Ash grew up on Chumash land (in so-called Santa Barbara) and moved to the East Bay to study environmental health and city planning in 2017. Previously, they worked as an in-home caregiver and researched community power-building and strategies to eliminate carceral debt. Outside of work, you will often find them falling off their surfboard in the ocean, knee-deep in dirt in the garden, or sharing food with loved ones.

How/Why did you get involved with the Independent Living Movement?

I learned about the Independent Living Movement when I was in grad school at UC Berkeley. Students with disabilities were fighting to save a personal training program after the school had cut its funding, and I got involved in the campaign. Learning about the history of organizing here helped me see the city in new ways and I’m grateful to be working with people who have been part of the movement for so long.