VOICEOVER: Welcome Nikki Villavicencio, MCD council chair, and David Dively, MCD executive director.
NIKKI VILLAVICENCIO: Hello, everyone, I am Nikki Villavicencio. I use she/her pronouns. And I have the pleasure and honor of being the chairperson of the Minnesota Council on Disability. I am a disabled Filipinx. And I have long brown hair, green eyes, and glasses. Today, I am wearing a black shirt.
Our council members participate in a lot of activities, including disability and community events, like conferences or outreach opportunities on behalf of the agency. We speak to legislators and often testify at legislative hearings. Council members are connectors between our local communities, the agency staff, and the legislature. We advocate for our community’s needs, and we ensure our voices are heard.
I am passionate about a lot of different disability rights issues, including being a disabled parent. Being on the Council helps me to make change and influence our systems in Minnesota. The Council only has so many staff, so when Council Members support the agency’s activities by bringing the perspective of our local community, it’s a good partnership, and it really expands our capacity to do the work. Now, I’d like to turn it over to our executive director, David Dively.
DAVID DIVELY: Thanks, Nikki. Hello, I’m David Dively, the executive director of the Minnesota Council on Disability. I’m a bald white man wearing a blue polo with the MCD logo. I’d like to share with you a brief overview of our work and how our staff, together with our governing council, drives our mission forward.
At the core of our agency is a commitment to ensuring that every Minnesotan with a disability can live with dignity, independence, and full inclusion in all aspects of community life. We do this through advocating for public policy in offering technical assistance in a variety of areas, from accessible public spaces to disability parking to voting, to give state agencies, legislators, and our local communities the tools they need to break down barriers to accessibility.
Our many successes result from the combined dedication of agency staff and our governing council. The Council brings together experts from across Minnesota. Their diverse perspectives are invaluable. And they play an important role in shaping resources and policy recommendations that are technically sound and reflect the real world experience of Minnesotans. I see firsthand how this partnership fosters innovation and responsiveness. Whether it’s addressing current challenges or refining long-term strategy, this collaborative work is essential for finding solutions that genuinely improve the lives of people with disabilities across our state.