Join the Heinz History Center and the Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium (WPDHAC) for a presentation and panel discussion exploring the intersection of race and disability.

In January 2022, the Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium launched The Intersection of Race Disability Project, which shares the stories of five Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) Western Pennsylvanians whose lives are impacted by issues facing their communities.

During this free, hybrid program, project scholar Alonna Carter-Donaldson will deliver an overview of the project followed by a panel discussion featuring project narrators, WPDHAC advisory and steering committee members, and stakeholders.

Moderator

Melva Fair, CEO of C.L.A.S.S
Melva J. Fair (formerly Melva Gooden Ledbetter) is currently employed as the Chief Executive Officer of Community Living and Support Services (CLASS). Celebrating 40 years of employment at CLASS since 1982, Ms. Fair has supported varying disability populations in the areas of residential, life skills education, and vocational supports. Her specific employment experiences include that as a residential counselor, life skills educator and supervisor, coordinator/director of services, consultant and public speaker on community and disability issues, information/referral, and marketing. Other experience includes overseeing the development and technology departments. In addition to her work at CLASS, she has taught for the Community College of Allegheny County Non-Profit Professional Development Academy.

Panel

Tina Calabro, Disability Issues Writer, WPDHAC Steering Committee
Guy Caruso, Ph.D., Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, Western Office, WPDHAC Steering Committee
Chaz Kellem, Program Manager, Enterprise Equitable Health Institute; President, Achieva Board of Directors
Brian McKinney, Son of Marilyn McKinney and Co-Founder, Collective Wealth Partners
Florence Reed, Co-founder of Working Women with Disabilities and C.L.A.S.S. Board Member

For those attending in-person, the program will be held in the museum’s fifth floor Mueller Center. For those attending virtually, you will be emailed information about how to join the screening and discussion virtually.

For more information, please contact DaNia Childress, associate curator for African American History, at dchildress@heinzhistorycenter.org.

The “The Intersection of Race and Disability” is presented by the Heinz History Center in partnership with Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium. The program is sponsored by the FISA Foundation.