At Talent Citizen, we believe that inclusive workplaces start with an understanding of the diverse lived experiences people bring with them and a commitment to creating space for everyone to thrive. Recognizing the intersection of disability and mental health, particularly within BIPOC communities, is essential to advancing meaningful change in hiring, culture, and leadership. Amid a shifting political landscape where access and rights are increasingly under pressure, these observances offer a timely reminder of why visibility, advocacy, and belonging matter in the work we do to connect values-aligned leaders with mission-driven institutions.
Here are some resources our team is engaging with this month:
This brief article underscores the importance of recognizing July as both Disability Pride and BIPOC Mental Health Month. It highlights the anniversary of the ADA as a milestone in disability rights and reminds us that disability includes visible and nonvisible conditions. It also brings attention to the mental health needs of BIPOC communities, who often face systemic and cultural barriers to care. The post offers practical resources, like therapy directories and reading recommendations, that center culturally responsive support and affirm the importance of healing, access, and representation.
This comprehensive piece from Mental Health America highlights July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, honoring her legacy by uplifting the mental health needs of BIPOC communities. The article emphasizes turning awareness into action, offering a robust 2025 toolkit with worksheets, reading lists, community-building tips, and advocacy tools. Designed for individuals and organizations alike, these resources are grounded in cultural relevance and accessibility, which are critical in a time of increasing political tension and inequity. The toolkit is a powerful reminder that systemic change and personal healing go hand in hand.
The Arc emphasizes that Disability Pride Month is a time to celebrate the visibility, dignity, and contributions of people with disabilities, while pushing back against ableism. It traces the month’s roots to the signing of the ADA and highlights this year’s theme, “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay,” as a call for inclusion without condition. With tools for education, advocacy, and community engagement, the piece offers both history and action steps, underscoring that pride, accessibility, and rights are essential every day, not just in July.
This inspiring story from OPB highlights how one local effort is contributing to broader statewide progress in accessibility across Oregon. After a life-changing car accident left Portland resident Derek Shike in a wheelchair, he discovered the new VertaCat golf buggy at Meadow Lakes Golf Club in Prineville. This solo-rider cart allows wheelchair users to independently play golf. Funded by a Central Oregon Future Fund grant, this innovation is part of a larger $6.2M Travel Oregon initiative to make the state’s outdoor and tourist attractions more accessible. It’s a powerful reminder that inclusive design not only transforms lives but also strengthens communities.
The National Museum of the American Latino promotes the inclusion of diverse voices and experiences.
This beautifully curated digital exhibition from the National Museum of the American Latino highlights the intersection of Latinidad and disability in the U.S., where approximately 1 in 6 Latinos live with a disability. The experience features vibrant digital illustrations and personal portraits that showcase how the Latino disability community reclaims language and identity. The exhibit emphasizes themes of empowerment, “art-ivism,” and self-advocacy, stressing the importance of “nothing about us without us” and urging allies to elevate voices, promote accessibility, and uplift a rich cultural legacy.
