Millie Gonzalez

Millie Gonzalez

Millie Gonzalez, a plus-sized, Hispanic, disabled female with dark chocolate cherry-colored curly hair, wearing makeup, a large silver and black butterfly necklace, a dark red, glittery, cold-shoulder top and a sash that says Ms. Wheelchair America 2020-New Jersey, smiles at the camera..

Millie Gonzalez, M.A., is co-founder of the New Jersey Disability Collective; board president for The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies; board chair for the Spina Bifida Resource Network (SBRN); and vice board chair for the Alliance Center for Independence (ACI). Millie is a communication strategist, writer, editor and event planner with nearly 20 years of experience, mostly in higher education. She was on the steering committee that established ACI's annual NJ Disability Pride Parade & Celebration in 2011 and has served as the co-emcee of the event nearly every year since its inception. A disabled advocate, Millie established, organizes and facilitates SBRN's annual Empowerment Retreat for Adults with Disabilities and their new Virtual Empowerment Series. A certified peer mentor with United Spinal Association and member of the ADA Trainer Leadership Network, she has presented on a wide range of disability-related topics, including accessibility, emergency management, advocacy and job readiness, to a variety of audiences. Millie is the lead organizer of the ReelAbilities: NJ Disabilities Film Festival at Kean University, which features disabled artists and speakers alongside award-winning international films by, about and/or featuring people with disabilities. In 2019, she was named Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey with a platform of #LiveFiercely through Self-Care, focusing on health, wellness and civic engagement. She is a dancer with ZCO/Dance Project, founding member of Shimmy Sisters, has studied with AXIS and Full Radius dance companies, and performed with Heidi Latsky Dance Company. Millie was recently nominated to Diversability's D-30 Disability Impact List.

New Jersey Disability Collective

https://www.facebook.com/newjerseydisabilitycollective

The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies

www.disasterstrategies.org

The Spina Bifida Resource Network

www.thesbrn.org

Alliance Center for Independence

http://www.adacil.org/

Social media handles: @millieg78

Instagram: @millieg78

Twitter: @millieg78

Email: millieg78@gmail.com