March 2025 Newsletter

ACT Forward sets groundwork for years to come!

A group at Advocating Change Together has been meeting the last few months to ensure our future. Lead by Self-Advocates and feedback from within the community, the team is called ACT Forward. The group put together a 5 year plan to secure future success. Details include setting the groundwork for growing the movement, securing funding, and strengthening Self-Advocacy networks.

Group photo of individuals in an office setting with a logo for ACT The Center for Disability Leadership on the left.

Many members of the group are pictured above. Look for more positive changes in the coming months!

Calendar for the month of March 2025

What is happening in March?

- Coffee Chats will take place on the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st

-Disability Power Day is back on the 6th, 13th, 20th (In-Person), and 27th

-ACT Side-by- Side Chorus is meeting at Accord on the 17th!

-Book Club is meeting on the 12th and 26th (read about book club below!)

-Happy Hour is taking place on the 20th at 4PM of at Indeed Brewing at 4PM


Link to our Google Calendar

 

Book Club is here!

Flyer for the ACT Book Club with meeting details and colorful book illustration.

Book Club is back on Wednesdays! February got off to a good start as the group started reading The Untold Story of Larry Itliong: Labor Rights Hero (First But Forgotten). Attendees were able to participate both in the ACT office and virtually. The group voted on which book to read and will be meeting bi-weekly moving forward

If you have any questions relating to book club, please reach out to Nikki@selfadvocacy.org

 

ACT Spotlight - Cynthia Gayles

Person (Cynthia) wearing a red shirt seated in a room with posters on the wall behind them.

Each month ACT will be interviewing people that make this organization special. This month, we checked in with Cynthia Gayles. She runs Coffee Chat on Mondays as well as teaches classes at Accord. One of her favorite activities to participate in is the Olmstead Academy. About Cynthia:

Coffee, tea, or something else?

-Hot Chocolate!

Favorite Animal?

-Puppies

Passions outside of work

-Family and Mental Health. Watching movies- specifically Black Cinema and Romance

 

ACT is rebranding!

Mark your calendar for March 20th! ACT will be launching a fresh new website as well as sharing our new logo. We will roll out the design during our happy hour event! The new look embodies this new era of Advocating Change Together. We can't wait for you to see!

A blurry image of ACT's new logo. Red, Yellow, White, Blue, and Green can be seen, but no real details can be made out.

Stop by at Happy Hour and let us know what you think!