A Legacy of Selfless Service

In 2006, a visionary named Carolyn Morgan embarked on a mission to support the self advocacy of people with disabilities for positive impact in our communities and in people’s lives. With other self advocates and allies, she founded Self Advocates United as 1 (SAU1), an organization built and led by self advocates, for self advocates.

Carolyn was a remarkable leader. She was offered the role of President, however she humbly declined, choosing instead to serve as Vice President. She served for a decade. Even after she stepped down from the Board, she remained a faithful advisor to the Board until her passing. Carolyn dedicated her whole life to practicing, and empowering others in, self advocacy.

Carolyn left this earth on May 24, 2023.

Carolyn's Passion: Youth Empowerment and Self Advocacy

Carolyn's heart belonged to the youth. She believed in their potential to make a difference. Carolyn understood that knowing the history of people with disabilities and how far they've come was crucial to further advancing their rights. "We cannot go back!" she would say, urging young self advocates forward.

Honoring Carolyn's Legacy

Today, SAU1 seeks to honor Carolyn's enduring legacy with the Carolyn Morgan Youth Empowerment Fellowship. We will nurture the self advocacy leaders of tomorrow, young individuals with disabilties, to keep the torch of self advocacy burning brightly.

The fellowship will be for youth who:

are ages 16 to 25
have lived experience with disability,
reside in PA,
want to learn about disability history and the importance of
self advocacy,
agree to create an interactive event about what they’ve
learned, and
promote and share that event 3 times at schools in their geographic area.

The chosen fellow will:

be paid a stipend,
work for 6 to 9 months,
be fully supported by an experienced SAU1 Coordinator/Facilitator
in their region,
meet with other professional self advocates,
gain valuable knowledge, experience, and networking
opportunities, and
advise SAU1’s Board of Directors on issues specific to youth.

Organizations can be a Fellowship Partner, and honor Carolyn by:

promoting the opportunity of the Fellowship through your networks,
offering time to mentor the Fellow through a bit of your work,
giving the Fellow opportunities for leadership and networking within your organization,
providing guidance and input into the management of the Fellowship, and
inviting the Fellow to hold an event with your organization or group.

Your Investment Matters

By contributing to this fellowship, you play a pivotal role in empowering future advocates. Your support will ensure that the history of people with disabilities is preserved and that the need for self advocacy remains front and center in our communities.

A Fellowship needs money to be successful. Every dollar helps!

Individuals and groups are invited to invest in the fellowship by clicking the link below.
Organizations may choose to financially sponsor the fellowship at levels starting at $1,000. Email info@sau1.org to arrange a meeting to talk more about becoming a Fellowship sponsor. Sponsors will have the opportunity to do things like:
- host the fellow at their organization for a day to learn more about it,
- sit on the Selection Committee to review the Fellowship Applicants, and
- have their organization promoted through all Fellowship
  materials as an Investor in Self Advocacy.

Join us in honoring Carolyn Morgan's unwavering dedication and passion for youth leadership and self advocacy.

Together, we will ensure that her legacy continues to inspire and empower generations to come.

Make a Difference. Invest Now.

The Carolyn Morgan Youth Empowerment Fellowship

By SAU1

The Carolyn Morgan Youth Empowerment Fellowship

Empowering the Next Generation of Self Advocates