Start the new year with fresh insights! Our Learn Center and Inclusive Design Standards pages are now updated with new resources, guides, and real-world case studies. Explore the latest tools for building inclusive communities and see how disability-forward housing is expanding across the country.
Rahimeh Ramezany joined our team as an Inclusion Concierge after working in the diversity, equity, and inclusion field within multiple consulting and nonprofit organizations, in addition to as an independent consultant where she specialized in helping organizations expand their existing DEI efforts to incorporate Muslims and religious identity.
2024 was filled with more community, more friends, more partners, and more opportunities to bring disability-forward housing to communities across the country. We’re proud to share all we’ve accomplished this year.
In this episode of the Leaders for Inclusive Community podcast, host Isaac Haney-Owens interviews Ari Katz, who manages fundraising at The Kelsey. They discuss the importance of donations in creating affordable, accessible, and inclusive housing, the values that drive their fundraising, and the impact of giving. Ari also shares personal anecdotes from their work at The Kelsey, the significance of an abundance mindset in fundraising, and the transformative power of donations in building a supportive community.
In this episode of the Leaders for Inclusive Community podcast, Isaac interviews Brittney Harris, Housing Development Manager at The Kelsey; LaTangela Foster, Housing Director at AIDS Alabama and The Kelsey Disability & Housing Narrative Change Cohort member; and Veronica McGee, longtime resident and advocate in Birmingham. The conversation explores the development of The Kelsey Avondale, The Kelsey’s first co-development outside of California. The participants discuss the community’s features, local partnerships in Birmingham, and ongoing advocacy efforts for disability-forward housing across Alabama.
The Disability and Housing Narrative Change Cohort is a year-long virtual program bringing together disabled leaders from across the country to share and amplify their unique housing experiences.Facilitated by staff with lived experience, the cohort works to shift what we call dominant narratives challenging ableist policies and practices that drive exclusion. Cohort members write their personal stories, engage with narrative change experts, receive peer support, and gain training on using storytelling as a tool to advocate for disability-forward housing policy and engage with the media. We’re excited to bring you along for a conversation with one of the most groundbreaking storytellers of our time: Keah Brown.
Kiley is originally from New Mexico but has lived in Arizona, and The Netherlands. She has a background in counseling psychology, and is passionate about advocating for mental health resources and equity in marginalized communities.
Kate Sullivan 0:00 My name is Kate Sullivan, and I am the host of To Dine For. I’m a journalist of foodie, a traveler with an appetite for the stories of people who are hungry for more, dreamers, visionaries, artists, those who hustle hard in the direction they love. I travel with them to their …
The Inclusive Design Standards equip designers, builders, and developers with guidelines and frameworks for disability-forward housing creation. It highlights cross-disability accessibility and design decisions that are anchored in inclusion. Each month we feature one of our partners and the Element they’re most excited about. Gilbert Yanez | Senior Manager, Finance | The Kelsey This month …