ADA 25 Advancing Leadership announced the 2017 Fellows Class at the Chicagoland Business Leadership Network’s Disability Inclusion Opportunity Summit on October 21st. The 18 competitively selected emerging leaders with disabilities will participate in a Leadership Institute retreat in January and March of 2017.
ADA 25 Advancing Leadership’s mission is to build a pipeline and network of leaders with disabilities who are deeply engaged in the civic life of the Chicago region and advancing in their careers – consistent with the promise of the ADA. ADA 25 Advancing Leadership began as a legacy project of ADA 25 Chicago – an initiative of the Chicago Community Trust to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and leverage the milestone to ensure greater inclusion, empowerment, and opportunities for people with disabilities.
ADA 25 Advancing Leadership works to support the realization of disability as part of diversity in the Chicago region. This program is in part the answer to the continued requests I receive from leaders in the government, corporate, and non-profit sectors who are seeking qualified individuals with disabilities for civic service in Chicago. I am excited to announce this year’s Fellows class and look forward to the strides they will make in improving the Chicagoland region.
Congratulations to the following ADA 25 Advancing Leadership 2017 Fellows:
Tiffany Askew
Ombudsman Program Manager, Access Living
Adam Ballard
Manager of Organizing and Policy, Access Living
Kimberly Brown
Senior Business Analyst, Commonwealth Edison
Kevin D’Ambrosio
Office Supervisor, Faithful+Gould
Cheryl Farney
Certified Recovery Support Specialist and Medical Social Assistant, University of Illinois Chicago Hospital
Bridget Hayman
Director of Digital Content Marketing, Easterseals National Headquarters
Tsehaye Geralyn Hebert
Playwright
Brian Heyburn
Doctoral Candidate, Disability and Human Development , UIC-Chicago
Esther Lee
Attorney, Disability Law Collective
Co-Founder, Able Community
Michele Lee
Finance Senior Administrator, International Treasury, Aon Corporation
Veronica Lozano
Women, Infant, Youth, Children Ryan White Case Manager, Howard Brown Health
Norma Jane Mejias
Doctoral Candidate, Disability and Human Development, UIC-Chicago
Chaitanya Manchanda
Cyber Security Professional, Discover Financial Services
Risa Jaz Rifkind
Program Associate, Chicago Community Trust
Margaret Sugrue
Community Relations Coordinator, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Chad Turner
Vice President, Finance & Business Manager, JPMorgan Chase
Caity-Shea Violette
Manager of Marketing and Communications, Thresholds
Mark Williams
Grants Manager, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
For more information about ADA 25 Advancing Leadership visit www.ada25chicago.org.
Karen Tamley was named Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) in March of 2005 by Richard M. Daley and reappointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in May of 2011. MOPD promotes full inclusion of people with all types of disabilities and strives to make Chicago the most accessible city in
the nation.
In her role as Commissioner, Ms. Tamley leads numerous disability policy and accessibility compliance initiatives in transportation, city infrastructure, emergency preparedness, housing, education, and technology. She also oversees the delivery of independent living services such as in-home supports, home accessibility modifications, amplified phones, and employment readiness to thousands of Chicagoans with disabilities.Commissioner Tamley serves as the City’s representative regarding disability related policy on a number of boards and committees, including the Pace Board of Directors, the region’s Paratransit service provider. In 2015, Commissioner Tamley was appointed by President Obama to serve on the United States Access Board, which develops accessibility guidelines and standards for the built environment, transportation, communication, medical diagnostics equipment, and information technology. Most recently, the Civic Federation of Chicago and Motorola Solutions Foundation named Commissioner Tamley the recipient of the 2015 “Excellence in Public Service Award” for her extraordinary impact.
Commissioner Tamley serves as the City’s representative regarding disability related policy on a number of boards and committees, including the Pace Board of Directors, the region’s Paratransit service provider. In 2015, Commissioner Tamley was appointed by President Obama to serve on the United States Access Board, which develops accessibility guidelines and standards for the built environment, transportation, communication, medical diagnostics equipment, and information technology. Most recently, the Civic Federation of Chicago and Motorola Solutions Foundation named Commissioner Tamley the recipient of the 2015 “Excellence in Public Service Award” for her extraordinary impact.
Under Commissioner Tamley’s leadership, Chicago received the Accessible America Award from the National Organization on Disability and for two years, MOPD was named “Best Government Department” by the Deaf Illinois.
For 15 years prior to her appointment, Tamley served in management, policy and advocacy roles at disability organizations in Washington D.C., Denver and Chicago. Prior to her appointment as Commissioner, she was the Director of Programs at Access Living a center for advocacy and services for people with disabilities in Chicago.
Commissioner Tamley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.