Deaf Equity

Deaf Equity is a local, community-based non-profit organization that serves the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community.  Our Mission is to advance equity and access for diverse communities of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing through Education, Community Engagement, Empowerment, and Advocacy. 

ID: Deaf Equity logo in both print and Braille. 

Deaf Equity is celebrating FIVE years of serving the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing community of Minnesota.  That's five years full of community collaborations with our partnering organizations and projects; Deaf Equity hosted projects, events, and activities, and sharing resources and informations from our community. We at Deaf Equity want to celebrate those moments as we plan for the next five years, and we are asking you to consider supporting Deaf Equity and continue the mission of giving back to the community. 

Our Story: 

A big group of Minnesota people wanted an organization that was local, that the community had more involvement in, that encourage volunteerism and a spin-off.  I recall one of the first meetings was at Bobbi Coronado's house and some of you were there.

Over that time, things changed. From 2015-2017 ideas were exchanged, people who decided to stick with DE stayed and others moved on. 2017 we officially completed the paperwork and with the support of KIS financially were able to become a 501c3. 

ID: Black square post with yellow text and icons. "Community Events". A bee flies on the top left corner. Below are icons with text next to them: "Community Cookout" (grill); "DE Birthday" (cake); "Fall Adventure" (pumpkin); and "Signing Santa" (Santa). 

How does DE stand out from all others?

Our programs and our services focus on all ages, all who are D, DB, HH, families, seniors, youth, LGBTQ and BIPOC.

Everyone is a LEADER.

We all bring expertise to the table, all have skills to offer.

All ideas and projects MATTER.

We are all VOLUNTEERS.

We create a space so everyone can exist.

We partner with organizations.

We do different projects.

We implement an expert network, providing resources, community support, and navigation.

We offer empowerment series.

Grow a volunteer base of opportunities for volunteers and community engagement. 

ID: Yellow square post with black text and icons. "Community Projects" with a flying bee on top; list of icons with text next to them below: "Empowerment Workshop series" (person presenting  a screen to a crowd); "Collaborations with partnering organizations and projects" (circle of four individuals linked together); "Zoom training and workshops" (four-way zoom screen). 

We are proud to continue our partnerships with local organizations and projects over the years Some of these current partnerships include the following: 

Minnesota Deaf Muslin Community (MDMC)

Minnesota Deaf Queers (MDQ)

University of Minnesota Deaf College Bowl (CoBo) Team 

Renovation/Elevator Project at Charles Thompson Hall

Deaf Equity is making it possible for several of to also raise funds on Give to the Max Day by selecting them as choices on a drop-down menu on the checkout page. When you support Deaf Equity, you support more than one organizations and projects!

ID: Black square post with yellow text and white icons. ""Community Accessibility" with a flying bee on top; with text and icons below: "Information and resources" (question mark); "ASL interpreting for events and projects" (interpreter hands); "Captioning for events and projects" (CC symbol).

Deaf equity has been providing community events, workshops, and activities FREE to the public. To do this, we count on the community's support to offset the costs of interpreting and captioning requests. We are asking you to donate to allow us to continue providing these activities for free. 

ID: Yellow square post with black text and icons. "Bee kind and support Deaf Equity today!" Flying bee below with a trail that makes a heart halfway through. 

The act of kindness has a lasting impact. 

  We thank all our volunteers, community partners, and organizations for being part of this work!  

We at Deaf Equity thank you for your support today, tomorrow, and in the days to come. 

Jessalyn Akerman-Frank, John Fechter, Migdalia Rogers, Krissy Foreman, Jer Loudenback, Riss Leitzke, Nae Williams, and Kaitlyn Mielke

ID: Group of signatures of the Deaf Equity Board.