An Evening with Anita Cameron – June 27, 7pm EDT, Join Us!

 

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

We are launching the DisCoTec Center with a reading from disability justice legend Anita Cameron followed by a Q&A! Please join us!

An Evening with Anita Cameron

Moderated by Damien P. Williams

Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 7:00pm EDT on Zoom.

Registration: https://bit.ly/3Rs5pk8

Anita Cameron is a disability justice activist who has been involved in social change activism and community organizing for 42 years. She’s been arrested 140 times fighting for disability rights with ADAPT and involved with social justice work in healthcare, transportation, voting rights, emergency preparedness, representation, and LGBTQIA2S+ nondiscrimination. As a Black Disabled Lesbian, Anita’s unique intersectional perspective allows them to promote understanding among different groups of disenfranchised people.

Anita has been honored with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s 2017 Service to the Self Advocacy Movement, ADAPT’s 2018 Lead On Award, Rochester Museum and Science Center’s 2020 Changemaker Award, NCIL’s 2023 Corey Rowley National Advocacy Award, and she was selected in 2024 as one of 10 Black disability justice activists to receive a grant from Borealis Philanthropy’s Black Disabled Liberation Project for We Were There, Too: Blacks in the Disability Movement.

During the past month, the DisCoTec Center has been host to Anita as a virtual writer-in-residence to work on her memoir about her life, entitled Troublemaker, from which she will read this evening.

The Disability Community Technology Center (DisCoTec) is a shared set of projects and events meant to serve our broader region and disabled expertise. DisCoTec seeks to aid in developing disabled-led technology and disability-forward futures through humanities-based scholarship and justice-oriented arts outreach.

DisCoTec, our writer’s residency, this event, and much more have been made possible through generous funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as part of the Just Dis Tech Project between University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Virginia Tech.

Please come, and please share within your networks! ASL and CART will be provided.

Anita Cameron sits proudly in her wheelchair against a dark background. They are wearing black pants and blazer and a green turtleneck.
Anita Cameron sits proudly in her wheelchair against a dark background. They are wearing black pants and blazer and a green turtleneck.

Anita Cameron is Inaugural Artist In Residence at Virginia Tech!

 

Anita Cameron is Inaugural Artist In Residence at Virginia Tech!

On June 1, 2024, I began my tenure as a Virtual Writer in Residence at Virginia Tech. The Residency will be until June 20th.

I am the first Artist in Residence at Virginia Tech’s DisCoTech Center.

I am working on my book, Troublemaker: The Life and Times of an Intersectional Activist. Each night, I work on certain topics. Actually, the book is mostly written; I wrote it back in 2016. I’m mostly updating and adding more about my childhood.

I’m working with an editor and others and will be reporting on my progress so that I can be accountable.

I will write a book proposal to be submitted to a publisher. My editor already has a notable publishing house to submit to.

At the end of the Residency, I will give a presentation where I read a polished chapter (or two) from the book. More on that soon!

Here is the link announcing my Residency, that has more information and a link to register for my talk that will be on June 27, 7:00pm-8:15pm EST. We will have CART captioning and ASL interpretation provide

Anita Cameron!

Anita Cameron Receives Disability Justice Grant 

 

Borealis Philanthropy’s Black-Led Movement Fund (BLMF) and Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) launched The Black Disabled Liberation Project, a co-funding initiative to resource organizing happening at the critical intersection of disability and Blackness. 

The Black Disabled Liberation Project is meant to challenge the historical lack of investment in Black disabled activists—and make clear how the philanthropic sector can center and resource their leadership, wisdom, and solutions moving forward. The funding initiative is the first and only of its kind.

My project is one of 10 Black-led disability justice projects to receive grants totaling $1M – each project receives $100K over a two year period.

Here’s a description of my Project:

“We Were There, Too: We Were There, Too: Blacks in the Disability Movement is a project led by Anita Cameron, a Black disabled lesbian whose leadership has been present at historical moments in both the disability rights and justice movement. Her activism has ensured ongoing liberation from nursing homes and institutional care, especially for marginalized disabled community members with limited access to privilege and advocacy power. Anita’s new project will highlight the contributions of Black disabled people in the disability rights movement, which often gets erased by white, disabled-led disability rights movement leaders.”

