U-M CEW+
GETTING STARTED

Dessa Cosma

"If you start thinking about it...you'll realize how physically inaccessible so much of the environment around us is. For me as a kid, I really grew up understanding that the world was built and designed for some people way more than others."

This episode of Strength in the Midst of Change features Dessa Cosma, 2017-2021 CEW+ Twink Frey Visiting Social Activist (TFVSA) and Founding Director of Detroit Disability Power. Dessa shares how growing up as a person with a disability in the Deep South has shaped her experiences and led to a lifetime of activism. She discusses ways others can help bridge the gap between the disability community and the larger social justice movements, and shares the critical need for increased voting access and fewer restrictions on voting. Click here to read “The Intersectional, Multi-Generational Fight for Voting Rights,” a TFVSA project resource researched and written by Dessa and her team at Detroit Disability Power.

Resiliency is best demonstrated in times of challenges. Join CEW+ Director Tiffany Marra as she talks to students, staff, faculty, and community members connected to the University of Michigan’s Center for the Education of Women+ (CEW+) in our podcast, Strength in the Midst of Change. Through this podcast, CEW+ seeks to create a safe place where you will be inspired by the stories of everyday people. Originally created to document the challenges resulting from COVID-19, CEW+ has expanded the podcast to include stories of combating racism through individual and organizational action. This podcast will continue to evolve as societal challenges shift over time.

You can download and subscribe to Strength in the Midst of Change from — Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud. Subscribe, listen, and enjoy!

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