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About Us |
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Mission Statement The Empower Disabled Fund was created in 2005 to provide specially nominated UMass Boston students who have disabilities, with financial or other help to address specific needs they may have to obtain their education and become more independent in the community. The Empower Disabled Fund augments but does not duplicate or conflict with other disability services at UMass Boston. Assistance is provided on a case-by-case basis, according to availability of funds and worthy nominees. Grantees are nominated by UMass Boston faculty or staff. The students receiving the awards should have good standing in their classes, be recognized as positive members of the UMB community, and have a compelling need. The grant is considered an honor, reflecting the character of the student as well as the opportunity to help. The grants will be administered by EDF founder Sergio Goncalves, with assistance from an advisory committee. All contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Checks can be made out to UMass Boston. In the memo area, please write “Empower Disabled Fund.” For 2006, the advisory committee includes Vice Chancellor Charles Titus; Vice Chancellor Ellen O’Connor, Vice Chancellor Darrell Byers, Joyce Morgan, interim Assistant Dean of Students, Clare Poirier, Director of Personnel Services, and Ellen Hume, Director of the Center on Media and Society. As a person with disability, I understand how hard it is to achieve certain goals in life. However, I don’t believe in giving up, no matter what. Therefore, for a long time I have been trying to establish a foundation to help people with disabilities achieve and become more independent in the community, school and work. I am very proud to introduce the Empower Disabled Fund, which I hope will lead to greater access, learning, and independence for students with disabilities. I moved to the United States of America from Cabo Verde, my native country, in 1982. I resided in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the miniature state south of Massachusetts, for five years. Being a strong-minded and goal oriented young man. I set high standards for myself in the hope of achieving each and every one. This is not so easy, since I have been a person with disability since the age of five. I have dystonia and severe dysarthria. I use a computer speech device to communicate and a power wheelchair to get around. Upon graduating from high school, I knew that I wanted seek a better life. I knew that in order to achieve my dream of becoming independent I had to be willing to work hard and let nothing get in my way. As a person with a disability and a speech impediment I knew that nothing would be easy and I would have to prove to myself to everyone with doubts and show them that I could in fact be very successful and independent despite my handicaps. Partly unsure of the path to take, I have been nevertheless committed and determined to create an independent and stress-free life for myself. In my attempts to achieve just that I made the decision to relocate to Boston, Massachusetts. Living in a major city, having to adapt to the fast pace of everyday life and also to competitive attitudes was a challenge that I welcomed. I set a number of goals. I first wanted to obtain education and employment working with persons with disability. Secondly, I wanted to own my own home. I am proud to say that I have accomplished both. Soon after arriving in Boston in 1987, I was able to move into my own apartment in Roslindale, and also attended Bunker Hill Community College full time. After completing my studies at BHCC, I then enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Boston. There I was able to attend computer training at Sullivan and CoGliana. While attending college I was very active in the community. I wanted to ensure that other people with disabilities would attain freedom to become independent and productive members of our society. In 2005 I founded the Empower Disabled Fund at UMass Boston to provide honorary awards to exceptional students with disabilities who had specific needs. In order to help them fulfill their educations and live more independently. I am currently an employee of UMass Boston. Before that, I founded the Marie Feltin Award Ceremony to honor people with disabilities and organizations who are making life better for people with disabilities. Today, I serve on several boards of directors, including Project RIGHT, Inc., Boston Center for Independent Living, Inc, Commonwealth Care Alliance and Quincy Geneva Housing Cooperation and Boston Community Medical Group. I believe by working hard, anything is possible. I am going to make sure people with disabilities have the opportunity to set goals and, most importantly, achieve them. The Empower Disabled Fund will provide a greater access, learning and the opportunity to become more independent. My vision as the founder of the Empower Disabled Fund is to:
Ellen Hume is founding director of the Center on Media and Society at the University of Massachusetts Boston. An experienced journalist, teacher, speaker, administrator, conference director, and television commentator, she was a White House and political correspondent for the Wall Street Journal from 1983 to 1988, and a Washington-based national reporter with the Los Angeles Times from 1977 to 1983. From 1988 to 1993, she served as executive director and senior fellow at Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy. From 1996-1998 she was executive director of PBS’s Democracy Project, where she developed special news programs that encouraged citizen involvement in public affairs. Ms. Hume holds a B.A.in American History and Literature from Harvard University and honorary doctorates from Kenyon College and Daniel Webster College.
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