Q: What Self-Advocacy organization exists in

Minnesota?

A: We have a network of 58 groups, Called Self-Advocates Minnesota

How SAM

Works: Six

Regions

How SAM is

financed

How It Works:

Statewide Leadership

Each Region Takes Turn

Hosting

• Leadership Circle meets • two times each year • Location rotates to each

Region

SAM: Key Features

SAM is about cooperation, not competition. Anyone who wants to belong to SAM is welcome. Any ally who wants to support SAM is welcome. SAM is not a new nonprofit organization. It uses existing leadership and organizations to support the network. The model is grassroots and not top-down.

What are the RESOURCES for Self-Advocates in Minnesota

Philanthropic Minnesota Foundations and Corporate Giving Programs

Public Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Minnesota Department of Human Services

Earned Rose Sales / Car Wash / Hot Dog Booth Sales of mission related products (bank loans to finance development) Fee for Service

Chip-In 40 Disability orgs chip in to sponsor big conference

Donor Base Individual gifts

Workplace Giving Campaigns Community Shares

In Kind Everything from meeting space to graphics to drivers to costume design!

Q: What has NOT worked in your state for S.A. organizations?

A: Lecture, a Panel, or other TOP-DOWN information

What has worked in

Minnesota for Self-Advocacy?

Music

Art

Frozen Sculptures Role-Play

Theater

Community Meetings

Poetry

Community Service

Self-Advocacy Bingo

Human Rights Fair Games

Breakfast Club

Energizers Collecting Stories

Using the Media

Planning Petitions

What are the CHALLENGES for Self-Advocates in Minnesota? Funding Our SAM network if vulnerable if public funds are cut. Many groups do not have diversified funding

Limited Reach In Minnesota, there are many people we are not reaching with the message of self-advocacy, including people with higher support needs

Q: What are you

most proud of

in regards to self-advocacy in your state?

Apology Resolution

Offense Taken

Human Rights Education

Conferences

Train the Trainer

Work at Legislature

What are the DREAMS for Self-Advocates in Minnesota?

Common understanding of disability as a

human rights issue

Funding is not a money problem— It’s a values problem. Our dream is that self-advocacy is valued enough to receive

stable, consistent funds to do the work.

A world where

everyone belongs!

Build the SAM network to include more

issue organizing,

more outreach to

underserved folks

more power at the capital.

Minnesota Summit Team Colleen Wieck MN DD Council

Sandra Moore Protection and Advocacy

Beth Fondell UCEDD

Mary Kay Kennedy Advocating Change Together

(ACT)

Carol Robinson ACT, SAM, SABE

Galen Smith Self-Advocates Minnesota (SAM),

•ARC United-Central, ADAPT

Carrie Varner SAM, People First Lyon County

Katie McDermott ACT, SAM, Partners in Policy Making,

Merrick PF

Wilbur Neuswander-Frink Self Advocates Minnesota (SAM),

ARC Southwest

Alex Bartolic MN Dept. Human Services

Rachael Sarto MN LEND (Leadership Education in

Neurodevelopmental & Related

Disabilities, U of Minnesota

Thanks

www.selfadvocacy.org/programs/sam/

Slide Number 1Q: What Self-Advocacy organization exists in Minnesota?How SAM Works: Six�RegionsHow SAM is financedHow It Works: Statewide�LeadershipEach Region Takes Turn Hosting�SAM: Key FeaturesWhat are the RESOURCES �for Self-Advocates in MinnesotaQ: What has NOT worked in your state for S.A. organizations?What has worked in �Minnesota �for Self-Advocacy? What are the CHALLENGES �for Self-Advocates in Minnesota?Q: What are you �most proud of�� in regards to self-advocacy �in your state? What are the DREAMS �for Self-Advocates in Minnesota?Minnesota Summit Team ThanksSlide Number 23