Latest / Living Loud and Proud: Disability Conversations / Board Member Profile: Izzy Kaufman, President
Transcript
- Phill Rosen Voice Over 0:00 Welcome to the Living Loud and Proud Podcast, brought to you by Disability Pride Pennsylvania. If you need a link to the transcript for this episode, please visit our accessible website at www dot disability pride pa dot org/podcast. And now, here is your host Vicki Landers 0:28 Hi everyone, this is Vicki from Disability Pride, Pennsylvania. I just I'm so happy to have everybody here for the Living Loud and Proud Podcast today. And I'm excited because I get to speak with my friend, fellow advocate and now President of Disability Pride Pennsylvania, Izzy 'Criptastic' Kaufman. Hi, Izzy. Izzy Kaufman 0:51 Hi, thanks for having me. Vicki Landers 0:53 Of course, this is so much fun. So I am going to get started. We have lots of questions there. The two of us I think, could talk forever. So, Izzy Kaufman 1:05 Oh yeah. Vicki Landers 1:05 we're gonna I'm gonna kick it off with just asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself. Izzy Kaufman 1:15 Yeah, happy to I'm excited that I'm even on a podcast. I've never been on a podcast before. So this was my first time. Vicki Landers 1:22 Welcome. Izzy Kaufman 1:23 Yeah, thank you. And I also wanted to say thanks to Disability Pride, Pennsylvania, and to the board for believing in me and voting me as president. Got voted in as president last month. And I'm still new, I'm still new, I'm still working out my role. But I'm having so much fun. And it's been a long road actually getting to this point. And I'm, like, super honored to continue this journey and support support Disability Pride Pennsylvania in all that we're doing. Vicki Landers 1:58 Awesome. Izzy Kaufman 1:59 And I'm really psyched about this podcast because I think for a long time, we've had so many different ideas and concepts and interest, and like the intersectionality of disability with so many other topics. It just lets me know, like, there's interest and we should just keep going and educating people and showing them all different sides of disability and Disability Pride. Vicki Landers 2:24 Of course! Having fun. Izzy Kaufman 2:26 Yeah, exactly. So a little bit about me. I am. I live in Philadelphia, of course, I've been living in Philadelphia for quite some time, now. Maybe like eight or nine years, it's wild that the time went by so fast. I am a part time wheelchair user. And I am almost in my mid 30s actually, I'm almost at 35. So I'm like, oh my God, where the time go. Um, right now I live in Germantown. It's a section of Philadelphia that's really historic. And I live with my spouse and husband Phill. And we got married last September on the Manayunk 'S' Bridge. And Vicki was there and Ray was there. And it was a beautiful little ceremony, DIY, very, very disability friendly. That was really important to me. Vicki Landers 3:19 Absolutely! Izzy Kaufman 3:20 Yeah, and we like, Phill, and I just spend time together. We love...We are currently obsessed with orchid flowers actually right now. And we went to the Philadelphia Flower Show with the tickets that you gave me. And I saw, we saw so many orchids. And we were like, You know what, we need to have more, we need to get more, we have little babies. So I'm like meticulously taking care of these orchids. And they're just, they bring me life and happiness when I'm like I wake up in the morning and I look at them. And they change shape and form a lot and over the over the course of the year. So kind of reminds me of like the adaptations that people with disabilities have to do to simply just exist in the world. So I don't know, I see it as a metaphor. And just when my plants are happy, I'm happy too, grateful. Vicki Landers 4:18 That's very cool. Izzy Kaufman 4:19 Yeah, it's very cool. And I look back and I think I've been living in Philadelphia since 2015, which was like prior to the Trump time, prior to COVID. So I've seen Philadelphia in both like ends. But I originally grew up in Port Chester, New York with my twin brother, Mike and my mom and my dad. And I was always thinking growing up that I was just gonna live in New York, and that was it. Like I was just gonna be in New York all the time. And then I go to grad school, and well, that totally changed. I ended up staying in Philadelphia. But we'll talk more about that later, because I wrote a little bit about that. Let's see. Now I work at Temple University, at the Institute on Disabilities as an Assistive Technology Program Coordinator. I'm super excited and happy to be working there. It's I'm almost at two years. And I'm super grateful to be in a place where I can actually focus on what I truly care about. And in my like employment, like my official employment, but then also at Disability Pride Pennsylvania, I can like, do the work that I want to do. And it's to empower disabled people to reach their goals, whatever that may be for them. Because for too long, people with disabilities haven't had