Laka Mitiku Negassa, MPH

Striving to be part of those working to amend areas that need reformation while strengthening the areas that are working seamlessly within the current U.S healthcare system and its governing policies, Laka Mitiku Negassa received her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with a concentration in Health Policy from the Milken Institute School of Public Health of the George Washington University in January 2021. She focuses on how current health policies ensure access to equitable quality healthcare and address solutions to the gaps in reaching this outcome.

A Black immigrant woman living with an acquired disability, Negassa has had the honor and opportunity to be part of multiple speaking opportunities where she was able to narrate her journey and reflections at the non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization, RespectAbility. These opportunities include speaking as a panelist at RespectAbility’s 2019 Capitol Hill Summit on a panel titled: Success Stories of Self Advocates and, after that, as part of RespectAbility’s Disability Training and Consulting Bureau. She also has published different articles, such as in Communication First’s 2022 Black History Month Blog Series with a title Reflection of a Black Immigrant Woman with a Speech Disability.

Born in Ethiopia, Negassa immigrated to the United States after completing her senior year of high school. In January 2013, she was in an accident that caused her to sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), along with organ lacerations and broken bones, which required significant medical interventions. The recovery took nearly two years. Negassa then personally experienced the health disparities and healthcare inequities encountered by underrepresented groups known to experience disparities and inequities in healthcare: immigrants, women, people of color, and people with disabilities. Her personal experience in the U.S Healthcare system, coupled with her educational background, has enabled her to start working to bring solution-policy amendment proposals to the table both during her studies in graduate school and after, most recently, working as the Microsoft Health Policy Fellow at the National Minority Quality Forum.

Negassa looks forward to delivering her academic-based knowledge, lived experience, and outlook on topics relating to disability inclusion and advocacy, especially equity in health care.

Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, PhD, MA (she/they)

A global advocate, educator, disabled person of color, non-binary woman, and parent in a neurodiverse, multicultural, twice-exceptional serodifferent biological and adoptive family. A prolific writer and social scientist/activist whose work focuses on intersectional justice, meaningful community involvement, human rights, and inclusion, Morénike is recognized as a leader in various disability justice endeavors, including serving as founder/principal consultant of Advocacy Without Borders, a grassroots intersectional non-profit initiative offering DEIA, education, advocacy, keynotes/lectures, training, research, expert review, and related projects.

Morénike co-chairs the Equity, Justice, and Representation Advisory Committee of the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) and is also a member of several executive boards, a collaborator with various like-minded organizations, and a highly sought after public speaker, trainer, and consultant who has presented at the White House, the United Nations, and numerous peer-reviewed international conferences.

Notable publications of Morénike's include various chapter contributions and peer-reviewed articles as well as co-editing AWN’s groundbreaking anthologies Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity and the initial edition of All the Weight of Our Dreams: On Living Racialized Autism. Morénike, who has also been featured in the NY Times, NBC's Today Show, the BBC, NPR, and other media outlets, is the author of the forthcoming Open Access monograph A Neurodiversity and Gentle Parenting Journey...in Color.

Snit Tewoldemedhin, Miss Africa USA 2023

Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhhin, born and raised in Eritrea, is known for her multiple roles as a Lead Guide teacher and a pageant Queen, demonstrating love and commitment in what she does. Motivated by her sister who is under the down syndrome spectrum and her experience, Snit decided to take part of the Miss Africa USA competition and present her platform, "Designing for Diversity." This initiative aims to renovate the curriculum for special needs education, making it more engaging and enjoyable for all children. It also aims amplify awareness about the challenges faced by children with special needs in the education system.

“A big part of who I am is because I grew up in a community that believed in me and practiced inclusion," says Haben Girma, the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, a disability rights advocate, and Snit’s role model. Girma’s achievements inspire Snit to push boundaries and advocate for inclusivity and empowerment for individuals with disabilities.

Aside from being recognized as Miss Africa USA Queen, she was chosen as this year's Ladies First event ambassador for AWCAA (African Women's Cancer Association). She then took the responsibility of not only advocating for individuals with special needs, but also raising awareness among the younger generation about the importance and severity of breast cancer, dedicated to honoring her late mother.

Snit's embodiment of African culture, coupled with her academic background in neuroscience, also challenges misconceptions about Africa and Africans, showcasing their rich culture and their progressive nature.

Snit encourages aspiring pageant queens to view the crown as a tool for advocacy and positive change.