We are grateful to all the participants and members of the INCIGHT Community. We had the opportunity to interview some of our previous scholarship recipients and jobseekers and asked them to share the impact they are making in the world. With a special focus on DIVERSITY in the FALL issue of the magazine, we also asked them to share what this word means and why it matters to them.
Susan Anderson
INCIGHT Scholar: 2006
Portland State University Community Development Major with a Business Minor
Current role: Safeway and MOM to an almost-3-year-old
Disability: Deaf
Superpower: I'm a contributing member to society and I'm working on overcoming HandiCRAP
Q: Can you please share your greatest accomplishments and any future accomplishments you hope to achieve?
“My greatest accomplishment has been getting to experience life through college. Truly. I kid, but in some ways where I am today wouldn't have been possible without INCIGHT and the chance to experience college. Thank you for believing in me! And then when INCIGHT helped me get a job interview with Safeway as a Courtesy Clerk, this really set forward a lot of things in motion, teaching me the value of hard work and giving me pride in helping people get food on their tables.
I've gone on to become a Board Member for CymaSpace (www.cymaspace.org), where we are creating cultural equity for our communities by advocating for accessible and inclusive Art, STEM, Education and Workforce Development. We've gone on to open a café aimed at becoming a community space. Check out the Woodstock Café at 4103 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97202.”
“Diversity IS. Diversity embodies me, and you, the reader. It isn't going to go away. It's coming loud and proud.Showing that Diverse, Disabled people CAN be contributing members to society and we have a lot to share.”
Wes Studer
INCIGHT Scholar: 2005 - 2009
Graduate of University of Portland, History and Political Science
Current role: Administrative Coordinator at OHSU's Center for Learner Diversity & Inclusion
Disability: Asperger's Syndrome
Superpower: Amazing Memory Skills
Q: How has INCIGHT helped unlock the potential in you to make great contributions in your world?
“I’ve been passionate about working with and supporting under-served and under-represented communities since I was in grade school when I started assisting my father with coaching sports for children with disabilities. Through my involvement with INCIGHT as a scholar, intern, and volunteer, my commitment to these communities has strengthened greatly. I’ve used this inspiration from INCIGHT to guide me in my career, and today I'm an Ad- ministrative Coordinator at the Center for Learner Diversity & Inclusion at Oregon Health & Science University. I consider obtaining this role to be one of my greatest accomplishments, and I'm looking forward to contributing to the further empowerment and support of those in under-served and under-represented communities.”
Q: What are your thoughts on DIVERSITY?
“I feel that a key component in creating a more tolerant and just world, is an understanding of not only other people's perspectives, but also the experiences that have shaped their perspectives. Therefore, in any given setting, when there's a great number of diverse people, with diverse viewpoints, shaped by diverse background experiences, it opens a door of opportunity for people to learn about why others approach certain situations differently, and/or may have a different outlook on life. Through these learning experiences, there may be that broadening of our own perspectives, which may in turn inspire us to appreciate each other's differences, as we strive for a more equitable community.”
Sam Bridgman
INCIGHT Employment Program Participant: 2014
University of Portland - Finance, University of South Florida - MBA and Masters and Sport andEntertainment ManagementDisability: Friedreich's Ataxia
Superpower: My smile :)
“INCIGHT helped me to gain the confidence to go out there and be myself. This was done through the résumé building events when I was in college and the career fairs among other things.”
Q: What are your greatest accomplishments?
“That is a tough question because there have been so many things big and small that I've done in my life so far. I think one of the greatest accomplishments for me has been interacting with the FA community, raising fundraising dollars, getting involved in research, and helping to inspire the younger generation of FAers (and wheelchair users in general).”
Q: Why is DIVERSITY important to you?
“Diversity is important to me because I think it is important for the next generation to believe that they can be in a certain position. When kids in wheelchairs (or any minority) are able to grow up and see people that look like them doing things that make a positive impact on society, then those kids will grow up, believing that they too can do that.
