Speech delivered by Michele Mashburn at the first annual Disability Pride flag-raising ceremony at the Santa Clara County Building on July 23, 2026 Thank you, Supervisor Duong, for creating this space today. And thank you to the Division of Equity and Social Justice, and Viviana Barnwell, for your work envisioning this event. This Disability Pride

Reprinted from San Jose Spotlight, July 11, 2026 When systems fail, people often turn toward each other. In Santa Clara County, groups have been meeting each other’s needs through mutual aid efforts. Free meals, community gardens, medical supplies and rental assistance — these are all ways various groups are uplifting each other as social safety nets

by Aaron Kirschenbaum in Common Dreams, July 9, 2026 Last week, millions of people around the world were subjected to record-breaking heatwaves. At least 25 deaths in the U.S. from this heat dome were reported. The French government also counted over 2,000 excess deaths during the June heatwaves. At the same time, this past weekend,

My name is Shira Leeder.  I am a disability rights advocate, and I am writing regarding an urgent issue that requires immediate attention. As an advocate for myself and others with disabilities, I am deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) in the California state budget. IHSS is under immediate threat. Californians with