Alex Locust | SpeakOut

Details

Biography

Topics

Biracial, Multiracial Identity

Disability

Internalized Oppression

Leadership

Mental Health

Programs for High School Students

Alex Locust is a Black biracial, queer, disability justice educator, activist, and "Glamputee" who celebrates the harmony of his identities to help create the world they want to see.

Born disabled (above-the knee-amputee), Alex learned to navigate an ableist world that told him and other disabled people harmful, violent, and reductive ideas around which bodies are worthy and which bodies are beautiful. Armed with bombastic charm, whimsical humor, and a sharp wit, Alex synthesizes his lived experience with professional insight to educate others on how to adopt a disability justice framework that builds community and empowers fellow disabled folks.

Alex offers a series of workshops and lectures that foster empathy and are grounded in cultural humility and intersectionality. He creates spaces that model comfort and ease while exploring complex topics such as disability justice, microaggressions, harm reduction, and cross-movement solidarity.

With an M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, his approach highlights those who have been silenced and invisibilized while also activating those with privilege and power to recognize how to disrupt oppression and promote cultural shifts. Alex creates an environment that is both engaging and comfortable, adapting to the audience so they leave with newfound knowledge and awareness.

While earning his Masters of Science degree, Alex was honored with the Peggy H. Smith Distinguished Graduate Student award and named Graduate Student of the Year from the National Council on Rehabilitation Education.

Testimonials

“I can say with absolute confidence that Alex is truly one of the most engaging, knowledgeable, and passionate disability justice educators I have had the honor of witnessing. Alex brings to his work knowledge from his own communities, lived experience, and professional expertise as a clinical rehabilitation counselor. One of his greatest strengths is astutely recognizing spaces in which humor and seriousness can be balanced to create fun, safe, and educational environments that inspire participants to value and engage with the work of disability justice.”
— Rana Yaghmaian, Associate Professor/Department Chair, Portland State University

“Alex Locust is a dynamic leader and educator in the disability justice movement space. Alex’s presentation is authentic, enlightening and transformative. It was an honor to have him as a plenary speaker at our conference.”
— Diane Clements-Boyd, Executive Director, Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission

“Alex has an incredible talent to engage his audience while adding complexity and nuance to the assumptions they likely hold. He uses humor at just the right moments. He both listens and learns from the audience while also confidently pushing audiences as needed. Lastly, he runs things with a grace that puts the host at ease. I highly recommend that any organization looking to encourage forward-thinking diversity conversations consider hiring Alex Locust.”
— Emily Smith Beitiks, Interim Director, Paul K. Longmore Institute

“It’s always a privilege to see Alex facilitating. He's so captivating and creates such a safe space. Seeing him in action it's so clear this is his natural talent, regardless of the topic I’ve seen people walk away moved by his infectious positive and loving vibes he makes everyone feel like they belong.”
— Melanie Graham, Chief Executive Officer, Social Equity Lab

“Alex Locust brings expertise, lived experience and generosity to all he does. Alex speaks from his heart to ours with an authentic vulnerability that allows the audience to relax, while not "letting them off the hook." Whether he is facilitating a panel, being interviewed by a colleague, or speaking at a conference, he is one of our favorite presenters. Alex moves us to feel, think and act so that we can be part of creating a better world.”
— Jamae Tasker, Director, Sunset Cooperative Preschool

Speeches

SPEECHES:
A Leg Up on Disability Justice
This talk expands our frameworks to promote human rights and provides an introduction to disability justice as an essential ingredient to realize true social change. Alex invites reflections around accessibility, interdependence, cross-movement solidarity, and celebrating wholeness to deepen your justice efforts and foster equitable spaces for all body/minds.

WORKSHOPS:
Spill the Disabili-Tea
Spill the Disabili-Tea is an interactive workshop designed to elevate knowledge of disability justice and provide a space to apply this lens to the inclusive practices of various community spaces. Alex draws upon his lived experience, education, and advocacy skills to lead a candid conversation that can include the following questions:
• Who is "disabled" and what creates that experience?
• What is "disability justice?"
• What's the "right way" to interact with people with disabilities?
• How do we navigate "microaggressions?"
• What's the difference between "access" and "inclusion?"
• Is disability a cultural experience and how can that intersect with other cultural identities?
• How can I integrate these skills in the community?

Demystifying Microaggressions (Part 1)
This introductory session explores and demystifies the complex phenomenon of microaggressions, particularly as they occur in creating inclusive communities. Vignettes and examples from pop culture and the news will be used to offer insight into how microaggressions can show up for BIPOC, women, disabled people, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Additionally, key frameworks such as intersectionality and cultural humility will also be introduced to ensure the audience can root their efforts in centering the emotional experience of people most impacted by these dynamics. Ultimately, the goal of this presentation is to empower attendees to begin engaging their respective communities in these challenging, yet important dialogues. Attendees will leave with an increased awareness of respectful language and behavior as well as strategies to promote environments where community members can be open and engaged in encountering differences across cultural experiences.

Disrupting Microaggressions (Part 2)
This workshop serves as a follow up session introducing the concept of microinterventions. This range of actions and behaviors serve as opportunities to disrupt, interrupt, and repair the damage caused by microaggressions. After reviewing the four key strategies of microinterventions, the group will engage in an interactive activity to create a living reference tool for promoting microinterventions within various communities and situations.

Media