Elizabeth Albright
INCIGHT Scholar: 2015
Current role: Special Education Instructional Assistant
Disability: ADHD and Intellectual Disabilities
Superpower: Persistence
JD Duran
INCIGHT Scholar: 2013 - 2017 Portland State University - Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Current role: freelance social media manager and photographer
Disability: Charcot Marie Tooth Disease Type 2a
Superpower: I can fly! I soar over any expectations or preconceived notions people have had throughout my life.
“Diversity is important because it gives a chance for people of different backgrounds to come together and paint the bigger picture of what the world is supposed to be. It is easy to get caught up in our small groups of like people. Diversity allows us to all be reminded of the bigger picture and coming together.”
Q: How has INCIGHT helped unlock the potential in you to make great contributions in your world?
“INCIGHT helped me to go to college and saw potential in me and gave me an internship for social marketing. INCIGHT has helped me discover my talents in photography also. I have been able to combine all my passions to become a cutting edge social media manager and ultimately led to starting my own business. INCIGHT has been so impactful in broadening my horizons and helping me in educational and professional ways that I will forever be grateful for.”
Q: Can you please tell us a little bit about what you have accomplished since we spoke to you last?
“A recent accomplishment as of this year was my job developer helped me get a job to teach finance classes at a homeschool co-op. I hope this class teaches the students that the life skill of budgeting is necessary to learn now in order to be successful as they grow older.”
“ My thought of diversity means that we all have beautiful disabilities that shape who we are as a person. The world would be boring if there was no diversity with all disabilities.”
Kelcie Laube
INCIGHT Scholar: 2018 - 2024
Linn-Benton Community College Animal Technology and Horse Management
Disability: Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
Superpower: I once had some kids convinced that I was reading their minds, haha.
Q: Can you share with us your greatest accomplishments so far and any future accomplishments you hope to achieve?
“Oh goodness, I have accomplished a lot in my life. One of my greatest ones has to be dancing with the Oregon Bach Festival in the Silvia Hall at the Hult Center in Eugene. Dancing with DanceAbility was a dream of mine throughout my childhood. I actually hold the record for being the youngest dancer the company has ever had because I was seventeen when I started working with them. That is definitely a huge accomplishment for me. Of course, my upcoming graduation is going to be on the list as well. Other future accomplishments will include get- ting married, having kids, and possibly getting a bachelor's degree. I plan to open an alternative school that combines academics and farming because there are so many valuable life skills that our youth need more of.”
Q: Why is DIVERSITY important to you?
“Diversity means a lot to me because I have worked alongside of a vastly diverse backgrounds and I love it because it enriches our work (whatever it might be) so much more than we could imagine. Also, it might be cliche, but how boring would life be if everyone was the same?”
Amber Stock
INCIGHT Scholar: 2014 - 2017
University of Oregon and Pacific UniversityCurrent role: Clinical Pharmacist at Oregon Medical Group Disability: Spinal Muscular AtrophySuperpower: Multitasking
Q: Can you please share with us how INCIGHT helped you and tell us about some of your proudest accomplish- ments?
“INCIGHT has helped me by supporting me through college. They have followed me on my entire journey from high school to pharmacy school. Through their support, I was able to accomplish my goal of becoming a pharmacist, and now I can support my community. The last four years after graduating pharmacy school, I was able to work in a retail setting and in a hospital setting. This September I am starting my career as an ambulatory clinical pharmacist where I will get to meet with patients one on one for 30 to 60 minutes and following up with them more frequently than their primary providers. I will be able to manage chronic diseases and help improve my community and living a healthy life. For the future, I hope to provide as many services to the community as I can and make connections with patients to help empower them with their healthcare.”
Q: Why does DIVERSITY matter?
“Diversity matters so much because we all have our own story and we are all unique. Diversity can empower everyone to become their best selves."
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“Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness. Therefore, diversity is the most universal quality we all can share.”
- Stephanie Hartgraves
Stephanie Hartgraves is the Director of Marketing at INCIGHT.
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