Develop and implement community organizing campaigns on topics including but not limited racial justice, community integration, transit and other disability issues. Candace Coleman is a Black disabled woman from the South Side of Chicago. She is the Racial Justice Organizer at Access Living, and her group Advance Youth Leadership Power (AYLP) focuses on anti-bullying, the school to prison pipeline, restorative justice, police brutality, deinstitutionalization, and disability justice. Candace has dedicated the last 6 years of her career to teaching disabled youth of color to take pride in all aspects of their identity, so they can become leaders themselves, as she believes that young people shape the future of our world, and are open to creating a more inclusive world. Candace has spoken around the country, served as Master of Ceremonies for the Chicago Disability Pride Parade, and received the Van Hecke award for outstanding leadership and service in the disability community in Chicago.

Candace Coleman is a black disabled woman from the South Side of Chicago. She’s the Community Development Organizer for Youth with disabilities at Access Living organizing with Access Living’s youth advocacy group, Advanced Youth Leadership Power, focuses on anti-bullying, the school to prison pipeline, restorative justice, police brutality, deinstitutionalization, and disability justice.For the past 13 years, she’s been organizing young people so they can influence business and political leaders, shape policy, and become leaders themselves. She’s especially dedicated to teaching disabled youth of color take pride in all aspects of their identity. It took her a long time to find her own disability pride, and she’s eager to help others make the journey more smoothly. She believes that young people shape the future of how the world is going to go, and they are open to how to create a more inclusive world, and if you engage them at a young age, disability won’t be such a taboo subject. Eventually, she hopes to bring that message to youth and youth programmers around the world.Coleman has spoken around the country at conferences, schools, and other events, including serving as Master of Ceremonies for the Chicago Disability Pride Parade. She received the Van Heck award for outstanding leadership and service in the disability community.

Youth Community Development Organizing Team