No Barriers

Continuing with our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, we interview Sofija Korać, a senior human rights adviser at the United States Mission to the UN covering a range of issues including the human rights of persons with disabilities. She previously worked on human rights issues for the bureau of democracy, human rights, and labor at the State Department. Originally from Belgrade, Serbia, Sofija and her family immigrated to the United States in the mid-1990s. Sofija started her career off working on disability rights in the Balkans both with the United Nations and civil society during the time when Serbia and others in the region ratified the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD). Sofija is fluent in five languages including her native Serbian and English, an avid theatre-goer, and theatre director on the side.  Sofija also grew up playing a variety of adaptive sports including wheelchair basketball, track and field, swimming, weightlifting, and currently does adaptive rowing. Sofija has a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and Spanish from the Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Arts in international law from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.Resources:Learn more about the ADALearn more about No Barriers Sofija Korac's Article on Removing Barriers: https://statemag.state.gov/2020/07/0720feat02/  

Around the time when lockdowns were becoming a reality for most of the U.S., our hosts had the opportunity to slow down and catch up with world-renowned athlete and long-distance runner, Joseph Gray. Living in Colorado, Joseph was enjoying time with his family and took some time out of his training schedule to chat with our No Barriers Team. As part of our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential),  we are excited to share his episode and story. It is definitely one to inspire. Joseph Gray is a 36-year-old American world champion runner who competes mostly in trail, mountain, and snowshoe races. The 31-time USA National team member hails from the Pacific Northwest and now splits his time training in Colorado Springs, CO, and Tacoma, WA. His achievements are far too numerous to list out but to name a few: he is a 2-time World Mountain Running Champion (most recently won in 2019), he is the first African American to win the USA Mountain Running National Championship and also the first African American to make the USA World Mountain Running Team. Additionally, he is the first athlete to win the North American, Central American,and Caribbean Championships in Cross Country and Mountain Running.  A few notable Colorado achievements include completing the Manitou Incline in 17 mins and 45 seconds. and is a three-time winner of the Pike’s Peak Ascent. Joseph continues to be a mainstay atop the podium worldwide and strives to see and inspire more diversity in the running world and actively mentors young Black runners in his community. From Joseph:  “I try my hardest to do my part by being an example of what hard work can do in terms of the opportunities this sport has given me and the notion that no matter your upbringing you too can be a National or even World Champion if you work for it.”Follow Joseph: Twitter and IG @joegeeziFacebook.com/journeyofjoegeezi#ProjectInspireDiversity #journeyofjoegeeziCheck out more No Barriers Stories on our show page: https://nobarriersusa.org/podcast/Check out this other interview with Joseph: https://www.5280.com/2019/10/joseph-gray-wants-to-see-more-diversity-in-the-mountains/ 

Haben Girma is an American disability rights advocate and the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change, she has received the Helen Keller Achievement Award and secured a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2016. Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation and travels the world teaching the benefits of choosing inclusion. Her memoir, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, is a captivating read. A review from O Magazine states "This autobiography by a millennial Helen Keller teems with grace and grit.”Learn more about Haben here: https://habengirma.com/Watch her TED TalkCheck out her appearance on the Today ShowPurchase or learn more about her bookFollow Haben on Facebook, Twitter, or InstagramVisit our No Barriers Show Page for Transcripts and more 

Haben Girma is an American disability rights advocate and the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change, she has received the Helen Keller Achievement Award and secured a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2016. Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation and travels the world teaching the benefits of choosing inclusion. Her memoir, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, is a captivating read. A review from O Magazine states "This autobiography by a millennial Helen Keller teems with grace and grit.”Learn more about Haben here: https://habengirma.com/Watch her TED TalkCheck out her appearance on the Today ShowPurchase or learn more about her bookFollow Haben on Facebook, Twitter, or InstagramVisit our No Barriers Show Page for Transcripts and more

