Oakland Rotary News

Clancy the Clown (aka Jack McAboy) shared some Halloween jokes that he wrote in the 5th grade, including this chestnut – “Why do skeletons have low self-esteem? They have nobody to love.” He also shared this thought – As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul.

Kevin Kelley gave his self-introduction. He has been a member of Oakland Rotary for two and one-half years. In 2001, he moved from Boston to California. Kevin was a college lacrosse player and created a lacrosse team in Piedmont. In 2004, he began working with Richmond youth and discovered what was possible when children have resources.

In 2012, he formed The Oakland Lacrosse Club with a focus on nutrition, education and leadership. The club partners with 12 Oakland schools to give young people the opportunity to explore a new sport. Participation is free. Three of our Rotarians, Tom Limon, Sean Marx and Harold Lowe, serve on the board of directors. When we resume regular meetings, Kevin will receive his permanent Blue Badge.

Sponsor Keith Uriarte introduced Sheng Thao. Sheng represents District 4 on the Oakland City Council. Her parents were Hmong refugees and she is the 7th of 10 children who grew up in unincorporated Stockton. She is a domestic violence survivor and a single mother, who put herself through college. Sheng’s parents taught her the importance of building community and helping others. It is through this lens that Sheng has charged herself to give back to the community. As a college student at UC Berkeley, she helped establish the Bear Pantry for students with families who could not afford to buy healthy food.  Sheng is the first Hmong woman in California to serve as a city council member. In that role, she fights for transparency, wildfire prevention and addressing homeless and affordable housing crisis and quality of life concerns. President Ces inducted Sheng to our club and discussed the requirements and benefit of being a member where we do Service Above Self. WELCOME!!!

Past President and Chair of the Nominating Committee Sean Marx told members they have to until 8:00 pm tonight to vote for members of the Nominating Committee via a special web link supplied by Executive Director Pat Williams.  Attendees can cast seven votes, either distributing them among the nominees or giving one person all seven. The Nominating Committee will have its first meeting following next week’s Civic Thursday meeting.

Editor’s note: Members were notified on October 30th the seven elected members are CJ Hirschfield, Robert Kidd, Harold Lowe, Alex Poulsen, Mary Rudser, Diane Schaffer and David Stein.  They will be joined by Past President Peter Sherris and Nominating Committee Chair Sean Marx.

CJ Hirschfield introduced our speaker, Jim LeBrecht, an Oakland based filmmaker, sound designer and disability rights activist. He and Nicole Newnham are co-producers/directors of the film Crip Camp, an award-winning documentary executive-produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. The film tells the story of Jened, a teen summer camp and its impact on the disability rights movement. This year the film won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and just announced this week the film is one of three nominated by the Critic's Choice Association for Best Documentary Feature.

Jim LeBrecht discussed how the East Bay has been the hub of the Disability Rights Movement since the 1960’s. Growing up in Westchester County, New York and like so many others, he was lured to the Bay Area by the siren call of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. He attended the University of California San Diego and moved to Oakland in 1974.  He served as the Berkeley Rep sound director until 1979. In 1975, he attended Camp Jened. Jim felt a sense of belonging in the East Bay – there were many people with disabilities and the community was inclusive.

The Disability Rights Movement and the Independent Living Movement were closely intertwined. The impetus occurred when the Civil Rights movement began inspiring women, seniors and others to claim their rights as citizens. In the late 1960’s UC Berkeley began admitting many students with disabilities and provided accessibility to education, housing and personal assistants if needed. Ed Roberts (1939-1995) was a founder of UC’s Physically Disabled Students Program. This served as the blueprint for Berkeley’s Center for Independent Living (CIL). Mr. LeBrecht shared a story that may well go beyond urban legend. In the early days of the Disability Rights Movement, a group of students went out in the middle of the night with sledgehammers and created curb cuts for wheelchair accessibility.

The Center for Independent Living was a godsend for Mr. LeBrecht. He found a home and people who would build ramps, provide assistive technology and connections to personal aides. He noted that the Bay Area, particularly Berkeley, is a great accessible place because so much of it is flat. He spoke about the advocacy work provided by the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) which has assisted families in obtaining proper placements in education for disabled students and has been ready to litigate if necessary.

Mr. LeBrecht discussed care from the CIL and others in the disability community. When blackouts were occurring, people were provided with generators. He emphasized the strong ties among the disabled community and expressed concern over the Affordable Care Act, which does not factor in pre-existing conditions, while providing him and so many others with necessary insurance. The major concern in the disability community is not to be marginalized and to ensure that all voices are heard.

The film, Crip Camp, is available on Netflix and YouTube. It was released as part of Netflix’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The website www.cripcamp.com has some educational materials and conversation starters. He also encouraged business owners to abide by the ADA and make the accommodations because they want to and not because they have to, and he guarantees a change in heart.

To watch his video recording click here.