The Deaf Nonprofit Crisis
“The Deaf Nonprofit Crisis” webinar on April 24, 2025, was a panel discussion led by leaders from three deaf organizations on how they have begun to navigate the effects of multiple Executive Orders and federal actions under the Trump Administration on their deaf nonprofits.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Impact of the federal actions on their nonprofits
- Impact to their funding sources
- Guidance received from funders
- Resources and strategies to support staff and communities
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Darian B. Gambrell is currently the Executive Director for DEAF, Inc. in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts where she oversees 5 Eastern regional offices. Prior to arriving at DEAF, Inc., Gambrell was a manager at the Raleigh regional center of the North Carolina Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, which has seven regional centers across the state. She was employed at Gallaudet University for over 15 years and was known for her student-centered management; she oversaw the Office of Student Success and had a leadership role in the university’s JumpStart and Peer Mentoring programs for incoming students. Gambrell has worked in several positions in non-profit, colleges, and state agencies throughout her career. She is a current member on the Board of Trustees at Gallaudet University and a former board member for Arts Access, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. Gambrell hosts community conversations and workshops and has since cultivated a reputation as an engaging facilitator. She received her certificate from Institute for Nonprofit Practice in May 2023 and is a member of 2024 YW LEADBOSTON Cohort. In April 2024, she was announced as 1 of the 6 movement leaders from The Boston Foundation where the agency received a 675,000 grant for three years to address shifting power, and advancing justice.
Zachary Ennis is the Founder and Executive Director of Rochester Deaf Kitchen, Inc. (RDK), an organization dedicated to combating hunger and food insecurity within the Deaf community in Rochester, New York. To date, RDK has delivered hundreds of thousands of pounds of food to the Deaf community and continues to expand its impact. Zach is deeply committed to the belief that Deaf individuals deserve the opportunity to thrive, and he views the fight against food insecurity as the first step toward creating a future where everyone not only survives but flourishes. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring new ideas and experiences.
Aracelia Aguilar is one of the Empowerment Directors at DeafHope, providing direct services to Deaf DV/SV survivors. The many trainings Aracelia has taken has an effect on shaping her advocacy skills that strongly puts the survivor at the center of the advocacy work. DeafHope recognize the system barriers and institutional oppressions Deaf survivors navigate through to get to safety and we provide other options to get there. Aracelia received training under Sujatha Baliga and Mimi Kim to understand how to incorporate Restorative and Transformative Justice in our communities. Survivors can choose to participate in a community based Restorative Justice process that does not involve the system and includes folks that will support the accountability portion of the process with the person that caused harm to the survivor. Aracelia works with the DeafHope team in providing various workshops to all hearing service providers how to work with Deaf Survivors and provide workshops tocommunity members to educate about Dating Violence, Consent & Boundaries, and Sexual Violence in the Bay Area.