Allie Cannington Email & Phone Number

United States

At The Kelsey, we advance disability-forward housing solutions that open doors to more affordable homes and opportunities for everyone. We have 240 homes in our pipeline and lead organizing and advocacy initiatives to support market conditions to make inclusive housing the norm.

Sacramento, California, United States

Provided training, coordination, and capacity building for 28 independent living centers and their staff on community organizing and systems change advocacy. Developed statewide community organizing campaigns, online and in person, to advance disability rights and independent living, specifically in the areas of expanding access and affordability of long term services and supports (LTSS), increasing civic engagement through Get-out-the-vote and Census 2020 efforts, and emergency preparedness and response. Cultivated relationships and worked alongside Domestic worker rights organizations and older adult/senior organizations to advance campaign goals. Facilitated the statewide cross-disability coalition that coordinates the annual day of action: Disability Capitol Action Day. Arranged inclusive, accessible leadership opportunities for people with disabilities across California. Analyzed policy materials to ensure that the approach was inclusive and intersectional.

San Francisco Bay Area

Facilitated weekly workshops on leadership, work-readiness, and facilitation tactics for LYRIC’s two year pilot fellowship program for Trans and Gender Non-conforming transitional age youth.Conducted supervision with the fellows that includes facilitating developmental feedback, supporting goal-oriented tasks and projects, and transition planning for youth who are graduating from fellowship.Coordinated policy and advocacy initiatives for the fellowship, including facilitating focus groups, partnering on grassroots campaigns related to housing and homelessness.Partnered with LYRIC leadership to coordinate and strengthen the pilot Fellowship program, specifically through developing and implementing curriculum, designing and strategizing the program’s short and long term goals, and scheduling Fellowship weekly and monthly activities.

San Francisco Bay Area

Developed, expanded and managed paid leadership and advocacy program for youth experiencing homelessness. The program aims to hold Larkin Street and the greater community accountable to hearing youth voices and including youth input in any decision-making process and advocacy platforms. Co-facilitated monthly community circles for youth and staff, which is a key implementation strategy for agency's restorative justice practices. Coordinated the staff-client working group that advocates for greater inclusion and equity for LGBTQ youth across the agency. Examples of advocacy initiatives have included a gender-neutral bathroom remodel, organizing community events for Trans Day of Visibility 2016/17 & Pride 2016/16, improving staff cultural competency through targeted trainings and awareness campaigns about pronouns, and co-presenting a workshop on how to support gender expansive youth experiencing homelessness at the True Colors Fund's 2016 40toNone Summit. Created and expanded local, state and national community partnerships to advocate for youth to be at the forefront of the movement to prevent and end youth homelessness, particularly youth of color and queer and trans youth. These partnerships were fostered through co-presenting workshops with youth, organizing youth attendance and leadership at political actions, panels, and legislative hearings, and supporting youth-led programming in and outside of Larkin Street. Established partnership with the San Francisco Public Main Library and started pilot project, “REMIX”, weekly event for transitional age youth (TAY); library’s first targeted service for TAY. Created and conducted two 3-hour all staff trainings on Disability Diversity & Access about youth with disabilities experiencing homelessness, disability cultural competency, the organization’s requirements under local, state and federal disability rights laws, and providing a local disability community resource & referral guide.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Facilitated collaboration amongst organizations and educational institutions to ensure inclusion of youth with disabilities in internship, fellowship, and apprenticeship programs through management of the Greater Washington Internship Coalition. Supported and developed projects in coordination with members of National Youth Transitions Collaborative, a learning community of 45+ organizations that work to benefit youth with disabilities and returning veterans.Wrote grants and received the requested funding from multiple foundations. Led in capacity development for youth participation and leadership within NCIL and allied disability rights organizations. An example included the creation and coordination of a storytelling and employment empowerment workshop for youth with disabilities in the DC area, in addition to an intergenerational open mic event for the Disability and allied communities. Co-coordinated youth participation and leadership for the 2015 Annual NCIL Conference, “Generation ADA: Rise Up!” which included leading fundraising efforts that raised over $27,000 for youth with disabilities to attend the conference.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Leading organization’s transition into permanent Chapter status with American University and the National Board of Gamma Rho Lambda. • Coordinating communication with the National Board, university staff, local members, and alum to ensure stability and sustainability of the organization and our efforts within and outside our membership. • Altering governing documents and organizational culture to enhance trans* and disability inclusion.• Managing the executive board and facilitating executive and organization-wide meetings to ensure that the work of the organization aligns with founding principles of multiculturalism and LGBTQ inclusivity.

San Francisco Bay Area

• Led the organizing of California’s statewide Disability History Week Campaign, co-drafting the resolution and testifying before the California Senate Committee. • Organized the first-ever queer cross-disability section of the San Francisco Pride Parade where disabled LGBT community members and allies participated from across the Bay Area.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Worked with the 15-member student steering committee for programmatic development of the Leadership Program. • Planned and executed events and initiatives ensuring respect and understanding for diversity and power and privilege. • Engaged and created partnerships with the general AU community to ensure outreach and inclusion.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Collected background research and relevant data to enhance policy planning for the Public Policy and Government Relations department, with a focus on communities of color, people with disabilities, and the transgender community.• Wrote memorandums and blog posts and assisted in community based and governmental organizing. • Created and facilitated the first Disability 101 training for staff members.

Washington Dc

• Advocates and teaches about disability justice, identity and pride and the intersection of disability and other marginalized communities. • Managed and organized club logistics, budgets, and plans for campus-wide events and campus partnerships with other social justice related organizations, while sustaining an executive board and strong membership community. • Awarded by “Intersections Award” by American University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Relevant Links: http://www.american.edu/ocl/news/Student-Group-Campaigns-for-Disability-Rights.cfm

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Collected research and created seven policy factsheets on the integration of women for all USAID focus areas. All factsheets disseminated to the mission directors of USAID around the world, approximately 40 people.• Participated in the Gender Web Development Group for the renewal of the USAID website. • Represented USAID at a meeting with President Obama, Valerie Jared, and Cecilia Muñez about the future of youth and disability rights in the US.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

AAPD’s Summer Internship Program provides the opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience to help advance with career goals for college students, graduate students, or recent graduates with disabilities. Relevant links: Sample Weekly Blog: http://aapdinterns.blogspot.com/2012/06/injustice-anywhere-is-injustice.htmlCoverage of White House Disability Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qceocris2uE

American University

• Collected research and created 20-page report on disability legislation from the US, the UN, and the ASEAN Region of Southeast Asia. Report was used for the organization’s projects and information web output. • Worked with colleagues to create two proposals expanding the organization’s emphasis on disability accommodations in Southeast Asia’s tertiary education and the creation of a volunteer network for the organization.Relevant link:http://www.american.edu/americantoday/campus-news/20110923-COTELCO-UN-disabilities-CPRD.cfm#

San Rafael, Ca

• Lead Youth Organizer in Disability History Week• Founded Youth Empowerment Leadership group, bringing youth with and without disabilities to discuss disability identity, history, access, and allyship. • Conducted Disability Awareness Week at Sir Francis Drake High School, where all 1,200 students received a lecture on Disability History and participated in other disability awareness activities and events.

Political Science, Senior Undergraduate

Education record