Congregational Life, Disabilities & Creating Safe Spaces

Presented by Yvette Wilson

Wednesday, January 10, 9am -1pm
Thursday, January 11, 9am -1pm
Friday, January 12, 9am -1pm
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The U.S. Census reports that 1 in 5 people have a disability. This estimates to about 56.7 million people–19 percent of the population, with a percentage attending at least one of the 350,000 religious congregations in the United States. This course will provide tools and resources needed to create a congregational life experience for individuals with disabilities that is accessibly and attitudinally safe, from stigmatization, marginalization, isolation, hurt and harm.

Rev. Dr. Yvette D. Wilson is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Union Theological Seminary. She was formerly Executive Director of a residential program shelter on Wards Island in New York that serves 200 homeless men and women with histories of substance abuse and mental health challenges. She was also the Chief Operating Officer of a housing counseling and economic development organization. Dean Wilson graduated from Union in May 2009 with an MDiv, and was ordained at Plymouth Congregational Church in Brooklyn, NY in 2010. Engaged in the study of complex social issues from a perspective of faith, she is deeply concerned with how social and biblical interpretations affect personal agency and social change. It is her life’s work to empower others to do the same; to see faith and justice in the service of human needs.

Dean Wilson additionally holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, a Master of Arts in Sociology: Applied Social Research and a Juris Doctor. Dean Wilson received her Doctoral Degree in Higher Education Management from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also the Co-Founder and Executive Pastor of a church in New York.

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