New Voices

December 17 - 18, 2003
Richmond, Virginia

This was the first meeting of the New Voices Planning Committee. We got to meet each person, and hear a little bit about their lives.

We talked to the New Voices Planning Committee members about the goal of this project - to hold a conference or forum that highlighted the needs of people with disabilities. The New Voices Planning Committee members came up with the following event ground rules:

• Highlight gifts of people with disabilities, have people walk in our shoes (disability awareness)
• Make it far reaching (statewide)
• Bring legislators to us (political focus)
• Make it something that can continue (event should not be a one-time thing)
• Involve all the community, not just people with disabilities
• Involve personal caregivers (have caregivers share their stories)
• Recruit high profile people (involve local and national celebrities)
• Acknowledge discrimination
• Be aware of accessibility issues (event should be accessible to everyone)
• Reach people in may ways (multi-media approach using internet, TV, radio, newsletters, etc)
• Plan for transportation (everyone should have transportation to event)
• Reach out (bring provider agencies, advocacy organizations, etc to table to help us plan event)

New Voices Planning Committee Members - December 2003

February 20, 2004
Fredericksburg, Virginia

At the second meeting of the New Voices Planning Committee, members listened to a presentation about having dreams and about the choices we make every day in our lives. At this meeting the New Voices Planning Committee members shared their nightmares, and their the strengths, gifts and talents.

April 29 - 30, 2004
Virginia Beach, Virginia

At the third meeting of the New Voices Planning Committee, members were paired into groups and talked about making connections in their communities. Each member shared information on their gifts and interests, on opportunities they felt existed in their community that matched their interests, and they listed ways in which they played a role as a citizen in their community.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

July 29-30, 2004
Charlottesville, Virginia

October 2004
Richmond, Virginia