Disability Solidarity in Action at the 2025 GEO Learning Conference
June 17, 2025
Justice, rights, and inclusion are under threat for the communities we belong to and the movements we support. Nevertheless, movements led by disabled, queer, trans individuals, migrants, and others with shared marginalized identities continue to harness their power.
Last month, GEO and the Disability & Philanthropy Forum hosted the welcome reception for the 2025 GEO Learning Conference! The evening was a fun night of disability inclusion activities and community-building, exploring the intersections of accessibility, art, and joy. Read through the key learning takeaways from this reception, depicted in graphic facilitation by Kelly Adams.
Power in Disability Solidarity
Text Reads:
Joy is found in our ability to be, not do.
“I find joy in my work when I watch my teammates succeed in making their values become reality.”
Civil rights and disability rights: together, we will rise above the attacks.
Intersectionality is not possible without disability solidarity.
The work is joy because there is joy in community and solidarity.
Joy: weaving people and communities together!
Cross-movement organizing.
Learning to practice self-care and pacing is important to our movement in solidarity.
Joy is love of community and radical expression.
It means love thy neighbor.
Everyone experiences joy and potential in their daily lives.
Learning to practice self-care and pacing is important to our movement in solidarity.
Solidarity means bravery, even if you’re unsure if it’s the right thing to do! Power is taking up space for those who have been injured. Be comfortable with being wrong & learning through it.
Uplift marginalized voices, honoring all bodies, respecting & telling the stories of Indigenous people and ancestors.
The honor and privilege of working at an organization so passionate & committed to disability justice brings me great joy!
Joy: connecting people doing great work, amplifying community voices, and moving capital to the people.
Our Interdependence: “I’m inspired to stay the course on doing what’s right, making positive change even when the environment is difficult.”
See the possibilities rather than just focusing on the difficulties.
Share Your Voice
Text Reads:
This moment in time means…
- stepping aside to let others lead,
- putting aside my own bias & privilege to lift up the voices of others, and
- share/release the power!
Those with power need to speak up for those who have no power.
What philanthropy does:
- spend up
- find infrastructure groups
- support non-profits with money beyond the grant
Philanthropy needs to step up and defend core values of freedom and justice – action is required!
Access for me means access for all! If you consider disabled people from the beginning, you will be more likely to succeed.
Collective access:
- is essential for all of us, not just disabled folks
- will transform us
Feeling strength in community [leads to] sustainability. Solidarity means continuous and unwavering commitment.
To quote Fannie Lou Hamer: “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
There is no justice without disability justice!
The resolution must have:
- disabled leadership
- disabled voices
- disabled art
- disabled people…period!
Philanthropy needs to be honest about why these systems persist and the effect history has on minorities in order to fully serve the communities.
Power in Solidarity Conversation
Text Reads:
Emergent Strategies (Adrienne Maree Brown): Stories of Solidarity
Confidence: Racial Equity. Use data to understand who we are supporting.
Passions drive solidarity.
Stacey Park Milbern, one of the pioneers of disability justice, was born in North Carolina where the GEO Learning Conference took place!
Mobilize your power!
- justice
- rights
- inclusion
This conversation needs to be one of many.
What can we do together to share the influence and the power?
Common humanity: inclusion & equity are under threat.
How do we change systems so we all have access as we are?
Collective learning: be the voice for those who can’t be here.