The 31st Annual Brighter Future Awards hosted by the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) was held in June 2023.
The beautifully curated event was the result of the tireless work of Wendy Williams, a pillar in the disability rights advocate community.
Mistress of Ceremonies Loraine Ballard Morrill, from IHeartMedia Philadelphia guided us on a journey of outstanding leaders in the community, who each contributed to making the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that much easier.
Director, DBHIDS, Dr. Kleckner Charles, opened the ceremony by sharing that quite often when his team meets, it’s to discuss strategy and the budget. But [today], we were here to celebrate the best of the best among us serving the needs of the community of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Keynote Speaker, Amy Nieves, shared incredibly valuable insights into how we can foster meaningful participation of people with disabilities:
“We are not your tokens.
We are not your icons.
We are not for your graphic images to be more diverse.
Engage us in every element, so that we feel that we belong.
Because you can’t include people if you’re not making sure that they feel a sense of belonging.
Because inclusion still requires the dominant group to extend the inclusion.
Belonging means I’m already here and no one has to extend inclusion efforts to me.
So foster that belonging.”
At KenCCID, we were reminded of why we serve the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities – so that they can reach their full potential.
Watch the highlight video below of this wonderful event.