the same rights as everyone else. And so I think, just, I just want to keep breaking down barriers for people with disabilities. That's a lot of what my job is. And I'll also do like health equity education. And I use lots of that expertise, because I went to school for sexuality. And I just use that in my work as well. And we'll talk more about that a little bit later. I also love cooking, and playing music. And in my free time, I play a lot of video games. And I like adaptive gaming and learning about it and how to make it easier to play video games. I'm a little bit of a nerd. And then I love animals and your cat Damien. Every time I go over, he just gives me all the serotonin I need. He's just a little like snuggle bug a little like little ham. And that's just me. I fall in love with all the cats that I meet, all the dogs that I meet. Vicki Landers 6:48 That's because you're a friendly person. Izzy Kaufman 6:49 And eventually, maybe I'll have my own. Exactly. Yeah, I think they can sense it in me, I think. Vicki Landers 6:56 Yeah, of course! You have that like nurturing like laid back kind of feel. And that's those those are the folks that they tend to gravitate towards. Izzy Kaufman 7:07 Yes, yes. Vicki Landers 7:08 Yes. All right. So how did we do you remember how we met? Izzy Kaufman 7:15 Oh, yes, I do remember how we met. We've met a few times, like it was the very first time though, that I met you was probably like 2015, I think, it was early. And I was going to class at Widener. So I was at graduate school. And I was in a Disability and Sexuality class, because I really wanted to see what it was all about. And I almost was like, looking at the class very critically. And because I was already like learning a lot about disability identity before that. But that class was kind of like the catalyst for me to be like, "Okay, I'm disabled. I'm going to just accept this. This is awesome." And I met one of my good friends, who would have presented in that class, and it changed my life. So during that class, it actually happened to be the weekend of Disability Pride Philly. And my professor, he asked us if we wanted to go and volunteer, because I think you asked our class to volunteer or somebody was like, communicating that. And I was like, "Oh, my God, yes, I want to go volunteer. I don't know what this is all about." So my professor asked us if we wanted to attend the after party event... Vicki Landers 8:30 I remember that! I remember. Izzy Kaufman 8:31 ...Yes, you do. That at the Independence Edge Art Studio. It was awesome in there. I like I felt like I was going down into like Alice in Wonderland, but in like the best way, like, I just I did not know what to expect. And then I'm like, I meet you, I meet you and you're like running around, of course, doing your thing. And, and then you were like you were delegating tasks. And you gave me the task of checking people in. And that was great, because I actually got to meet a lot of people that way. And I was a huge, like, very big introvert at the time. Like, I honestly wasn't, I didn't know what I was ready for socially at a time. But I just like went into that full force. And I felt so like, supported and excited. And I saw all these other people who looked like me and I don't know, like, the nerves kind of went away because I felt like I truly belonged there like no one was staring at me and my crutches. No one cared. Because everyone was having a good time. Vicki Landers 9:41 That's the whole point. Like... Izzy Kaufman 9:42 Exactly! Yeah, people were just eating hoagies and playing music and jamming out and it was just, it was a great time and I definitely met you very quickly there though. It wasn't like we didn't really get to know each other yet, but I knew of you and your work. Um, so yeah, I truly felt like I belonged there. And it was a beautiful turning point for me. And my disability journey truly Vicki Landers 10:11 I'm so happy! Like I, I, you know me, and most people who have seen me at an event know that I am like this crazy, wandering around, chaotic person, because for me the goal is to make sure everybody's having fun, and nobody sees anything that might be going wrong. Izzy Kaufman 10:32 Yes! You do a great job of that! Vicki Landers 10:35 Always My dream is to make sure that nobody sees the mess of behind the scenes. Izzy Kaufman 10:41 Yeah, exactly. That's the hard work going on behind all of these events. And like, yeah, I remember meeting you and you were just so friendly. It's so open. And so like, I wasn't used to that being from New York, people from New York, mmm, maybe not as like, friendly. So time, so I feel like coming to Philadelphia, I was like, embraced almost immediately. Vicki Landers 11:06 Absolutely. Izzy Kaufman 11:08 Yeah, it's a beautiful thing. Vicki Landers 11:12 So, so when so so we met at this, we met at this event, the after party. Oh, I forget how much fun those were. And having that space. It brings me back to to all of that. But we really we we met like after