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Dear Friends,
We hope you had a restful and connective holiday break and that 2024 is off to a great start.
In reflecting on the past year, the team at Disability:IN Minnesota has much to be grateful for, including 6 new board members joining our leadership, 7 new member organizations, exciting collaborations and partnerships, and engaging thousands of disability advocates at our events and membership meetings. Continue reading for more on our 2023 highlights and milestones!
As we step into a new year, we are excited to kick-off our 2024 Career Connections Mentoring Program on January 12. This month we also observe Codependency Awareness Month, Glaucoma Awareness Month, and Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day on January 24, among others. To view all disability awareness dates and observances, check out Disability:IN’s 2024 Calendar.
While the U.S. enters 2024 in the second-largest COVID surge ever and viral levels continue to rise, we are reminded that the virus disproportionately impacts the disability community. We hope you and your loved ones stay safe. Don’t forget to order your free COVID tests through the Minnesota Department of Health, mask up, and practice other layers of protections to help stop the spread!
Looking ahead, we are excited for our first virtual INclusive Member Meeting of the year: "Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable" on February 21. We hope to see you there! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with learning resources, upcoming events, and ways to build awareness of disability inclusion.
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Image description: "Disability: IN Minnesota" and "NEWS IS: IN" in dark blue and green text in front of a light green and blue gradient background. There is a white envelope illustration in the center of the graphic and an outline of a megaphone at the bottom left-hand corner. "January 2024" appears in dark blue text at the bottom right-hand corner. | |
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Image description: "Disability:IN Minnesota 2023 Year in Review" in blue and green text against a white transparent graph background with a blue growth trend arrow rising to the top right corner.
Disability:IN Minnesota saw another exciting and successful year in 2023. Its 4 annual Pillar Events drew in 395 attendees and its 5 virtual Member Meetings gathered a total of 980 attendees. Disability:IN Minnesota grew its membership by 20 percent and all members who completed the Disability Equality Index (DEI) achieved a rating of 90% or higher. Thanks to all our board members, member organizations, partners, supporters, and community advocates who help make our together work possible!
To read a letter of reflection from Board Chair Jamie Rudolph and learn more about our 2023 milestones, visit our website.
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Image description: Disability:IN Minnesota’s logo and “2024” appear in blue text at the top of the image. Below is a photo of someone with short grey hair holding a pen and paper, sitting at a desk, and talking to a younger person via video call on a laptop. The person on the laptop screen is smiling, has short dark hair, and wears glasses and a striped brown and white t-shirt. To the right is a graphic that reads: "Mentee" at the top and "Mentor" at the bottom in dark blue text in front of a green background. A white USB charging cable connects the two words in the center of the graphic. Below the images reads: “Career Connections Mentoring Program” in white text in front of a blue background. | |
2024 Career Connections Mentoring Program | |
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We are thrilled to kick-off the 2024 Career Connections Mentoring Program on January 12. Thank you to all who applied. We look forward to connecting with you! The program will run from January 5 - March 29, 2024.
The Career Connections Mentoring Program is a 3-month professional mentoring experience offering one-on-one relationships rooted in reciprocal learning. Learn more and consider applying for the 2025 cohort!
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Save the Date! February Member Meeting | |
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Image Description: Save the date flier for Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable, Talking about issues of identity oppression with clarity and respect. Wednesday, February 21, 2024, from 12 to 1 PM CST to be held virtually. Identities are part of who we are. Short or tall, red or blonde hair, and body size are all descriptors that make us unique. Ableism, racism, homophobia, and ageism are all ways identities can be passed. In this interactive Lunch and Work, you will explore identity expression and oppression, participate in activities and discussions, and learn tips to find clarity and respect people with lived experiences. With headshot of the presenters on the right, Charlotte Hayes, My Disability is My Magic and Shelly Rohe, Social Justice Coordinator First UU Church.
Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Join us virtually on February 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM CT for an engaging virtual conversation on identity, oppression, and disability employment. For more information, visit our website and register today!
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Please contact Kyle Mullen at KMullen@wdimn.org to request any accommodations for this event.
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Thank you and welcome to our new members! | |
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Image description: Logos for new Disability:IN Minnesota members, American Academy of Neurology; University of Minnesota Office for Supplier Diversity; and Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
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Thank you for renewing membership with Disability:IN Minnesota!
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Image Description: Logos for renewing members of Disability:IN Minnesota, Best Buddies; EBITDA Catalyst; Mayo Clinic; nVent; MSS; Touchstone Mental Health; and Strategic Diversity Initiatives
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Updates from Disability:IN National | |
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"2023 was a landmark year in our journey to build inclusive and equitable businesses for all. New research released in partnership with Accenture shows that our business case is stronger than ever. We are thrilled to share this report capturing the impact you have driven this year.
This progress is a direct reflection of your commitment to this mission and we are once again reminded of how deeply grateful we are for your partnership. Onward." - Jill Houghton, President & CEO
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Image description: "2023 Impact Report" in bright green and white lettering against a dark blue background in a round blurb shape
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Act Now: 2024 Disability Equality Index
Registration Closes January 26
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Image description: "DEI (Disability Equality Index)" in green text appears on top of a dark blue background. Also reads: "Best place to work for disability inclusion" and "2024" in white lettering within a white border around the text. Four world globe illustrations with green dots on the maps appear on either side of the box. | |
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The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is an objective, reflective, forward-thinking, and confidential disability rating tool designed to assist business in advancing inclusion practices.
Celebrating its 10th year in 2024, the Disability Equality Index is now available beyond the United States for a scored benchmark for the first time in the following seven international countries: Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Philippines, and the United Kingdom in addition to the U.S.
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We Match Skills to Jobs
"Want 2024 be the year you get that great job? We can help you with your goal. You may remember that in August of 2023, we launched our new portal. If you have been putting it off, go to Jobs Ability and create or update your employment profile in the new system. Let us help you get connected to over 75,000 jobs from all over the US and across the world."
For instructions on how to register, check out this video.
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If you need any assistance with your search, Jobs Ability is happy to help. Please contact MaryBeth at marybeth@ourability.com to schedule a time to meet.
Image description: Jobs Ability logo, a dark blue and white disability icon featuring a person in a wheelchair with a red headset boarder, and metrics appear at the bottom of the image in white text against a solid dark blue background.
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January
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January 5, Career Connections Mentoring Pairs Announced
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January 12, 12:00 - 1:00 PM, 2024 Career Connections Mentoring Program Virtual Kick-Off
February
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February 21, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, February INclusive Member Meeting, Disability Employment: "Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable"
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February 22, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Career Connections Mentoring Program Disclosure Training
March
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March 13, March Member Meeting, Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund
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March 29, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Career Connections Mentoring Program Conclusion and Virtual Celebration
April
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April 26, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, INclusive Career Fair
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Partner Events
Events can be viewed/accessed using the links below. All events will indicate whether they are free or have registration fees attached:
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Planning a disability inclusion event? | |
Expanding your event to include Disability:IN Minnesota members can increase visibility of your company's disability inclusion efforts and offer learning opportunities to members at varying points in their journey. Contact us today to add your disability inclusion event to our calendar! |
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Disability:IN Minnesota is an employer-led endeavor that promotes best practices that enhance employment and career opportunities for skilled individuals who have a disability.
Our members are committed to disability-inclusive hiring practices and love to share best practices and ideas for recruiting, hiring, on-boarding and supporting candidates and employees with disabilities.
Learn more about our organization and benefits or contact us today.
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