In the Summer of 2024, Disability EmpowHer Network graduated our third class of EmpowHer Camp Young Leaders and have now graduated 24 incredible disabled young women and nonbinary people. One week after the Class of 2024 graduated, we started the journey again with a new group of young leaders and mentors, and we've already seen incredible growth. Check out our Impact Reports to learn more about the growth journey of our young leaders and their mentors.
EmpowHer Camp Class of 2025
Group photo of young leaders and mentors in purple sweatshirts that say "Disabled Women Make History"
EmpowHer Camp - Class of 2025 (ADK Trip)
Impact Report
PDF Version
Fast Facts
Independent Living Skills: 100% of parents indicated that their child had strengthened independent living skills such as self-advocacy, planning, cooking, and self-care.
Growth: 86% of young leaders reported growing in at least one leadership skill including communication, problem solving, time management, and teamwork
Quick Recap
EmpowHer Camp welcomed seven new young leaders to the program this summer during a wilderness camping trip in the Adirondacks. Our young leaders spent an incredible week with accomplished disabled women mentors and allies. Across the week we saw this group of young leaders form strong connections with each other through intellectual conversations, silly inside jokes, and opening up about their vulnerabilities. We explored topics such as emergency preparedness and response, while building leadership skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and self advocacy. Each young leader learned to build fires, cook new foods, and much more. Each young leader was matched with a disabled woman mentor who will support them in completing a community impact project over the next year which they planned together while at camp. The week was also filled with fun activities like tie-dyeing, campfire songs, and a camp-wide scavenger hunt. Everyone is leaving camp with new memories of plenty of laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable experiences. We cannot wait to see what exciting and impactful things these young leaders do this next year!
Young leaders Chelsea, Mady, and Aurelia and Mentor Chrysanthemum pose with moss on their heads.
Young leaders Bri and Ivy tie dye their shirts while wearing ponchos.
Young leader Avery Grace uses a Life Straw to drink from a cup.
What Comes Next?
Now that our young leaders have learned about emergency preparedness and advocacy and been matched with their mentor, they are ready to spend the next year tackling their community impact project.
They will advocate for inclusive and accessible emergency preparedness and response for disabled people in their communities, navigating the obstacles and difficulties of their project with the support of their mentor whom they will meet with every month virtually. Participants and mentors discuss their projects, school, family, goals, college, future careers, and much more! They will also have virtual meet-ups across the year with the whole class to bond, play games, learn new skills like resume writing, and hear about each other’s projects.
After nine months, the Class of 2025 will travel to Washington, D.C. for their reunion trip. While on this trip, the young leaders will visit museums and monuments, learn new skills like interviewing, share about their project with their Senator’s office and members of the disability community, and spend time with their camp friends.
Mentor Lavender and Young Leader Solen pose together after being matched for mentoring across the year.
Class of 2025 pose together making funny faces on the dock on the lake.
Young Leader Mady and Chef Curran cook on the camp stove together.
What People Are Saying
Mentor: "EmpowHer Camp was life-changing. The experience showed the importance of being independent and interdependent in our community."
Young Leader: “I’ve learned that disabled women have more power than we realize and that we shouldn’t say sorry to anyone for being different or doing things differently then others.”
Young Leader: “I've learned that I'm capable of much more than I thought.”
EmpowHer Camp Class of 2024
Group photo of Young Leaders and mentors at the FDR Memorial in DC.
EmpowHer Camp- Class of 2024
Impact Report
PDF Version
Fast Facts
Leadership: 88% of young leaders indicated growth in at least one leadership skill including communication, problem solving, confidence and adaptability.
Self-care: 100% of the Class of 2024 reported developing better self-care skills across the last year.
Quick Recap
The EmpowHer Camp Class of 2024 wrapped up their year-long journey this past July. Our journey began in August 2023 as young leaders and mentors gathered in the Adirondacks for a week of immersive camping. We explored survival, independent living, and leadership skills, interspersed with jam sessions featuring a ukulele and flute. By week’s end, our young leaders left with a community impact project plan and a mentor ready to support them in carrying out their project.
Throughout the year, they tackled important issues with creativity and grit. Projects included presentations to school districts about keeping students safe when there is an active shooter, a wallet card to help folks with processing disabilities stay safe during fires, an awareness campaign on supporting people with disabilities in an emergency, and a one-pager on fire safety paired with an original song, “The Fire Safety Blues”.
In July, the class reunited in Washington D.C. for a week of learning and fun. They participated in workshops, mock job interviews, and met with their Senator’s office. This year the DC Public Library’s Office for Accessibility hosted the young leaders for Presentation Night where each young leader shared their project accomplishments with other members of the Disability Community and members of the public. The group checked out the National African American History Museum and ended the week with a pool party on the hotel roof.
Young leader Ladania looking through a binder at the National African American History Museum.
Young leader Abby speaks into a microphone during presentation night.
Group of young leaders and mentors on the metro.
What Comes Next?
Having completed their community projects, the young leaders graduated from EmpowHer Camp at the conclusion of the reunion trip, but they are only just beginning their advocacy and leadership journeys, and Disability EmpowHer Network will be there to support them every step of the way.
During their reunion trip, the young leaders reviewed the goals they had set for themselves the previous summer and set new long term goals for their future. Disability EmpowHer Network will continue to support each graduate in reaching their long term goals by offering information and referrals for their transition to adulthood, offering support with employment and educational goals, and being a shoulder to lean on when it all feels too tough. Additionally, we conduct twice a year check-ins with each graduate until they are employed or for 6 years following their graduation- whichever is later.
Each and every graduate from EmpowHer Camp is given access to our active, supportive, and vibrant alumni group- opening up more doors for mentorship and new friendships.
What People Are Saying
Young Leader: "There is still much growing to be done, but I feel as though I have learned what it means to feel purpose."
Young Leader: “I feel that I've grown to be a better and overall more confident public speaker. I also feel that I've become a stronger, even more passionate advocate.”
Young leaders Lonny and Evie pose with mentors Sophie and Melanie and a staff member of Senator Sherrod Brown outside the Senator's office.
Young leaders CC and Rachel posing with Mentor Abby in the swimming pool.
Young Leader Dasha poses with her leader logs talking about her growth and goals.