that we met again, through our friend. Well, my friend, both of our friends at some point in time. Mr. Alan Holdsworth. So tell me a little bit about like, how you got working with him? Izzy Kaufman 11:50 Oh, yes, that I'm glad you brought that up. Because he really influenced me a lot. And what a notorious person he is. He is just such a character. And yeah, I so anyway, I was working. At the time as like a freelance sexuality educator, I was just picking up whatever jobs I could, part time jobs and things like that. And then my friend was like, "Hey, there's this guy. I know who was looking for a contractor. He needs somebody to work on lesson plans that are about disability, like he wants to change the state of education in Pennsylvania and make it more content disability inclusive." So I was like, "Oh, okay, I maybe I should apply for this!" And I just did it. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I just did it. And I was like, Alright, this is happening. So I ended up working under Disabled In Action at 8th and Arch at Liberty Resources. And I think this was like 2017, 2016, something like that. And I started working for the Disability Equality in Education program, which is what Alan was like, spearheading with the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council. It was my first like, real full time job. And it was... Vicki Landers 13:12 Wow, I didn't realize that. Izzy Kaufman 13:14 Yeah, it was it really was my first full time job. I mean, I guess like my, technically not, but I don't count the other one because I was just working in a mailroom at a law firm. And I just like doing it to get out. Vicki Landers 13:26 Doing it. Like you were your now, like, it was like your official job in the, in the community and in the work that you wanted to do. Izzy Kaufman 13:35 Yes, exactly. That's what it was. It was like, Okay, this clicks, and I'm just gonna jump into it and see what happens. Vicki Landers 13:44 Awesome. Izzy Kaufman 13:45 And I learned so much from Alan oh my gosh, I learned so so much about like, Disability History. And he, yeah, such a such a person to learn from. Vicki Landers 13:56 Well, you know, you know, Alan is the one who got me started with Disability Pride events, you know, and he has been my mentor. For like, 13 years, I have learned I have fought with, been like, we we just him and I work in a way that most people don't understand. But we just, I love him to death. And, you know, he he's also my most frustrating person some days, but you know, that's Alan, and you just have to love him. So... Izzy Kaufman 14:36 Exactly. I think he was like really cool about access and stuff for the job and like, I remember just being like, excited and like, it was a novel thing for me to be able to come into my job in my wheelchair and do that and like it didn't matter, didn't matter at all if I was wheelchairing it or I was crunch a bit that day. Or I could be like, Alan, you know what? I'm really not feeling well today. I can work more, you know, on Saturday or like, whatever. He was super flexible about that and he was getting the work done. Vicki Landers 15:14 Yes. Izzy Kaufman 15:15 Yeah! Vicki Landers 15:16 Just think if more people are allowed to do that! Izzy Kaufman 15:19 Right! It would be (a) nicer work environment for many people. Vicki Landers 15:23 Yes, absolutely. So, because we're, this is Disability Pride. Tell me about your first experience with Disability Pride. Izzy Kaufman 15:34 Oh, my gosh, well, there was that first experience at the Independence Edge Studio. But that wasn't really like, I didn't really attend the festival beforehand. I was just seeing the after party. But my first full Disability Pride Event, I was actually living in Philadelphia. And I remember like, I woke up early. I wanted to get there on time. I was like, "Oh, my gosh, it's at City Hall, City Hall. How cool is that? I'm gonna go to Philly City Hall!" Because I had never been. And it was just like, so much energy and excitement. And I just saw, like people bustling around, and all these tables, and all these people. And I wasn't in the parade that year. I honestly wasn't sure if there was a parade because it was my first time. And I was just like, "I'm coming to see what's up with this!" Like, I saw people with signs that were like "Disabled and Queer," "Access For All!", "Close All Nursing Homes!" Like all these different ways that people were expressing themselves. And it was like, "Oh, this, this makes sense. I feel that way too. I would love to close all nursing homes!" It was really new to me, though, to be around that many disabled people still, like I normally was used to not being the only disabled person around when I was growing up. So being around a bunch of disabled people was great. It was like, we could just talk about whatever we wanted to. Every moment, I would just be like, saying hi to people left and right. And everyone was so friendly. And sometimes people will tell you your their whole life story. Vicki