Brilliant and Resilient Project book launches at UO

EUGENE, Ore. – (Aug. 8, 2013) – Women with disabilities from around the world who have shown potential for leadership and the ability to transform communities have been honored and celebrated in the new book, “Brilliant & Resilient: Celebrating the Power of Disabled Women Activists.”

Ghin Chu Pua. Photo by Brian Lanker. A book launch will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the University of Oregon Ford Alumni Center, co-sponsored by the UO Office of the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Mobility International USA (MIUSA).

The book launch is free but advanced online registration is required for all attendees, as space is limited and registration will not be available at the door. The event is wheelchair accessible and will be sign language interpreted.

The evening will include a photo exhibit, hors d’oeuvres, live music, no host bar, and door prizes, as well as a chance to meet dynamic women leaders from around the world.

Susan Sygall, MIUSA CEO and co-founder, says, “We are thrilled that the University of Oregon is hosting the world premiere of the Brilliant & Resilient photography book launch and exhibition. Disabled women activists will finally be celebrated and acclaimed for their leadership role in transforming the world. This is a dream come true, not only for me, but for millions of women and girls with disabilities throughout the world.”

The Brilliant & Resilient Project honors the 1995 Beijing UN World Conference on Women, a historic event that ignited the international disabled women’s rights movement. The photographs and personal stories of 50 disabled women activists from 41 countries were gathered during MIUSA’s 2008, 2010 and 2012 Women’s Institutes on Leadership and Disability (WILD). Each WILD brought together more than 25 women leaders with disabilities from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

“We are proud to acknowledge the accomplishments and leadership of the disabled women pioneers featured in the Brilliant & Resilient project,” said UO Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Yvette Alex-Assensoh. “These women have truly forged new paths for many others who will benefit by their power, passion and conviction. It’s an absolute honor to participate in this book launch.”

About the University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.

MEDIA CONTACT: Aria Seligmann, 541-543-1482, arias@uoregon.edu

SOURCE: Suz Dunn, MIUSA, 541-343-1284, sdunn@miusa.org

Note: The University of Oregon is equipped with an on-campus television studio with a point-of-origin Vyvx connection, which provides broadcast-quality video to networks worldwide via fiber optic network. In addition, there is video access to satellite uplink, and audio access to an ISDN codec for broadcast-quality radio interviews.

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