SAI is excited to share that The Arc of Indiana has launched a new program, the Advocacy Leadership Network, which will work to build a network of at least 200 people across the state to advocate for the issues important to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and share their experience to make a positive difference in the lives of people with disabilities.
Twelve advocacy fellows have been hired who are either a person with a disability or a family member of a person with a disability.
Kim Dodson, The Arc of Indiana CEO, noted, “We are very excited about building a strong advocacy leadership network across the state as we need more people with lived experience engaging in important conversations that impact in their lives.”
During their initial 12-week training program, advocacy fellows will learn how to effectively share their lived experienced/story and how to help others feel empowered to engage in leadership opportunities in their own lives and community. Advocacy fellows will work to recruit people to engage in the leadership network and become advocacy leaders in their own lives, as well as share their experiences to effectively impact change. The project, funded by a grant from the Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, runs through 2024, and includes a second phase which focuses on building a peer mentoring network.
Advocacy Fellows
- Angie Arlington, Westfield
- Nate Breeden, Evansville
- Jan Bullington, Zionsville
- Courtney Clark, Brownsburg
- Beth Crain, Bloomington
- Alexandra Hall, Indianapolis
- Danie’l Mize, Columbus
- Samara Pfeiffer, Columbia City
- Ryan Steiner, Peru
- Noah Upchurch, Fishers
- Alexis (Lexi) Westerfield, Highland
- Traci Yanavich, Indianapolis
