DEAFestival

Committee

Bertha Velazquez | Chairperson

Bertha Velazquez founded DEAFestival Los Angeles while working at Self –Help Graphics & Art Inc. in East Los Angeles. After she learned that her daughter was diagnosed with a profound hearing loss, she devoted her time and energy to seeking out services to help her daughter. She wanted to provide her with the best living environment to develop and mature her ability to the fullest. Ms. Velazquez soon discovered that similar frustrations and concerns were shared by many hearing parents of children born deaf like Stephanie. Immediate action was needed to provide relief to the other mothers of young deaf children whom struggled with the lack of support in providing recreational activities and services in their own community so that their children could interact with their peers and fulfill their social needs.

In the early 90’s, she found herself being forced to travel long distances in order to have her daughter participate in programs. She relayed information about these opportunities to other parents, but was unfortunately found that most of them could not afford the drive and fees to have their children participate. The lack of affordable programs in the near vicinity of Los Angeles prompted Ms. Velazquez to become a community advocate for others similar to her deaf daughter, who was faced with the challenges of being deaf in the Greater Los Angeles area.

In 1998, Bertha spearheaded an event to educate, empower and support parents and their deaf children. DEAFestival featured theatrical performances, art workshops and informational booths that connected the Los Angeles deaf and hard of hearing community with resources to empower them so that they too could have the opportunity to meet their full potential. It is with her love and dedication for creating a special place for the deaf and hearing community to commune and learn from each other that has kept DEAFestival Los Angeles thriving and growing. Bertha has always been passionate to improve public understanding of the deaf community’s strengths – and needs.

Richard Ray | Co-Chairperson

Richard Ray is an ADA Compliance Coordinator for the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability. He ensures that City Departments comply with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other disability laws. He provides technical assistance to the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments as well as to other City agencies with the implementation of telecommunication systems. Mr. Ray has assisted and presented to departments in various city governments and the County of Los Angeles regarding compliance with the ADA. He has facilitated the implementation of the 9-1-1 TTY system for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), California State Highway Patrol (CHP), City of Glendale, City of Carson and other municipalities throughout the State of California. Mr. Ray is involved in several projects such as Emergency Notification Systems for People with Disabilities, Personal Caller Information, VRS/IP Relay Service PSAP Interaction, Messaging to E9-1-1 & Next Generation 9-1-1, and TTY Update. He also wrote and compiled lists of recommendations and issues on different aspects of communication access for the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). He assisted in national Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) training package development on handling 9-1-1 calls via Video & Internet Protocol Relay Services. He also participates as presenter, facilitator and panelist during these conferences.

Michael Agyin

As a longstanding advocate for youth with disabilities, Michael Agyin was reccently a Job Coach for the Marriott Foundation Bridges program for youth with disabilities. He recently was the Outreach Coordinator for Los Angeles Councilmember Tony Cardenas’ DEAFestival; a citywide event that aims to educate the general public and offer a message of self-empowerment, guidance, and mentorship for deaf children.He also recently served as the point person for issues impacting the deaf/ hard of hearing and people with disabilities in the office of the Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in the Neighborhood and Community Services Department. He created the “Disability Hire LA's Youth” pilot program, which helps youth with disabilities obtain summer jobs while providing them with internship and leadership opportunities throughout the City of Los Angeles.Prior to joining the Mayor’s office, he served as the Program Assistant for the Campaign for College Opportunity; a non-profit organization devoted to ensuring that the next generation of Californians has the chance to go to college. He has 15 years of experience in programs and services for youth with disabilities. Michael is one of only a of handful people with disabilities to serve in Americorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) Western region, which address critical and unmet needs in education, public safety, and the environment.While serving four years on the Youth Leadership Governing Board of the National Youth Leadership Network, a national non-profit based in Washington D.C., Michael promoted leadership development, education, employment, independent living, and health and wellness among diverse young leaders in the United States. He’s also the first Deaf member of Public Allies Los Angeles; an AmeriCorps fellowship program dedicated to engaging and advancing a diverse group of young leaders in an effort to strengthen communities, non-profit organizations, and civic participation. Michael was recently appointed by former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger to be a member of California State Independent Living Council. Mr. Agyin received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from California State University, Northridge, and is involved with the California Youth Leadership Forum. He also volunteers through many various venues.