Landers 17:16 Oh, yeah. Izzy Kaufman 17:17 Right? That happens often, but I don't mind because I like to hear people's life stories, if they want to tell it to me. Vicki Landers 17:24 Yeah, that it's the great thing about like, a lot of folks who have never got come to our parades before. Afterwards, they always tell me they're like, "I can't believe there's so many of us!" Like, there's just so many disabled people, but there's just so many people, it's like people with and without disabilities just like coming together and having a blast, you know, and it being like, very disability friendly, you know, queer friendly, which is amazing for both of us, you know, that whole, that whole thing? So it's just, it's why I still do it today. You know? So, you know, I always think it's funny, because the all of this started us and we started cop talking and we're connecting about so many things and talking about all these, like, crazy things that we wanted to do and look at us now. Like... Izzy Kaufman 18:25 I know! It's like coming full circle. Vicki Landers 18:28 It is! Izzy Kaufman 18:29 I'm so proud of us! Vicki Landers 18:30 Me too! So, do you remember the first time we worked together on like, Let's Talk About Disabled Sex and why we wanted to do it? Izzy Kaufman 18:42 Yes, I remember that. Oh, my gosh, what an opportunity. That was, that was like my first like, big sex ed workshop experience, honestly. And I, I got a chance to like lead that whole day. And yeah, I'm still like, I was in full impostor syndrome at the time. I was like, I'm not really a sexuality educator yet, because I haven't done it that much, or whatever. Vicki Landers 19:12 Well, you [unintelligible 19:13]. Izzy Kaufman 19:13 But I had all the knowledge. Yeah. Like I had all the knowledge. I knew what I was doing. But you believed in me. And so once we got to know each other, we were planning this event and I told you about my interest and you're like, "Oh, my God, we need to do this, like this. This needs to happen. I know there are people who would come to this." So I was like, "Alright, it's happening! I'm gonna do it!" So we ended up choosing to do it on February 14, because Valentine's Day, and that totally makes sense. Why not? Vicki Landers 19:47 Yeah well, why we also decided that? Izzy Kaufman 19:50 Why? Vicki Landers 19:51 Remember we, we talked about it, we wanted to do a fun conversation around having sex as disabled people during the day during the week when everybody should be talking about it? Izzy Kaufman 20:08 Yes, exactly. It was like a training session for all those people. Yeah. And to make it like normalized, to normalize it. Vicki Landers 20:15 Absolutely. Izzy Kaufman 20:15 Like these conversations were just, we're gonna be having them. And now I have them all the time... Vicki Landers 20:21 Woo-hoo! Izzy Kaufman 20:21 Almost every day. But that was so exciting. And I first I was like, "Oh, this is only going to be like a one hour thing. And then, whatever." But Vicki was like, "Uh-uh, uh-uh, it's going to be a day." Vicki Landers 20:36 Always! Izzy Kaufman 20:36 And I love that (you) said that. I was like, "All right, we're making it happen!" And it was a great success. You brought all of these resources. We brought all these people together too, like we were working with people from Temple University at the Institute on Disabilities. We were working with Liberty Resources and sex educators who work there and people from Sexploratorium in Philadelphia. So it was like, all these different people came together. And you showed me that you can organize people and get them to do some amazing things. And we like work together so well as a team. Vicki Landers 21:14 Oh, absolutely. Izzy Kaufman 21:15 That was really that was very exciting. That one, I think, I think about it a lot. Because it was definitely before the pandemic. Vicki Landers 21:23 Yes. Izzy Kaufman 21:25 Yeah. Vicki Landers 21:25 And, and we're still doing this seven years later. No, in different ways, but we're still doing it. And look, I mean, think about it, I'm you. You were a part of an international conversation talking about like, what we did, an dlike what we were doing. Izzy Kaufman 21:47 Oh my gosh, yes, the Zero Project. Vicki Landers 21:49 Yup! Izzy Kaufman 21:49 That was really cool. That was like a few years ago. Oh, speaking of this is like a little bit of a tangent. But the other day, at work, I had to write something called a biosketch for the first time. And I didn't know what that was, when I heard this the term. It's like a type of bio that researchers do. It's very academic. It's very dry. But like, as I was writing mine, though, I was like, "Oh, my gosh! Like, look at all this stuff I've been able to accomplish!" And I just like, it was cool to kind of list things out and actually see it because I'm not super organized. I know, I should be... Vicki Landers 22:33 That's ok. Izzy Kaufman 22:34 I try I try. But just having to like, list out all of the workshops we've done, and everything like