In the latest installment of our No Barriers Alchemy Series, sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo, Jeff and Erik speak with Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib.  Cyrus was elected Washington State’s 16th Lieutenant Governor in November 2016 at the age of 35. He had previously been elected to the State House of Representatives in 2012 and the State Senate in 2014, where he was Democratic Whip and a member of the Democratic leadership team. As Lt. Governor, he is President of the State Senate, serves as Acting Governor whenever Governor Inslee leaves the state, and oversees an agency whose key issues include economic development, trade, and higher education.A three-time cancer survivor, Lt. Governor Habib has been fully blind since age eight. His parents immigrated to the U.S. from Iran before he was born, and he is the first and only Iranian-American to hold statewide elected office in the United States.He is a graduate of Columbia University summa cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa, Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and Yale Law School, where he was Editor of the Yale Law Journal. Lt. Governor Habib practiced law at Perkins Coie, and served as Distinguished Lawmaker in Residence at Seattle University Law School. He is a Truman Scholar, a Soros Fellow, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.From his Director of External Affairs: "In terms of anything we’d like to promote other than Boundless Washington, the Lt. Governor recently launched the Washington Mask Challenge to promote the making and wearing of cloth face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can find more info here. That may be something at the end to remind people to wear masks in public places and to encourage them to participate if they can."Boundless Washington: https://www.boundlesswa.org/A Climb for a Cause: https://www.boundlesswa.org/climbThe Washington Mask Challenge:  

In the latest installment of our No Barriers Alchemy Series, sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo, Jeff and Erik speak with Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib. Cyrus was elected Washington State’s 16th Lieutenant Governor in November 2016 at the age of 35. He had previously been elected to the State House of Representatives in 2012 and the State Senate in 2014, where he was Democratic Whip and a member of the Democratic leadership team. As Lt. Governor, he is President of the State Senate, serves as Acting Governor whenever Governor Inslee leaves the state and oversees an agency whose key issues include economic development, trade, and higher education.A three-time cancer survivor, Lt. Governor Habib has been fully blind since age eight. His parents immigrated to the U.S. from Iran before he was born, and he is the first and only Iranian-American to hold statewide elected office in the United States.He is a graduate of Columbia University summa cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa, Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and Yale Law School, where he was Editor of the Yale Law Journal. Lt. Governor Habib practiced law at Perkins Coie, and served as Distinguished Lawmaker in Residence at Seattle University Law School. He is a Truman Scholar, a Soros Fellow, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.From his Director of External Affairs: "In terms of anything we’d like to promote other than Boundless Washington, the Lt. Governor recently launched the Washington Mask Challenge to promote the making and wearing of cloth face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can find more info here. That may be something at the end to remind people to wear masks in public places and to encourage them to participate if they can."Boundless Washington: https://www.boundlesswa.org/A Climb for a Cause: https://www.boundlesswa.org/climbThe Washington Mask Challenge: https://vimeo.com/413000725

Our Alchemy series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, continues on with Erik and Dave speaking to Dr. Carrie Hauser, an academic leader in Colorado. Serving as President and CEO of Colorado Mountain College, a public two- and four-year degree-granting institution with eleven campuses serving 12,000 square miles of the central Rocky Mountains, Dr. Hauser explains how this pandemic has been affecting the academic sphere. Hauser’s background includes teaching assignments at UCLA, the University of Denver, and Colorado State University. She has held research and legislative staff roles as well as positions with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the University of Arizona, her undergraduate alma mater. She earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of Business.She is currently a governor’s appointee to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, a member of the Great Outdoors Colorado and Glenwood Springs Chamber boards of directors, and a member of El Pomar Foundation’s Northwest Regional Council. At the national level, Hauser is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Society of Fellows, serves on the board of American Rivers, serves on the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Economic Advisory Council, and is past president of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA).Resources:More information on CMC RespondsDr. Hauser's Statement Regarding COVID-19Inside Higher Ed Article by Jamie Merisotis and Carrie Besnette HauserFollow Dr. Hauser on Twitter: @CMCPresident 

