Congratulations to our own Nybil Ghanem, who was recently accepted into the ADAPT Community Organizing Training. Nybil will learn about how to work with others to bring about accessibility improvements in our area and while making social changes for people with disabilities. ADAPT is a national grass roots disability right organization that is based in Texas.
Sex Ed Workshops - Knowing Your Body
On July 22nd, ACI hosted Knowing Your Body, the first of three workshops on sexual health. The program is conducted by Melissa Keyes-Digioia, Senior Sexual Health Educator/Trainer with Planned Parenthood of Central and Greater Northern New Jersey. The second workshop, which focuses on healthy relationships, will take place on August 4th.
NJ Devils Fundraiser - Prudential Center Tour
Salma and Brian from ACI recently visited the Prudential Center in Newark for a tour led by NJ Devils' Account Executive, Gregory Crawford. ACI will be working with the New Jersey Devils for an upcoming fundraiser. More details coming soon!
Alex and Ani Charmed by Charity Fundraiser (UPDATE: Second Fundraiser!)
On July 17th, 2014 ACI hosted it's first charity event at Alex and Ani in Red Bank. We would like to thank Elizabeth in helping us put this event together as well as the staff that evening, Danielle, Julia, AnnaMarie, Roxy, Victoria, Shelley, Nicolle and BrianaLeigh, for all of their hard work and support throughout the event. A special thank you to everyone who came to show their support, we had a great night!
UPDATE: Didn't get a chance to make it out to this fundraiser? We are happy to announce that Alex and Ani will be having another one this November!
Somerset Patriots Baseball Game 2014
ACI members enjoyed a summer time baseball game at TD Bank Park in Somerset on July 12th. Every year, ACI hosts a group at the game through our Social Recreation Department. For more information about upcoming social recreation activities, contact Nybil Ghanem at 732-738-4388 ext. 121 or nghanem@adacil.org.
ACI's New Project Director, Sue Pniewski
Meet ACI's new project director, Sue Pniewski! Sue will be implementing the new ACI Sandy Relief Project. Recently, ACI received the Sandy NJ Relief Grant to continue the good work that Portlight Strategies did in NJ, which involved assisting Sandy victims in making their homes accessible. Sue has worked for Portlight for the past year. We are happy to have her joining our team to continue this important project. Welcome to ACI, Sue!
Survey: Food Deserts & People with Disabilities
A message from Montclair State University:
Food Deserts & People with Disabilities
Recruitment Notice
Do you live in a food desert? Are you a person with a disability? Tell us your stories!!!
This project is part of a community-based initiative to understand how common it is for people with disabilities in the United States to experience difficulty accessing sufficient amounts of healthy, nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food. In this exploratory phase, we want to know what “access” and “food security” mean to you. Tell us your stories and help us modify or “crip”* the standard measures used by Food Studies scholars, so that they include perspectives of people with disabilities.
If you choose to participate, simply follow the link below to an online survey: surveymonkey.com/s/foodanddisability. If you do not want to complete the survey, you can also submit your stories anonymously via this link: surveymonkey.com/s/foodanddisability
The survey is brief and should take less than a half hour. All information will be kept completely confidential. The findings will not be associated with you in any way. All people who participate can enter a raffle to win a $50 electronic gift card. (There will be one $50 gift card for every 50 surveys submitted.)
To learn more about this IRB-approved study and/or to participate in the survey, click here: montclair.edu/chss/anthropology/research/food-disability-research
Please share widely!!! The more perspectives and different points of view that we can gather, the better! Feel free to re-post to Facebook, Twitter, etc. Help us make this project truly representative of our disability community……
Thanks in advance to all of you!
ACI, in a partnership with Montclair State University, will be hosting focus group on food deserts and people with disabilities this August. This is your opportunity to share your concerns and experiences! Your input will help devise solutions that create greater access to healthy, affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people, including people with disabilities.