that was just so cool. It was like a full circle moment for me again. Vicki Landers 22:49 That's funny, because Connie, one of our staff members, is always like, "Vicki, you should be constantly updating your resume with all of these things on here. When when people want to find out more about you or people want to see what you're doing." So I actually she has she is constantly updating it. Like she's like "Add something to it, add this to it." So I now like really, like, look at what that like what my span of work is. And it's it's crazy to think about where I came from. And now what I've done. It's absolutely sometimes it's it's overwhelming to think of how much you know, but also exciting about how our like, how I started with Alan like making signs, you know? For, for the parades, like how that all like sparked all of this stuff that I'm doing 13 years later, right? Izzy Kaufman 23:53 It's awesome how it all comes together. And actually from that, first Let's Talk About Disabled Sex, I learned something very, very important. Which for a sex educator, I needed that experience. I had to learn that to tell people specifically that, "I am not your sex therapist. I am only a sex educator like, Yes, I can provide all this information. I know a lot. But I'm not your personal therapist." Vicki Landers 24:23 Yes. Izzy Kaufman 24:23 So I realized people were like telling me things that were super private, like, super intense at that workshop. So I learned like, "You know, it's cool like that you're that, that comfortable telling me these things. But I can refer you to resources." That's what I say to people. I'm like, "I'll refer you over, I'll refer you." Maybe one day I'll get a sex therapy license, but not yet. Vicki Landers 24:50 Right. Izzy Kaufman 24:50 But it would be cool. Vicki Landers 24:51 Yeah, absolutely. Um, so I wanted to talk to you about like, I asked you to become one of our board members. Just because you know, a lot of the work we're doing you're so enthusiastic about like, being in the, being in the community and being real and getting people to like, just enjoy themselves and think about like, everybody else. So tell me why you decided you want to become a board member? Izzy Kaufman 25:29 That's such a great question. I saw what Disability Pride was doing. I saw what you were doing. And I was like, maybe it'll be a part of this at some point. Like, it definitely went through my head a few times. And then outright one day, I think we were at Liberty, Liberty Resources, and you were like, "Hey, you want to join the board (of) Disability Pride Philadelphia?" At the time, it was called Disability Pride Philadelphia. And I was like, "Oh! Yes! I'm gonna do it! I've never been on a board before." But I was open to it. And I knew that I was going to see leadership from you and from the other people on the board. So I thought, "Why not like to step out of my comfort zone?" And realizing that being in Philly for all these years, it is my home, and I want to make it as good a place as possible for people with disabilities. So why not join the board? Vicki Landers 26:26 Yeah. I (was) so excited that when you said yes, and I love the work that we've done, like, you know, we are six years old as a nonprofit, even though we've been doing this work much longer. And finding for me, finding the right board members was so important. And you know, just trying to give people the space and show folks that like, you can be a board of disabled folks and still get the work done, still have the enthusiasm, still give people the space and the time that they need. Did you feel the same way? Izzy Kaufman 27:12 Yes I did! I definitely did. I was like, "Okay, I'm making this happen." But I look back like on my, my six years on the board. And I'm like looking at all the cool stuff we did. Like I wanted to highlight some of those historical things that we've done together like the the dance performance at Suburban Station, with Connie, teaching us how to pose, how to move, and how to, like, interact with our surroundings, and just how beautiful that was. And then being able to repeat that performance at the Prince Theater in front of, you know, all the peers, all my peers, everyone in the disability community. It was just like, so powerful for me making all of those shapes with my body and being like, "You know what? I can, I can do this! I can dance!" And I'm going to come to the next dance workshop. Vicki Landers 28:10 Yay! Izzy Kaufman 28:10 I am, I am determined, because I want to enjoy it. After that. I was like, Oh my gosh, Connie's, Connie's brilliant with teaching dance. Vicki Landers 28:19 Yes. Izzy Kaufman 28:19 And Phill and Ray, were also at those dance performances. Vicki Landers 28:23 Yes they were yeah. And it became this really cool, like, family group of folks, because I look at it now. And I'm like, you know, Connie kind of led the group. You know, you and Phil and Ray, and Mali, were all part of the performances. You know, it just it really felt like, that