Rhonda provided me with insight, connection and wisdom. She cares deeply for her clients and her causes.
Rhonda and I first worked together when she was running Making it Work, an innovative project aimed at translating the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) into the lives of people with disabilities. She deftly managed that project, constantly working to creatively build a new initiative based on a new approach. She skillfully addressed challenges and built on successes as the initiative evolved. Rhonda brings a calm demeanor, connecting interpersonal skills and technical understanding to her work. She bridges both the US domestic and international disability communities and has worked at both the United Nations and domestic policy levels. She has close ties to the disability community with particular expertise in working with women with disabilities and strengthening DPO capacity, whether it be in programming, advocacy and fundraising.
I’ve had the privilege of working with Rhonda in a few capacities – I originally worked with her while interning at DREDF, and then eventually when we worked together as colleagues after I (with her support!) started working at USICD. Rhonda has an amazing gift for mentoring and supporting junior-level talent, and is extremely thoughtful about giving them opportunities that will help them develop their skills. In both capacities, I’ve been impressed with her commitment to disability rights, her relentless problem solving skills (especially while advocating for the CRPD) and her immense network of fellow advocates and champions. Id’ wholeheartedly recommend Rhonda!