ChangeMakers

A logo that reads changemakers

ChangeMakers is a series from MPR News showcasing Minnesotans from diverse, often underrepresented backgrounds who are making an impact. Whether they’re making history or making a difference for just one person, these individuals are leaders building new futures for their communities. Scroll down to meet our ChangeMakers.

10 disability advocates from Minnesota fighting for equity
In celebration of Disability Pride Month in July, MPR News highlighted people throughout the month with disabilities who are working to make Minnesota more inclusive and accessible for everyone. From a Minneapolis school board member to a Paralympian, we aimed to capture a wide range of people with a diversity of experiences.
John Lee Clark is pioneering an emerging language — and culture
In a culture where people operate at a distance from each other and their surroundings, John Lee Clark advocates for Protactile, a set of practices and language based entirely on touch and designed by DeafBlind people.
Four-time Paralympian Chuck Aoki strives to make athletes with disabilities more visible
Minneapolis-native Chuck Aoki will be heading to Paris next month for the Paralympics to compete in wheelchair rugby. He already has a two silver medals and a bronze, and this year he’ll be going for the gold.
Joyner Emerick focuses on the future for Minnesota’s disabled students
Young people bring Joyner Emerick hope for the future, which is why they serve on the Minneapolis Board of Education. When they were elected in 2023, Emerick became the city’s first openly transgender and openly autistic school board member and has used that platform to advocate for disabled students at both the local and state levels.
Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson leads the conversation on ableism and intersectionality
Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson is equity and justice director for The Arc Minnesota, an organization advocating for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
‘Tangled’: Madison Rubenstein paints what it feels like to live with invisible illness
Madison Rubenstein, a painter and visual artist from Bloomington, creates large-format paintings in their Minneapolis studio, drawing on experiences of chronic illness and disability.