was really amazing. And it really was a I think it was the first time in Philadelphia, where it was like, people were like, "What are you doing? Like, why are all these disabled people? Like out in public? Like, doing an art thing?" Izzy Kaufman 29:01 On Display, On Display. Vicki Landers 29:03 On Display, you know, so I think that was great. So I have I have one last question for you. So so as the new board president, right. What are your hopes for our future? What is exciting to you? Izzy Kaufman 29:28 Oh, my gosh, so much. I think what I'm what I'm hoping is that after we do all these Disability Pride events across the state this year, that we might have a few more cities, or towns that are like, "Hey, hey, we want to do Disability Pride too. Can you maybe, you know, facilitate that for us, or like help us connect us to resources so we can do it?" That's what I want to see. But I just want to see how all these celebrations go. I wanna enjoy them and connect with people across the state. I think that's what I've been like, really wanting to focus on in the next year or so is really connecting with beyond Philadelphia, beyond Harrisburg, and like really getting out even in rural areas where people with disabilities may not be able to see other people with disabilities very often, but we can get them out for a day and enjoy, like Disability Pride. Vicki Landers 30:29 Yes. Izzy Kaufman 30:30 Beyond that, though, I see us I mean, we're already growing so much. Like we have that space now at Liberty Resources. It's on the second floor. Vicki Landers 30:40 Yes. Izzy Kaufman 30:41 Second floor of Liberty. So we have a, a space! Vicki Landers 30:44 Work in progress! Izzy Kaufman 30:45 Yeah, we're work in progress. That's okay. That's just the fact that we have like a spirit of physical space now is so exciting. And like, for years and years, it's been your apartment was the address of the headquarters. Vicki Landers 30:59 Yes it was! Izzy Kaufman 31:00 And I still love coming over to over to your apartment, and planning and scheming and all of that, because it's just like, you, you have shown me how to dream bigger for an organization, because I just didn't know what it was all about. And I'm still learning. But I think we're, we're capable of so much as a board even like, our, we have a new board, basically. And so I think I really want to catapult the board into doing a little bit more support for the organization. A little more, press a little more. What's the word I'm trying to get at? Vicki Landers 31:44 Promotion? Izzy Kaufman 31:45 Promotion, yes, A little more promotion. And then I think like Disability Pride, I think we can just grow in personnel to like, I want to see us have more staff. I want to see us like, yeah, I would love to see us have more staff and more full time staff, part time staff, whoever. And like, I want it to be like a well oiled machine, that we're like pumping out these events. And yeah, there, there's probably going to be hiccups. Because it's events. That's just how it is like, work through it. We adapt, because we're people with disabilities. And we kind of have to do that every single day. Right. But I think I'm just really excited about what we've already done. And I think just doing more. And just reaching more people is important, because I know there are still a lot of people with disabilities who are socially isolated, maybe live in institutions and don't have a chance to get out as much. So continuing to offer some like virtual stuff along with our in person stuff. That's definitely important to me, because I want to make sure we can reach everybody who might want to enjoy it. Vicki Landers 33:06 Yeah, I think that's why, you know, you know, this year, we expanded on not just doing our, you know, our one day events in different cities, but we started all of this programming, also, you know, some are pilot projects to see if they work in one space to see if we could imagine what it could look like in other spaces. You know, but one of the things I'm very thankful for is that you do your All About Disabled Sex conversations now, virtually because people across this, not only the state, but all over, you know, are looking for folks to give them ideas, like, give them something like finding that safe space to be able to and brave space to be able to like, have these conversations where they're not getting these conversations, where they don't have somebody they can turn to and ask these questions or find out this information. Izzy Kaufman 34:05 That is so true. And it's it's yeah, I really tried to just make it a space like a lot of people tell me after they go to the workshops that, "Oh, like I never had a chance to talk about that before with other people with disabilities." Or like, "Yeah, whenever I tried to talk about it with my friends, they're just like, they brushed me off." So yeah, it's it's an important space beyond just the sex education part of things. I think it's just a collective community sspace and experience. Vicki