The Ford and Mellon Foundations announced on July 17 their . Three of the 20 honorees are deaf, and one is a privategraduate. 

In its introduction to the Disability Futures program, the Ford Foundation writes, 鈥淭he stories we tell and the art we create deepen our understanding of the world. Disabled artists, filmmakers, and journalists use the different lenses they carry 鈥� including their disability 鈥� to push thinking, foster imagination, and advance the cultural landscape.鈥� 

鈥淐reated by, for, and with disabled practitioners, Disability Futures is an initiative 鈥� developed in partnership with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by United States Artists 鈥� to spotlight the work of disabled creatives across disciplines and geography and amplify their voices individually and collectively. Each fellowship includes a $50,000 grant to advance each artist鈥檚 practice.鈥�

, is described in the Ford Foundation announcement as 鈥渁n acclaimed hip-hop recording artist from the DC/MD/VA area鈥� who 鈥渉as been a pivotal figure in music since 2005. Snipe鈥檚 innovative genre, 鈥楧ip Hop鈥� (hip hop through deaf eyes), blends audio and imagery, earning critical acclaim and a growing fanbase. He aims to bridge the gap between deaf musicians and the mainstream, highlighting that disabilities can be strengths. His 2016 album and subsequent releases, Wamilton and Unapologetically in 2022, underscore his message of resilience and empowerment for those facing challenges, especially in music. Beyond the studio, his talent shines through his performances, including the National Anthem at Super Bowl LV and the halftime show at Super Bowl LVI. His appearances on shows like Black Lightning and Fear The Walking Dead further cement his status in the entertainment world as Snipe continues to inspire and challenge societal perceptions of disability and talent.鈥�

Contacted for comment, Snipe said, 鈥淚n one word, I feel humbled! It never occurred to me that I could be recognized for my work in this way. I am simply doing what I love for our community. My goal was, and still is, to push myself further and higher to break more barriers so that the next generation can benefit from it. It is also a huge honor to be aligned with other amazing artists.鈥�

The two other Deaf people honored this year are and .

Rourke, a renowned Deaf artist, has been on campus all summer, working on a mural on the west wall of the National Deaf Life Museum in Chapel Hall. This eight-panel mural will depict seven Indigenous figures, representing the two tribes from the Washington, D.C. area, the Piscataway and the Nacotchtank. The seven figures are using Indigenous signs, acknowledging that the land on which Gallaudet sits was originally the home of these two peoples.  

According to her Ford Foundation citation, 鈥淣ancy Rourke is a Deaf artist, muralist, activist, and Native American. She is an enrolled member of the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians in the Kumeyaay Nation, San Diego County [California]. Her paintings bear witness to the experiences of Deaf people who have lived in a world controlled primarily by people who carry the history that 鈥楧eaf people are born senseless and incapable of reason鈥� (Aristotle). To challenge this idea, her paintings show both the truth of how Deaf people are oppressed and how their community celebrates collective identity and culture.鈥�

鈥淩ourke found her purpose after exploring her Deaf identity and making political art that addresses social justice, activism, human rights, and Deaf solidarity. She has exhibited art internationally, including at the Silesian Museum, Katowice, Poland; Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NewYork; Laurent Clerc Museum, La Balme-les-Grottes, France; and the Make Tank Art Gallery, Exeter, Devon.鈥� 

The Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund (now the Clerc Cultural Committee) of the privateAlumni Association bestowed its Laurent Clerc Award on Rourke in 2019. This award was given for outstanding social contributions.

Natasha Ofili is a well-known artist, writer, and storyteller. The Ford Foundation says that 鈥渉er breakout role as Principal Karen Vaughn in Ryan Murphy鈥檚 Netflix series The Politician with Oprah Daily singling her out as 鈥榓 host of newcomers that manage to steal the screen鈥� from the show鈥檚 seasoned actors.鈥� 

鈥淥fili achieved historical milestones by winning the 2024 Game Accessibility Conference award for Best Representation for her portrayal of Hailey Cooper, the first Black Deaf playable character in Marvel鈥檚 Spider-Man 2 video game. She also played Hailey in Marvel鈥檚 Spider-Man: Miles Morales video game. In collaboration with Coldplay, Pulse Films, and Director Ben Mor, Ofili developed the story and creative direction for the music video for Coldplay鈥檚 first single of their new album, feelslikeimfallinginlove, as the Creative Director and lead performer.鈥�

鈥淥fili鈥檚 other credits include Amazon Originals鈥� animated series Undone, where she is the first Black Deaf animated character. A Writers Guild of America West (WGA) member, she was a staff writer on the Starz/Warner Brothers鈥� Untitled Show, produced by Ava DuVernay鈥檚 production company ARRAY. Founder of NIOVISION Productions, she wrote, acted, produced, and directed her award-winning short film The Multi, which was accepted by 14 film festivals, including several BAFTA, Oscars, and Canadian Screen qualifiers. In the theater world, Ofili wrote her first play, The Window, workshopped by NIOVISION, WACO Theatre (founded by Tina Knowles and Richard Lawson), and Deaf West Theatre.鈥�

鈥淥fili advocates for accessibility, authentic representation, and opportunities for the Deaf and Disabled community, especially Black and BIPOC deaf youth.鈥�

This is the third, and last, Disability Futures cohort. The previous cohorts, in 2020 and 2022, included five deaf honorees: (2020), (2020), (2020), (2022), and Dickie Hearts, ’09 (2022).

Congratulations to all honorees!