The Emerging Leaders in Disability Justice Project (hereinafter referred to as “the Project”) is designed to identify, empower, and support individuals who self-identify as people with disabilities in Los Angeles County who have not previously served in formal leadership roles. The program will focus on developing their capacity to lead, advocate, and initiate change within their communities, specifically around mental health awareness and access. Participants will engage in a structured yet flexible leadership development process that culminates in a participant-designed and executed outreach project. These projects will allow participants to apply their new skills to real-world community engagement and help inform others about available mental health services and resources. Ultimately, this project aims to expand the pipeline of disability-identified community leaders, strengthen community connections, and increase the capacity of the public mental health system to meet the needs of people with disabilities. By centering lived experience, the project will amplify voices that have historically been excluded from decision-making spaces and help foster a more inclusive, responsive, and equitable mental health system in Los Angeles County.