Our Alchemy series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, continues on with Erik and Dave speaking to Dr. Carrie Hauser, an academic leader in Colorado. Serving as President and CEO of Colorado Mountain College, a public two- and four-year degree-granting institution with eleven campuses serving 12,000 square miles of the central Rocky Mountains, Dr. Hauser explains how this pandemic has been affecting the academic sphere. Hauser’s background includes teaching assignments at UCLA, the University of Denver, and Colorado State University. She has held research and legislative staff roles as well as positions with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the University of Arizona, her undergraduate alma mater. She earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of Business.She is currently a governor’s appointee to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, a member of the Great Outdoors Colorado and Glenwood Springs Chamber boards of directors, and a member of El Pomar Foundation’s Northwest Regional Council. At the national level, Hauser is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Society of Fellows, serves on the board of American Rivers, serves on the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Economic Advisory Council, and is past president of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA).Resources:More information on CMC RespondsDr. Hauser's Statement Regarding COVID-19Inside Higher Ed Article by Jamie Merisotis and Carrie Besnette HauserFollow Dr. Hauser on Twitter: @CMCPresident

Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic & inspirational innovation. Ebeling is a film, television, and commercial producer, philanthropist, technology trailblazer, author, and entrepreneur. Ebeling founded Not Impossible, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab and production company, on the premise that nothing is impossible. His mantra of "commit, then figure it out" allows him to convene a disparate team of hackers, doers, makers, and thinkers to create devices that better the world by bringing about accessibility for all.  This unconventional approach brought to life highly-acclaimed initiatives  - The Eyewriter, Project Daniel, Don's Voice, and most recently Music: Not Impossible - that brought the ability to draw back to a paraplegic street artist, 3D printed arms to Sudanese amputees, a 'voice' to an ALS patient who hasn't spoken in 15 years, and wearables that let deaf and hearing people alike feel music in a "surround body" experience. Ebeling's book, Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn’t Be Done, recounts his life experiences and projects. Named one of Wired's 'Agents of Change,' a two-time SXSW innovation of the year award winner, a two-timeTribeca Disruptor innovation winner, a fellow with The Nantucket Project, and recipient of every major creative and advertising award, Ebeling is on a mission  to provide "Technology for the Sake of Humanity." By tapping into a community of passionate and talented engineers, makers, idea generators, and storytellers, Ebeling is making the inconceivable, the unbelievable and the impossible, Not Impossible. Check out Not Impossible's latest initiative - Hunger Not Impossible - as part of their response to COVID-19.Learn more about Not Impossible and follow Not Impossible on social:InstagramTwitterFacebookVisit our No Barriers Show Page for additional info and episodes.

Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic & inspirational innovation. Ebeling is a film, television, and commercial producer, philanthropist, technology trailblazer, author, and entrepreneur. Ebeling founded Not Impossible, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab and production company, on the premise that nothing is impossible. His mantra of "commit, then figure it out" allows him to convene a disparate team of hackers, doers, makers, and thinkers to create devices that better the world by bringing about accessibility for all.  This unconventional approach brought to life highly-acclaimed initiatives  - The Eyewriter, Project Daniel, Don's Voice, and most recently Music: Not Impossible - that brought the ability to draw back to a paraplegic street artist, 3D printed arms to Sudanese amputees, a 'voice' to an ALS patient who hasn't spoken in 15 years, and wearables that let deaf and hearing people alike feel music in a "surround body" experience. Ebeling's book, Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn’t Be Done, recounts his life experiences and projects. Named one of Wired's 'Agents of Change,' a two-time SXSW innovation of the year award winner, a two-timeTribeca Disruptor innovation winner, a fellow with The Nantucket Project, and recipient of every major creative and advertising award, Ebeling is on a mission  to provide "Technology for the Sake of Humanity." By tapping into a community of passionate and talented engineers, makers, idea generators, and storytellers, Ebeling is making the inconceivable, the unbelievable and the impossible, Not Impossible. Check out Not Impossible's latest initiative - Hunger Not Impossible - as part of their response to COVID-19.Learn more about Not Impossible and follow Not Impossible on social:InstagramTwitterFacebookVisit our No Barriers Show Page for additional info and episodes.Sign up for our No Barriers Summit for the chance to meet more innovators like Mick.