Dr. Tomás García

Dr. Tomás García is a full-time faculty member teaching American Sign Language in the department of Foreign Languages at East Los Angeles Community College.

Dr. García is also Director of Ministries at Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf providing leadership to the organization's Sunday ministries.

Tomás' background and experience is well-grounded with strong foundations in the K-12 and higher education setting. He has worked as a faculty member in the Department of Special Education at California State University, Northridge, was Associate Director of Internships at Loyola Marymount University, was Director of Instruction at the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, and was a teacher of the Deaf at Covina-Valley Unified School District.

Tomás is trilingual, and fluent in Spanish, English, and American Sign Language. He has used these skills as a trilingual interpreter, consultant, translator, and parent instructor in educational and other settings.

Dr. García was born in Compton, California with a severe hearing loss and progressively lost it through the course of his early childhood. Tomás hearing loss was not new to his family. On his mothers side, he already had several cousins who communicated in American Sign Language. Having a Deaf grandfather and a Deaf mother allowed Tomás to face the world with a significant amount of support.

Dr. García's first language was Spanish. Day by day, night by night, he learned to speak, read, and write Spanish fluently. Upon entering school, he learned American Sign Language and English simultaneously.

Dr. Garcia has given a number of professional presentations at conferences and workshops. Examples of work in this area include presentations on integrating technology into the classroom, using the Internet to enhance the deaf education curriculum, family values and deaf children, multicultural issues in deaf education, and various transition topics.

Tomás received his doctorate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University, holds a Masters degree from California State University, Northridge in Special Education and two Bachelors degrees from California State University, Dominguez Hills in Spanish Language & Literature and Chicano/Chicana Studies. Lastly, Dr. García holds teaching and administrative services credential.

Tomás has been married to Sylvia García, a Parent Infant teacher for Deaf and hard of hearing students at the Los Angeles Unified School District, for 16 years. They have two beautiful children, Xóchitl, age 8 who is Deaf and Ixtli, age 6 who has mild sensory integration disorder. The experience of raising children who are diverse has served as a source of inspiration to many families in Southern California as they share their strategies, ideas, and words of wisdom.

Stephanie Velazquez

My name is Stephanie Velázquez. I am currently attending Cerritos College. I’m also a proud alumnus of the California School for the Deaf, Riverside. I say “Proud” because that is where I found my identity and my deaf family. It is important to understand the language, history and the values of the Deaf community. CSDR increased my awareness of the Deaf cultural and I learned to accept myself as a deaf individual.

It is an honor for me to be a member of the DEAFestival 2012 Fashion Show Committee. I have volunteered for the past 5 years as an art instructor, modeled in the fashion show and in 2011 had the opportunity to showcase my own fashion designs. This experience has given me the opportunity to grow and work with people who can make a difference to my Deaf family.

I strongly support DEAFestival Los Angeles because it is an event dedicated to celebrate the Deaf culture in the City of Los Angeles. Most people view Deaf individuals as not “normal” because we can’t hear. DEAFestival helps foster sensitivity towards the unique and diverse needs of the Deaf. It recognizes us as a group who share a common language (ASL), and a culture.

I look forward to seeing you on September 29th!

Joanna Hinojosa

A Deaf Latina in her mid-20s and a native of Los Angeles, is honored to continue on in her duties as a member of the DEAFestival LA Committee for the third straight year. Joanna's initial involvement with DEAFestival remains an unforgettable experience in 1998, during the Festival's humble beginnings with the Self Help Graphics, a Chicano art organization. This momentous occasion gave her the opportunity to discover her identity as a Deaf person. Now, 14 years later, Joanna's life has been enriched by learning about cultures in the global Deaf Community, its sign languages, and universal values of being a Deaf person. Without the DEAFestival and the Deaf Community in Los Angeles, she would have never truly discovered and embraced her identity as a Deaf Person. Using the DEAFestival experience as a launching pad, she has been involved with numerous organizations in her college years, working with and helping people make a difference in their local communities. Joanna wishes to thank all the Deaf people who have had a tremendous impact in her life, particularly those who opened doors into the Deaf experience. It's now her pleasure and duty to provide this same initial DEAFestival reawakening experience to new generations in the Deaf World.