the advocacy monitor

Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

The National Organizing Project Presents… A Teleconference and Webinar: Advocacy – We CAN Do It!

Advocacy, Advocacy, Advocacy! Several of the CIL Core Services are all about advocacy, but are we succeeding? Are we making the most of the resources we have to make the changes we need?

Confused about what funding stream you can use to do what work? Don’t know where the line is? Unsure of where the line between lobbying and advocacy is, and therefore not going near it?

Well, have we got the teleconference / webinar for you!

Join us as we cut through the seemingly complicated maze of rules and explore with us as we think creatively about achieving our core services goals, using the resources available to us.

Target Audience: This presentation is open to all CIL and SILC staff members, directors, and board members and all are encouraged to attend.

Registration Fee: This presentation is free for NCIL members, and $25 for non-members to attend, but we do need you to register prior to the event. Registrations must be received before Noon Eastern on March 13.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Learn what activities a CIL/SILC/non-profit can do with what type of funding
  2. Learn about how one CIL has begun to engage participants in advocacy skill building and activities
  3. Learn the difference between advocating and lobbying
  4. Learn to provide the core services while complying with relevant restrictions

Presenters:

Kimberly Tissot proudly serves as the Executive Director of Able SC where she guides the staff in applying the philosophy of Independent Living to real situations. Kimberly believes in the value of individualized and community-based empowerment as she wants people to recognize their full potential. Kimberly became a self-advocate at an early age, after having her leg amputated from a rare childhood cancer. Kimberly began deciding her style of mobility, becoming the first soccer player with a disability in her town, and speaking up anytime she was treated differently. Kimberly has years of experience advocating for disability inclusion on a local, state and federal level, and also internationally! She also led the efforts of passing groundbreaking legislation, SC Persons with Disabilities Right to Parent Act in 2017. Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from Boston University, Wheelock College of Education and a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. In 2018, Kimberly was recognized as The State’s “20 under 40” Leaders. Her special interests include: parenting with a disability, leadership, youth transition and disability awareness. 

Renee Sluzalis began her career within CIL’s in 1999 where she started as an IL Specialist, advanced to Statewide Action Team Community Organizer (SWATCO) and later became the Program Manager. Ultimately Renee became the CEO of The Center for Independent Living North Central Pennsylvania / Roads to Freedom.

Renee moved to Florida 4 years ago and is currently the Regional Director for CILGC which is a satellite office of Broward County CIL on the east coast of Florida. Systemic advocacy is a natural part of Renee’s PA roots!

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