Community Conversation: A time for open dialogue and learning about diversity and inclusion

---

Description:

AUCD’s Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint team hosts a community conversation for UCEDDs and LEND to engage in open dialogue about the challenges they face in services, programming, and recruitment in regards to diversity and inclusion. This is an opportunity to also share strategies to better improve practices, as well as the operational and infrastructure considerations to support those practices. This conversation will be facilitated by Anab A. Gulaid, Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration, Kelly Nye-Lengerman, Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration and Dana Yarbrough, Virginia, Partnership for People with Disabilities.

Presenters:

Anab A. Gulaid has worked in public health policy and prevention, nonprofit management, program development, qualitative research, community building since the early '90s. She has a proven knowledge of building trusting relationships with diverse populations and cultures. In Anab's current position at the University of Minnesota, she is involved in number of research and training projects that call for the collaboration of community providers, and advocates of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her focus is in the areas of autism spectrum disorder, Person-Centered Thinking and Planning, and community outreach through engagement. Anab was the founder and Executive Director of Eftin, a non-profit community-based organization and founding member of the Somali Health Coalition of Minnesota. She is a member of the Minnesota Department of Health Somali Public Health Advisors, advisory member of the Health Disparities Education and Career Development Program, and a workgroup member of the Minnesota Department of Education Special Education Electronic System. Anab has an Environmental Health degree (B.A.Sc.) from Ryerson University and a Masters of Public Affairs (MPA) from University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. She was awarded a Bush Leadership Fellowship (2009-2010).

Kelly Nye-Lengerman is a Project Coordinator at the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration (ICI) where her primary projects include Promoting Readiness in Minors in Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE) TA Center, MN Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program, Learn the Signs Act Early (LTSAE) initiatives, and the College of Direct Support (CDS). She is also involved in a number of other community and research projects at ICI. Kelly is the Co-President of MN APSE and involved with the MN Employment First Coalition. She received her MSW degree from the University of Minnesota, and is currently a PhD candidate in Social Work.

Dana Yarbrough, M.A., M.S., serves as the director of the Center for Family Involvement at Virginia's UCEDD, the Partnership for People with Disabilities, located at Virginia Commonwealth University. In her role, Dana directs 20 staff working on a number of federal and state initiatives related to post school transition, youth leadership, family to family support, and cultural humility. Dana is the mother of Brooke, her 20 year old daughter who in spite of significant physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities, opened her own dog boarding business one month after graduating high school in 2012.

Please Note:

• There is NO cost to attend.
• For disability accommodations contact email Anna Costalas or call 301-588-8252 a minimum of five days in advance.
• This discussion will be archived.

Topics: University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)