore tips and techniques that can optimize your organization’s financial and human resource (HR) processes.

What you will learn:

Effective organizational practices to support daily non-profit business operations.

Financial and human resource tools and resources beyond payroll management.

Strategies to streamline human resources procedures and practices.

Target Audience:

Staff and Management of CILs, SILCs, and other disability-focused non-profits.

Presenters:

Jessica Pinero, CPA Centric – Elite Senior District Manager at ADP

Jenny Sichel, Operations Director – National Council on Independent Living
