1 Billion Voices | Making the Invisible Visible: The Power of Sports and Expressive Arts.

Organized by: The United Nations Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)/Department of Eco- nomic and Social Affairs (DESA), United for All Peoples (UP) with Manhattan Multicultural Counseling (MMC), Permanent Mission of Monaco, New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities 

Co-Sponsors/partners: Permanent Mission of Monaco, Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda, Permanent Mission of San Marino, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea, International Telecom- munication Union (ITU) 

Contributors/supporters: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Intellectual Property (WIPO), The Brazilian Paralympic Committee, The Asian Paralympic Committee, Special Olympics, US Olympic Committee, Microsoft, Inter Campus, Pirelli, Migam, Nutella Café, NY1, Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Teatro Patologico 

Introduction: For many of the more than 1 billion persons with disabilities around the world, the benefits of having access to information, communication, public services, full participation and inclusion in daily and social, economic, cultural, leisure, recreation, and sport activities remain elusive. 

This edition of 1 Billion Voices “Making the Invisible Visible: the power of sports and expressive arts”, will discuss ways for a more active role of the private sector and give visibility and share good practices on how sport, leisure, physical activities, culture and arts can contribute to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by focus- ing on Article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goal 4 and 10 of the 2030 Agenda and its preamble.

1 Billion Voices started as an initiative of young people, committed to supporting the endeavors of the United Nations in raising awareness regarding persons with disabilities. The project engaged persons with disabilities from all over the world by bringing their voices to the United Nations through a digital exhibit entitled “I am... 1 of 1 billion voices” that received lots of recognition both at the UN Headquarters and abroad including: 

• the United Nations during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (2016) 

• the United Nations ECOSOC Chamber event on Accessible and Inclusive Cities for All (2016) 

• the World Family Summit in Sao Paulo, Brazil (2016) 

• the World InfoPoverty Conference (2017) 

• the UN Conference of State Parties on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2017)

photos from Session 1

left to right: H.E. Mr. Walton Alfonso Webson, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, H.E. Ms. Isabelle Picco, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Monaco to the United Nations, Ms. Sabrina Bertucci, President, United for All Peoples, Ms. Daniela Bas, Director of DISD/UN DESA

H.E. Ms. Isabelle Picco, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Monaco to the United Nations

Mr. Victor Calise, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities

Ms. Daniela Bas, Director of DISD/UN DESA

H.E. Mr. Walton Alfonso Webson, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations

Ms. Caroline Gibson, Cloud Solution Specialist, Microsoft

Rudy Morandin, HR Vice President - North America at Pirelli accompanied by Julio Gonzales, Paraguayan professional football player

left to right: Ms. Dominika Zak, Founder, 1 Billion Voices, Ms. Ola Zahran, Head, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Ms. Caroline Gibson, Cloud Solution Specialist, Microsoft

Members of the New York Rolling Fury with the Speakers of the event.

At The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and the visiting New York Rolling Fury team.

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I joined the ISPU and the Tenement Museum for an event featuring the latest Muslims for American Progress (MAP NYC) data with three MAP NYC participants, educator Abeda Khanam, poet Rashidah Ismaili-AbuBakr, and filmmaker Ali Abbas and broadcast journalist, Liz Kineke. The panelists discussed the important contributions of Muslims to the social and cultural life of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. They explored how these community leaders—using poetry, prose, education, and outreach—have both shaped and been shaped by the Lower East Side, as well as how their contributions relate to the broader city.

On a personal note, in addition to the wonderful talk, I was very excited to see some of the portraits from the Muslims for American Progress NYC on display at the Tenement Museum.

Here are some images from the event

panelist speaking at the Tenement Museum's New York Ramadan: Muslim Life on the Lower East Side event

images from the MAP NYC project on display in the Tenement Museum

Portraits of a Community : Muslims for American Progress