Voices of Change at MLK Library May 5th, 2023. SchoolTalk Logo

On May 5, 2023, SchoolTalk brought back the in-person Voices of Change Conference!

Voices of Change is for D.C. high school students with disabilities to gain knowledge and skills to lead self-determined lives through opportunities to learn, lead, and act. This year’s theme is Create Change, specifically as it relates to disability awareness, self-expression, and career exploration.

When: Friday, May 5, 2023  |  10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library  |  901 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

Eligibility:

  • D.C. high school students with disabilities, including students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 Plans
  • This is a Pre-Employment Transition Service (Pre-ETS), funded by the D.C. Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). Completion of PRE-ETS consent forms for students is highly encouraged.

Agenda At-A-Glance

  • Opening Plenary – Voice of Change will open with a high-energy plenary session featuring performers, a youth DJ, and brief framing remarks.
  • Breakout Activities – Youth will rotate through several opportunities:
    • Exhibit Hall with a focus on careers that create change, mini-informational interviews with professionals, time with community vendors and service providers, and information on entrepreneurship
    • Exploratory Stations led by students with disabilities with a focus on hands-on learning.
    • DC Public Library Tours hosted by the library’s Center for Accessibility (limited slots available)
  • Closing Performance & Lunch – Voices of Change will wrap up in this session with a call to action and youth performers.

Special Thanks to Our Partners & Funders

  • DC Department on Disability Services’ Rehabilitation Services Administration
  • DC Public Library Center for Accessibility
  • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Logo - D.C. Department on Disability Services (DDS)Logo - DC Public LibraryLogo - The Kennedy Center