Roots of Resilience Collective Newsletter: July
We’re Shifting Focus This Month
While we had originally planned to spotlight Black families this month, the recent sweeping policy cuts have prompted us to make a small but important shift.
In recognition of Disability Pride Month, we’re taking time to honor the contributions, resilience, and leadership of disabled people—especially those at the intersection of race and disability.
Black disabled voices are often overlooked, but their impact is powerful and ongoing. We invite you to keep reading and join us in learning, uplifting, and advocating together.
Celebrating Disability Pride Month
This month we celebrate Disability Pride Month
What is Disability Pride Month and Why Does it Matter?
Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to honor the history, culture, and contributions of disabled people, while challenging the stigma and systemic barriers they face.
It marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990 — a landmark civil rights victory for the disability community.
But Disability Pride is about more than laws. It’s about visibility, empowerment, and acceptance. It’s about recognizing that disability is a natural part of the human experience — not something to be pitied, feared, or erased.
At Roots of Resilience Collective, we believe in disability justice — a movement led by Black, brown, queer, and disabled people who face overlapping forms of oppression. We uplift the voices of Black disabled leaders and fight for systems that support rather than surveil, especially for our children and families.
This month, we honor the joy, brilliance, and resistance of disabled people — and recommit to building a world where everyone can thrive.
Black Pioneers in Disability Justice
Black disabled leaders have long been at the heart of movements for freedom — even when history tried to forget them. This Disability Pride Month, we uplift those who’ve led with brilliance, vision, and resistance at the intersections of race and disability.
Harriet Tubman
Best known for her role in the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman lived with epilepsy and likely a traumatic brain injury after surviving a brutal beating as a child. Despite her disability, she led over 70 people to freedom and later advocated for women's rights and care for the elderly.
Learn more: Harriet Tubman - Smithsonian NMAAHC
️Brad Lomax
A member of the Black Panther Party and a wheelchair user living with multiple sclerosis, Brad helped bridge the civil rights and disability rights movements. He played a vital role in the 1977 504 Sit-In that led to federal disability protections.
Learn more: Brad Lomax – Wikipedia
Joyce Ardell Jackson
An activist with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Joyce was a key figure in the San Francisco 504 Sit-In and fought for access to education, housing, and services for people with disabilities.
Learn more: Joyce Ardell Jackson - Center for Learner Equity
Imani Barbarin
A modern voice for disability justice, Imani is a writer, speaker, and creator of Crutches and Spice. She uses social media to expose the intersections of ableism, racism, and healthcare injustice.
🔗 Learn more: Imani Barbarin - Crutches and Spice
👉🏾 Follow us on social media this month to learn how you can support Disability Pride.
Community Tool Highlights: Stay Informed
Disability Pride Month is more than a celebration – it's a call to action. Here’s how you can support inclusion, access, and disability rights all year long:
Race and Disability Archives – Disability and Intersectionality:
Explore the overlapping impacts of racism and ableism, especially on Black and Brown disabled youth.
🔗 Visit the Archive
This resource includes:
- Educational videos unpacking the criminalization of Black and Brown disabled children
- Articles exploring how race and disability intersect within schools, systems, and society
- Tools for rethinking harmful narratives and advocating for change
Civic Engagement Resource Guide for Allies and Advocates of Black Women with Disabilities:
A comprehensive toolkit exploring how race, gender, and disability intersect in the lives of Black women and girls—and how to advocate alongside them.
🔗 Access the Guide
This guide offers:
- Insight into systemic barriers faced by Black women and girls with disabilities
- Advocacy strategies that center lived experience
- Tips for allies, policymakers, and community leaders to promote equit
National Black Disability Coalition
The NBDC organizes Black disabled people and allies to build power, shift policy, and amplify community solutions.
🔗 Explore NBDC
NBDC provides:
- National advocacy on disability justice within Black communities
- Community organizing and education on disability rights and racial equity
- A platform for collective action, leadership, and self-determination
Want to do or learn more?
- Learn about disability history, ableism, and intersectional justice. Start with:
- Educate yourself and others — in schools, workplaces, and community spaces — about disability inclusion, accessibility, and the rights of disabled people.
- Support disability-led organizations, like:
- The Arc – Advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) – Led by and for people with disabilities
- Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network
- Volunteer locally with inclusive programs, disability rights orgs, or mutual aid efforts — or offer time, resources, or platforms to amplify disabled voices.
- Push for accessibility where you work, live, and learn — from physical spaces to communication access to inclusive policies.
When we center disabled people in decision-making and community-building, we all benefit.
Recent Federal Changes
Recent federal changes are set to impact us all — but Black communities will feel the effects most deeply. Cuts to civil rights protections, DEI and accessibility efforts, Medicaid, healthcare, and SNAP will only compound the injustices many already face.