The end goal of the Project is to create a collection of recordings, stories, materials and artifacts that will be housed in a setting that will allow access to the community, as well as scholars and historians.

ID: Anita Cameron holds a copy of their book, My Itty Bitty Bio

Anita Cameron holds a copy of their book, My Itty Bitty Bio. Anita is wearing a mask and in a wheelchair inside a hotel lobby at a conference.

Recap of Hipocampo Book Signing Event

 

Below are some pictures from the Hipocampo book signing event on September 30, 2023.

Hipocampo outdoor chalk sign that reads Anita Cameron Book Signing & Talk 3 PM.
Hipocampo outdoor chalk sign that reads Anita Cameron Book Signing & Talk 3 PM.
Anita wearing a mask sitting at a table holding books looking down at a table inside Hipocampo bookstore.
Anita wearing a mask sitting at a table holding books looking down at a table inside Hipocampo bookstore.
Anita sitting at a table inside Hipcampo bookstore as Christopher signs in ASL behind her as another person is beside Anita pointing up.
Anita sitting at a table inside Hipcampo bookstore as Christopher signs in ASL behind her as another person is beside Anita pointing up.
Anita wearing a mask sitting at a table holding an event poster and My Itty Bitty Bio Book with an adult and child standing next to her smiling for a camera.
Anita wearing a mask sitting at a table holding an event poster and My Itty Bitty Bio Book with an adult and child standing next to her smiling for a camera.
Close up of Anita wearing a mask with Christopher holding Anita'ss My Itty Bitty Bio book beside her. A person in a 3 wheeled scooter is in front of them looking away and down at Hipcampo bookstore.
Close up of Anita wearing a mask with Christopher holding Anita’s My Itty Bitty Bio book beside her. A person in a 3 wheeled scooter is in front of them looking away and down at Hipcampo bookstore.
Anita wearing a mask with Christopher holding Anita'ss My Itty Bitty Bio book beside her.
Anita wearing a mask with Christopher holding Anita’s My Itty Bitty Bio book beside her.
Anita sitting at a table in Hipocampo holding her children's with 3 children posing for the camera as another person is in front of them in their wheelchair taking a picture from their camera.
Anita sitting at a table in Hipocampo holding her children’s with 3 children posing for the camera as another person is in front of them in their wheelchair taking a picture from their camera.
Anita sitting at a table in Hipocampo bookstore with her childrens and YA books she wrote with an adult and 2 children posing with her children's book for the camera.
Anita sitting at a table in Hipocampo bookstore with her childrens and YA books she wrote with an adult and 2 children posing with her children’s book for the camera.
Anita sitting at a table in Hipocampo bookstore with her childrens and YA books she wrote as a person bends down talking to her. Another person in a scooter and a child are in the background.
Anita sitting at a table in Hipocampo bookstore with her childrens and YA books she wrote as a person bends down talking to her. Another person in a scooter and a child are in the background.

October 5, 2023 speaking event with Virginia Tech

 

The Office for Inclusion and Diversity, with the Disability Alliance and Caucus at Virginia Tech has invited me to speak via Zoom on October 5, 2023 at 5:00 pm.

Register here.

I’ll be talking about my life and work as a disability justice activist.

They will be organizing listening parties for my event.

Stay tuned for more details and other speaking events soon!

A flyer with an image of Anita Cameron. The text on this image reads: The Office for Inclusion and Diversity, with the Disability Alliance and Caucus at Virginia Tech present A Webinar Conversation with Anita Cameron Disability Justice Author and Activist Thursday, October 5th at 5:00pm Photo Courtesy of Not Dead Yet Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/QKKF350tXt Virginia Tech Inclusion and Diversity logo If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services, or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Jeneen Preston, Program Manager, at 540-231-1242 during business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event. *DD number is 800-828-1120.
A flyer with an image of Anita Cameron. The text on this image reads: The Office for Inclusion and Diversity, with the Disability Alliance and Caucus at Virginia Tech present A Webinar Conversation with Anita Cameron Disability Justice Author and Activist Thursday, October 5th at 5:00pm Photo Courtesy of Not Dead Yet Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/QKKF350tXt Virginia Tech Inclusion and Diversity logo If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services, or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Jeneen Preston, Program Manager, at 540-231-1242 during business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event. *DD number is 800-828-1120.

