Founding Director of Detroit Disability Power How were you affiliated with IWS? Women's Studies Major. Tell us about your current work (paid or unpaid!) I am the founding director of Detroit Disability Power. a grassroots social justice organization that works to build the political power of the disability community and dismantle ableism. I started DDP after 15 years of working in various social justice movements (including reproductive, racial, and economic justice). While I loved that work and learned a lot, I also realized how little disability analysis even values-aligned people had. As a disabled person, this was problematic for me as I felt lonely and misunderstood, but I also saw it as a huge strategic missed opportunity for those trying to create an equitable world- how could that be accomplished without attention to the disability community and dismantling ableism!? So I started DDP to both organize disabled folks on issues (like housing, voting rights, transportation, healthcare, etc) and to help build a disability analysis and disability justice praxis in social justice movements. I'm very proud of my organization and my team (we are a staff of 9 now!) We have won some major campaigns and are building a really loving & powerful community here in Detroit. How has your Women's Studies experience shaped your life and work post-graduation? Absolutely. The critical thinking and systems analysis I learned in WMST was a catalyst for my career (and my personal fulfillment). I also learned confidence in my role as a person fighting oppression through organizing, particularly as the president of the Women Studies Student Organization (WSSO). There are also specific classes/readings/lectures that shaped me and my political analysis. A few years ago I emailed Dr Chana Kai Lee to thank her for how the Black Feminism class she taught changed my life :) Also, I am still friends with people I met in WMST! What are your favorite memories from your time in Women's Studies at UGA? Courses, professors, events? So many classes were good, but two that stand out are Dr. Lee's Black Feminism and Dr. Gowaty's Gender & Biology (I think that was the name), which was all about how there's NOT a gender binary in nature as people assume. We read an amazing book by a transgender scientist that I still reference regularly. I also really loved WSSO and being able to organize events and campaigns on campus. I was an undergrad during the Bush administration, so women's reproductive rights were constantly under attack. We did a lot on campus to raise awareness about this and we also got buses and went to the March for Women's Lives in DC in 2004. At that time, it was the largest gathering of Americans ever (1.4 Million people!) Any advice for current Women's Studies students (graduate or undergraduate)? Some people told me that getting a degree in WMST wasn't going to be helpful with a career. That has been absolutely UNTRUE. I love the work I do. I am surrounded by people who are trying to make the world better. I make a good living and I'm making a difference. So grateful for my grounding in feminism through WMST to help get me here.
