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Disability-Inclusive Civic Engagement: A Conversation with Dom Kelly and Jalyn Radziminski

In this episode of Disability Inclusion: Required, host Emily Ladau welcomes Dom Kelly, Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South, and Jalyn Radziminski, Founder of Count US IN; Commissioner and Vice Chair for Indiana Disability Rights’ Protection and Advocacy Services, and Director of Engagement at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.

Tune in for an impactful conversation on why it’s essential to incorporate disability into all civic and political engagement work. Remember, every issue is a disability issue. If your funding doesn’t support the civic participation of disabled people, it’s not truly inclusive or intersectional. Dom and Jalyn offer insights and actionable ideas to shift civic engagement toward efforts that centers and honors the perspectives and lived experiences of the disability community.

Our podcast theme music is by Andre Louis and Precious Perez. Thank you to Recording Artists And Music Professionals With Disabilities (RAMPD) for connecting these talented disabled musicians with the Disability & Philanthropy Forum.

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Featured Guests

Dom Kelly

Dom Kelly is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and New Disabled South Rising, its 501(c)(4) arm. Until November 2022, he served as both the Georgia Fundraising Director and the Senior Advisor for Disability for Stacey Abrams’ campaign for governor of Georgia. Previously, he was Senior Fundraising Manager and a Strategic Advisor for Disability at Fair Fight Action, the voting rights organization founded by Stacey Abrams, where he also created and led the organization’s Disability Council composed of prominent disability advocates and policy experts from across the country. 

Dom is one of a set of triplets born with Cerebral Palsy and has been a disability advocate since he was four years old. Starting when he was a young teenager, Dom and his brothers played around the world with their rock band, touring and collaborating with artists like Indigo Girls, Joan Baez, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Bangles and more and releasing 6 records over 15+ years. He is retired from music, but with a decade of additional experience in digital and editorial strategy, nonprofit development, and community building, he has devoted his life to disability justice advocacy, progressive policy, and nonprofit leadership. 

He received a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice where he also received the Excellence in Social Impact award. Additionally, he holds a bachelor’s degree in music production, a master’s degree in journalism, an executive certificate in social impact strategy, and a graduate certificate in interdisciplinary disability studies. He was a 2021 New Leaders Council fellow, serves as a board member for The Kelsey, Society for Disability Studies, Neighborhood Access, Disability Victory, and University of Pennsylvania’s Nonprofit Leadership Alumni Association, and is a member of the NationSwell Council. Dom also occasionally works as a consultant under The Tattooed Jew LLC, helping both political campaigns and nonprofit organizations with strategy. Dom currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Catie, their daughter Mahalia, and their dog Vivi.

Jalyn Radziminski

Jalyn Radziminski is a Black and Japanese activist from Fort Wayne, Indiana who advocates for disability and racial justice, especially in the intersection of mental health.  Jalyn is dedicated to breaking down barriers for BIPOC disability communities, including voting and civic engagement, and to lifting up community-based and anti-carceral solutions. Jalyn’s work is informed by their lived experience as a student and young professional with mental and physical disabilities, navigating voter suppression, and over eight years of experience doing advocacy at the intersection of race, mental health, and mass incarceration. 

Jalyn is the Founder of Count US IN, the first Indiana based non-partisan nonprofit led by BIPOC and disability community members that not only increases but intentionally diversifies voter turnout and broader civic engagement through education and empowerment of community members. Radziminski is also an elected Commissioner and Vice Chair for Indiana Disability Rights’ Protection and Advocacy Services.

At the national level, Jalyn is the Director of Engagement at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, through which they help lead community coalitions, call-to-action campaigns, and grassroots organizing. Internationally, Jalyn has studied and worked in Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands to advocate for and learn about human rights. Jalyn graduated from Emory University and is pursuing their J.D. as an evening student at Fordham University School of Law.Most recently, Jalyn was named the public interest student of the year during their first year at Fordham Law. Jalyn has also spoken at the White House several times regarding issues surrounding disability, voting, racial Justice, and mass incarceration.

Jalyn is the Founder of Count US IN, the first Indiana based non-partisan nonprofit led by BIPOC and disability community members that not only increases but intentionally diversifies voter turnout and broader civic engagement through education and empowerment of community members. Radziminski is also an elected Commissioner and Vice Chair for Indiana Disability Rights’ Protection and Advocacy Services.

At the national level, Jalyn is the Director of Engagement at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, through which they help lead community coalitions, call-to-action campaigns, and grassroots organizing. Internationally, Jalyn has studied and worked in Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands to advocate for and learn about human rights. Jalyn graduated from Emory University and is pursuing their J.D. as an evening student at Fordham University School of Law.Most recently, Jalyn was named the public interest student of the year during their first year at Fordham Law. Jalyn has also spoken at the White House several times regarding issues surrounding disability, voting, racial Justice, and mass incarceration.