Book Signing Event at Hipocampo Children’s Books

 

My book signing event is coming up September 30, 2023 at 3pm at Hipocampo Children’s Books at 638 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620.

Updated Zoom link
Eventbright Invite

Buy your copy here online from Hipocampo Children’s Books

Flyer that reads: Author Event and Book Signing Anita Cameron. In a speech bubble it says, kids and adults welcome! Anita will present her story of the struggle for disability rights! September 30th at 3pm. 638 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620. Images include 1. Book cover image of My Itty Bitty Bio children’s book with cartoon picture of Anita at the Capitol Crawl protest for the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is at the steps of the Capitol in a wheelchair with a bullhorn holding a disability rights flag. There is an Easter Seals logo at the bottom. 2. Image of digitally painted poster with images at the bottom of Anita in a wheelchair with a bullhorn holding a disability rights flag. Another painted image of Anita on the ground facing down being handcuffed by police officers. At the top is Anita wearing an ADAPT beanie with her long locs and it says "Civil Rights are not given you must fight for them. Then fight to keep them.
Flyer that reads: Author Event and Book Signing Anita Cameron. In a speech bubble it says, kids and adults welcome! Anita will present her story of the struggle for disability rights! September 30th at 3pm. 638 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620. There is a QR code and a footer that reads Contact Us 585-461-0160 hipocampchildrensbooks.com. Images include 1. Book cover image of My Itty Bitty Bio children’s book with cartoon picture of Anita at the Capitol Crawl protest for the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is at the steps of the Capitol in a wheelchair with a bullhorn holding a disability rights flag. There is an Easter Seals logo at the bottom. 2. Image of digitally painted poster with images at the bottom of Anita in a wheelchair with a bullhorn holding a disability rights flag. Another painted image of Anita on the ground facing down being handcuffed by police officers. At the top is Anita wearing an ADAPT beanie with her long locs and it says “Civil Rights are not given you must fight for them. Then fight to keep them.

My Itty Bitty Bio

 

I will be featured in the Itty Bitty Bio children’s book series and wrote about me and the Capitol Crawl. It comes out in August but presales are happening now. I saw links to Target and Barnes & Noble. You can read more about it here.

I don’t profit from this, but I’m excited that it’s getting out.

Image of My Itty Bitty Bio children's book with cartoon picture of Anita at the Capitol Crawl protest for the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is at the steps of the Capitol in a wheelchair with a bullhorn holding a disability rights flag.
Book cover image of My Itty Bitty Bio children’s book with cartoon picture of Anita at the Capitol Crawl protest for the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is at the steps of the Capitol in a wheelchair with a bullhorn holding a disability rights flag. There is a Easter Seals logo at the bottom.

Update

 

I recently had another meeting with my editor and was able to respond to my first invoice. My editor is excited.

Here’s her second thoughts:

“I feel like Troublemaker is off to a good start and now that the initial read-through and the notes are done, we can really get started! In the coming days we will be able to go through the material and finalize each section and your book will be done! I am both humbled and excited to be working on a project of such importance!”

I’m also working on our website and will update you on it’s progress. 

Thanks to all of you who have supported, donated and spread the word!

Update

 

I have an editor!

She’s had the manuscript a few days. She’s read the first few chapters, suggested a format change that I agree with, and has sent some notes.

Here’s her first impression so far:

“My first response during my initial read (without notes) was that I got lost in reading it. I didn’t want to stop because it all felt new and fresh. I think that even your oldest friends will read this and see a part of you that maybe they didn’t see before. More importantly, I felt like you were telling me a story as opposed to me reading one. It has that feeling like two friends are just sitting down talking and that’s something that is rare, so I love that it’s here.”

Thoughts directly from my editor!

Now I’m really excited! Thanks to all of you for your donations and support. Let’s keep this momentum going!

Update

 

In going over the book and being honest that it needs a lot more work and therefore, more editor hours and commiserate pay, I’ve increased the goal.

After all, if this book is going to be AMAZING and pure FIRE, I must do what needs to be done!

Thank you SO much to all of my donors and supporters! I love and appreciate you all!