Landers 34:36 Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you so much, Izzy, for talking with me today. It's always fun. I'm always looking for more and more time in our busy lives, to sit and chat. I think it's really important like for this for as you as the new president, for folks to get to know you, it's one of the things I'm really trying to stress this year is for folks to get to know who are who, who's the, who the board is, so that we can start to people see like, our board is made up of folks with disabilities and folks that care, and our allies, that all of us coming together and doing this, it's not, thank goodness, it's not just me, it's all of us, and it takes a village. Unfortunately, I get to, I'm in the spotlight, way too often, I think. But this is space where I'm hoping over the next year or so to start to grow out that and I'm not the person on stage, because we're going to start hiring new staff, hiring young folks who are who are interested, finding those folks in the community who really want to be a part of Disability Pride and can like, I'm like, "Please, have at it be onstage. Do it for me." Because the part that I hate the most. Izzy Kaufman 36:05 But you do a great job at it, though. No one had to know no one would know that's how you feel. Vicki Landers 36:11 I will tell you, there was a time where Chuck was just like, you have to do it. Like, give me no choice. It's just like, you're just gonna do it and you're gonna be fine. I still have such anxiety about it every time. But I get through it now, because I just have to remember to like, I'm talking to my friends, which is what I'm doing. Izzy Kaufman 36:35 Exactly. And I could take over sometimes now. Vicki Landers 36:38 Yes please! Thank you, thank you! So alright, so before we go, I wanted to make sure that we, we actually I told everybody what is coming up on the calendars this year. So grab your calendar or your phone or however else you put your your dates in. It's really exciting in April, we're actually going to be having a coup(le)... having two inclusive dance workshops. We have a accessible birding event that's happening on April 14 in conjunction with our friends at Art-Reach and the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports and the Schuylkill Center for Educational Learning, like we're having this really great adventure outside but also learning from about this bird art exhibit. Sorry if I, I cannot remember the name of it and I apologize for that. And then the following weekend, we're getting out on the circuit trail in and celebrating Circuit Trail Day. And then of course, we have May 1st is super important. Make sure everybody gets on our website, make sure that you register, it's going to be humongous day. We are, it is Disability Pride Day at the Capitol. We are asking folks come in, main rotunda 9 o'clock in the morning, grab your snacks, get your folders, they'll have talking points for you, go and talk to your to your representatives. Try and make your appointments prior to doing that. That would be amazing. At 12 o'clock, head out to the front of the building at the bottom near the stairs. And we're going to have a rally. 1 o'clock we're doing a press conference to say why we're out here, what we're doing, and then we are going to stage our very own Capitol Crawl up the three flights of Harrisburg steps to get into the Capitol Building with the ask for Governor Shapiro to make the front entrance accessible for all Pennsylvanians. Because really, disabled folks are the only ones now that have to go into the back door which is I think is a [problem 39:04]. Izzy Kaufman 39:04 That's so true. Vicki Landers 39:06 I think it's [a] huge problem. And so I'm really excited about that. And then get on our website, you're gonna find out about our new events in Pittston. We're doing it again in, in Lehigh Valley on July 20, Oh Pittston is June, June 22. Lehigh Valley is in July on the 20th. Williamsport we're going out to celebrate doing a CILebration on August 10. We are back in Pittsburgh for Disability Pride Pittsburgh on August 24. And then of course the culmination of the, our event season is Disability Pride Philly on the Parkway on September 7, bigger and better than last year. So I hope everybody comes out and enjoys as much as they possibly can. I again today, I want to thank Highmark Whole Care for supporting this and being our sponsor. They do an amazing job to support our mission all year long. So we want to make sure that we're giving them a shout out, make sure you've checked them out at the tables at our events. And thank you everyone for showing up today. Listening to our podcast. We're really excited. We got lots of fun stuff coming up. So make sure that you stay in touch, and we will talk to you all very soon. Phill Rosen Voice Over 40:47 Please visit our accessible website at www dot disability pride pa dot org. You can find us on social media at Disability Pride PA on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.