SVILC helped to organize and host the first national forum on Race and Disability. This was a powerful event for all who attended -- people of color, white people, disabled people and nondisabled people -- all talking about their personal experiences of racism and ableism and how we can all be stronger allies to each other in our collective journey towards safety, justice and compassion. SVILC staff and board had the courage to create a safe space for these sometimes difficult conversations to happen and is a model to other independent living centers around the country and world.