At Roots of Resilience, we won’t shy away from the truth: existing racial inequities, combined with these rollbacks, will lead to fewer supports and greater strain on Black families.
But knowledge is power. We've gathered tools and resources below to help you stay informed and prepared. Together, we can continue to advocate, protect, and build systems that truly serve our communities.
🏛 Executive Order Tracker by CBC Foundation
Stay up to date on federal policy changes that impact Black communities. This tool provides:
- Legal status of executive actions
- In-depth impact analysis
- Congressional Black Caucus responses
NY Times Interactive tool: “How Will Trump’s Big Bill Affect Your Wallet”
- Shows how the new tax code changes income taxes based on your income level and family structure
- Highlights how low- to middle-income households may see fewer benefits or increases in tax burden
- Helps estimate personal financial changes in real time based on your situation
KFF: Health Provisions in the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Bill
- Tracks key proposed Medicaid cuts and their effects on low-income, elderly, and disabled populations
- Breaks down changes to home and community-based services (HCBS), affecting people who rely on in-home care
- Analyzes how communities will be disproportionately impacted by health policy rollbacks
Have a favorite resource or tool? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to share it!
Our Board is Coming Together Fast- Don't Miss Your Chance!
🚨 We’re seeking our final board members!
We’re currently looking for:
- Vice President
- Treasurer
- 1 At-Large Member
If you or someone you know is passionate about our mission, reach out to us at [email protected].
Building the Future of ROFRC
We’re planting the seeds for lasting change—carefully shaping the systems and supports that will help our work thrive. Here’s what we’ve been working on behind the scenes:
✅ Incorporation & Nonprofit Status
We’re excited to share that Roots of Resilience Collective is now officially registered as a business in the state of Iowa! 🎉
This is a huge milestone—and we’re just getting started. Next up: taking the necessary steps to become a fully recognized nonprofit organization.
Stay with us as we continue building, growing, and creating lasting impact!
📆 School Year Planning
We’re working on a calendar of events for the upcoming school year so we can connect with youth directly in schools. Our goal is to be present, consistent, and engaged—creating spaces where youth feel seen, supported, and empowered.
🤝 Community Partnerships
We’re building connections with local organizations in Siouxland (Iowa and Nebraska) to assess community needs and provide culturally responsive support. These trust-based relationships are key to everything we do.
Branding
We’re excited to share that Roots of Resilience Collective has partnered with The Salty Ox to bring our vision to life through a powerful new logo!
Keep an eye on our social media and website as we roll out our updated look and continue building our brand identity. In the future, you'll see our logos featured on t-shirts, business cards, and other ROFRC swag.
We’d love to hear from you—take a look at both versions of our logo and let us know which one you love most. Can’t pick a favorite? That’s okay... we’re keeping them both!
📚 Program Development (In Progress!)
We’re developing a range of Afrocentric training and support programs that are grounded in cultural relevance and the wisdom of our communities. Our current and emerging focus areas include:
- Historical Trauma
- Empowering Black Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
- Child Welfare 101
Each offering is designed to honor lived experiences, center healing, and uplift Black families and youth.
We want our offerings to reflect real community needs—so if there’s a topic, training, or support you'd like to see, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your voice helps shape this work!
📧 Email us: [email protected]
ROFRC in the Community
Last month, our team had the amazing opportunity to take part in Juneteenth celebrations across the community! From powerful moments of reflection to joyful dancing and connection, it was a beautiful time of culture, unity, and celebration.
Check out some of our favorite photos below—we loved every minute!
📧 Have an event you think we should join? Reach out to us at [email protected]
Stay Connected: Follow Us on Social Media!
We’re now active on Facebook!
Follow Roots of Resilience Collective to stay in the loop on:
- Updates on our latest programs and initiatives
- Opportunities to get involved and support the cause
- Celebrating Black excellence and culture
This month: Disability Pride
Next month: Black Philanthropy Month!
Take Action with ROFRC
Three Ways to Show Up for System-Involved and Disabled Youth This Month:
✔️ Be a Source of Safety – Reach out to a young person or caregiver navigating disability or system involvement (like foster care, juvenile justice, or mental health services). A simple “How are you really doing?” can be a lifeline.
✔️ Center Their Stories – Share and uplift the lived experiences of disabled youth, caregivers, and system-impacted families. Whether it’s a short film, a panel, or a personal blog—these voices deserve to be heard, not hidden.
✔️ Invest in Support, Not Systems – Volunteer with or donate to grassroots organizations led by and for disabled youth, caregivers, and Black and Brown communities impacted by the system. Real change comes from resourcing healing spaces, not punishment cycles.
Every small act of solidarity builds a more accessible, just, and compassionate world.
Let’s lead with care and accountability.
With gratitude,
The Roots of Resilience Collective Team