AccessLetter: News & Information for the Access-Minded

February 23, 2021

AccessLetter

News and Information for the Access-Minded

Celebrating Black History Month; COVID-19 Vaccine and Community Policing Surveys;

& More

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Celebrating Black History Month

In celebrating Black History Month, CCPD honors the enormous--and often overlooked--contributions made by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) people with Disabilities to the disability rights movement, while also acknowledging our society's deep-seated structural racism that continues to impact these communities. This structural racism has been particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While it's unfortunate that these two online events conflict with one another, check them out and be sure to register if you wish to attend one of them:

The Michigan Disability Rights Coalition presents Fighting for Justice: The Legacy Continues

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Thursday, Feb. 25

This event will discuss the long history of Black disabled people fighting for justice for the Black and disabled community. We will look at how the Civil Rights movement, starting with the Brown v. Board of Education and the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, laid down the groundwork for the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and later the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Lastly, we will discuss how we can continue to protect the rights of Black and disabled people as well as how civil rights can particularly address people who exist at the intersection of those identities.

Cambridge Celebrates with Author Danielle Evans in Conversation with Kim McLarin

6:30 - 7:45 PM

Thursday, Feb. 25

Celebrate Black History Month with Danielle Evans, the author of The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella and Stories, which is a finalist for The Story Prize, and is longlisted for The PEN/Faulkner Award, The Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and The Aspen Words Literary Prize.

Evans will be in conversation with Kim McLarin, the author of a forthcoming critique of James Baldwin's Another Country who is best known for Growing Up X: A Memoir by the Daughter of Malcolm X, co-authored with Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X.

Cambridge COVID-19 Vaccine Community Survey

The City of Cambridge wants to know how Cambridge residents feel about the COVID-19 vaccine and what questions or concerns you may have to help us communicate important information more clearly to you and your community.

Your answers will help the City plan how to share information with residents to help encourage everyone to get vaccinated.

Please click the button below to access the Cambridge COVID-19 Vaccine Community Survey in multiple languages to give your anonymous opinions in a short, 10 minute survey by Friday, February 26th.

Take Survey

Call for Participants in Community Policing Survey

The Office of Councillor E. Denise Simmons is seeking Cambridge residents who are

interested in participating in an upcoming focus group to discuss community policing in the City of

Cambridge. Sessions will be discussion groups of 8-12 people meeting for 90 minutes over Zoom, with a

facilitator directing the conversation based on a standardized set of questions. Those interested must be:

A current resident of Cambridge
Age 16 or over
Have access to reliable WiFi (to participate via Zoom)

In her role as Chair of the Civic Unity Committee, Councilor Simmons is looking to engage with the

community via these focus groups to gain a greater sense of community thoughts, feelings, and

knowledge around issues of community policing and public safety. The results will factor into upcoming

Civic Unity Committee discussions and potential recommendations to the full City Council.

Interested participants are asked to email Councillor Simmons as soon as possible with the subject line: “Interest In Community Police Survey.” Please include your name, your email, phone number, and street address in these emails. Please also tell us which of the following dates/times you would be available to participate. You will be assigned to one session based on how we can best accommodate everyone’s availability. It is possible that you will not be chosen due to limited spots and conflicts in people's availability.

Wed, Feb 24th (12 pm -1:30 pm)
Wed, Feb 24th (6:30 pm - 8 pm)
Thu, Feb 25th (12 pm - 1:30 pm)
Thu, Feb 25th (6:30 pm - 8 pm)
Sat, Feb 27th (10 am - 11:30 am)
Sat, Feb 27th (3pm - 4:30 pm)

Our office will assign you a slot and send you the Zoom link shortly afterward. Participants will be added

on a “first come, first placed” basis. We thank you for your interest.

Email Councillor Simmons

Updated: COVID-19 Resources for Cambridge Residents with Disabilities

People with disabilities (PwD) and/or certain ongoing health problems, especially people who have problems with their lungs or with fighting off illness, are at a higher risk of getting very sick if they get COVID-19. The Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has updated this list of resources to help you get your basic needs, including vaccination, met during this public health crisis.

NOTE: CCPD is meeting via Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of each month

The agenda for our next meeting on Thursday, March 11 will be posted online at least 48 hours ahead of time. All are welcome!

Commission for Persons with Disabilities | 51 Inman Street, 2nd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139

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