When she graduated in 2000, she became the first known deaf African-American woman to earn a Juris Doctor (law degree). Gordon was born in St. Mary, Jamaica in March 1972. Some cited my deafness as an obstacle rendering it impractical if not impossible to pursue a law degree. Gordon is proof that this does not have to be the norm. The Obama Administration appointed her to her current post at the OFCCP. During Black History Month, Independence Now shares stories that celebrate the lives and legacies of Black leaders who have ignited us to create a more inclusive, hopeful, and equitable world. The beautiful couple tied the knot on January 12 of this year. In 2004, Gordon served as vice president for the National Black Deaf Advocates. In a first, House Democrats elected a Black leader. Upon graduation, she hopes to go into either nonprofit work or government agency employment. . Thanks to the values that were instilled in me during my formative years, I understood then that those voices of doubt neither dictated my worth nor my capacity, she recalled. Gallaudet University's Board of Trustees provides leadership for the university's strategic initiatives in addition to governance and financial oversight. She added that university leadership continually skirted around undertaking the uncomfortable conversations, as well as bold and decisive actions necessary to dismantle the pervasive structural and systemic racism that is so deeply entrenched in this 156-year-old institution.. She was also engaged in sports and became a top student. A lawyer, disability rights advocate and former Obama administration official, Gordon joined Gallaudet Universitys Board of Trustees in 2011, where, for almost a decade, she said she urged her colleagues to commit to upending racism. It is uplifting when you can empower another and help someone discover a sense of self-worth and confidence in his or her abilities, she said of her efforts to continue to inspire many, especially those who are deaf as well. They got engaged in the same month. She attended East Providence High School, where she was a track and field sprinter. Model Born in Rhode Island. is claudia gordon married. Their dating rumor surfaced after they were spotted kissing in 2016. Tom Ford. Gordon was born in March 1972 and grew up in St. Mary, a parish in rural Jamaica. Susann and Bob moved to Victoria shortly after their marriage; and later moved their home to Kamloops, BC. Claudia Gordon was born in Jamacia. Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of the Deaf (. In July, Claudia revealed she nearly walked away from her presenting stint with Strictly.Appearing on Radio 4's Woman's Hour, the . At the. The NBDA was a beneficiary of this campaign. On April Fool's Day in 2019, she joked about being pregnant on social media. I confronted the truth that passing legislation is one thing but actual implementation with enforcement is another. Black History Month. TDD: Use Maryland Relay: 711 I want to contribute to a better society where there is more understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and where the same opportunities are provided for all she added. The discrimination she faced growing up did not stop Gordon from achieving her goals. Improving the lives of all members of our community, but especially those that identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color, remains a deeply held value at Gallaudet., Get updates on your area delivered via email, Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.), Like PostLocal on Facebook | Follow @postlocal on Twitter | Latest local news, Demographic changes: How the racial makeup of where you live has changed since 1990, Newsletter: Subscribe to About US to read the latest on race and identity, George Floyds America: Examining systemic racism through the lens of his life, Resources: Understanding racism and inequality in America. Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States and the first deaf graduate of American University's law school. From 2004 to 2009, she worked as a senior policy advisor for the Department of Homeland Security. Claudia Gordon is the third featured guest in the Council on Women and Girls: Meet the Women of the Administration series. The following information was collected by Independence Now Board Member, Sandra Sermons, and originally appeared on www.DeafPeople.com, a site that celebrates the achievements of deaf people in history, and those who are still active in their careers. Each month, they highlight a contemporary newsmaker. However, many people discouraged her from doing so. Their dating rumor surfaced after they were spotted kissing in 2016. I am African! Around the same time students were identified wearing the controversial robes, a photo from 1988 surfaced online that showed former members, including a current Gallaudet trustee, performing a gesture in which their right arms were outstretched as in a Nazi salute. While attending the Cascade Primary School in St. Mary, Gordon began developing severe pain in her ears. Site Design by, Thanks to the values that were instilled in me during my formative years, I understood then that those voices of doubt neither dictated my worth nor my capacity,. Voices of Disability Legacy Wall. Defying the odds or simply refusing to see them, Gordon went on to study political science at Howard University and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in 1995. Studies show that when students miss too many days, they get so far behind in class that it can lead to them dropping out of school and entering the school-to-prison pipeline. related to Aria Sanders, 25 Carlos Sanders, 49 Claudia Green, 71 Jane Gordon, 56 James Green, 81. has lived in Hurst, TX Fort Worth, TX . There are more than 5.6 millionAfrican Americans living with a disability in the U.S. Only 28.7percentof working-age African Americans with disabilities are employed in the U.S. compared to 72 percent of working-age African Americans without disabilities. Yet 70 percent of working-age Americans with disabilities are outside of the workforce. Notably, Claudia served as a member of President Obamas Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Federative Republic of Brazil. Meeting of November 16, 2011. Claudia Suhr Gordon studied Egyptology, Sociology and Coptic Studies at the University of Gttingen, Germany where she earned her Ph.D. with a dissertation on Ancient Egyptian first-person narratives. She has a body weight of 140 lbs i.e. Our students and many others both inside and outside of our Gallaudet community are helping to expose areas where we have not lived up to our core values, Roberta J. Cordano, the universitys president, said in a statement, and, rightly so, they are holding me and our university accountable for our actions.. She appeared in several music videos of popular artists. She was also the first female deaf African American lawyer to graduate law school and pursue a career devoted to helping individuals with disabilities. In 2013, the former president had also appointed her as a public engagement advisor at the White House working with the disability community. I felt that a job with the Federal government would more effectively allow me to affect the actual enforcement of laws, thereby alleviating the blatant discrimination that people with disabilities continue to face, she said. How Black and Latino people did in this last round of redistricting. . She has a brother named, Larry Jordan Jr. 2023 RespectAbility. Both of you have been involved with Gallaudet and several things have happened recently. Claudia Gordon did not let her challenges derived from her community stop her from prospering as an individual. The 49-year-old currently works with corporate companies like T-Mobile and Sprint to implement inclusion initiatives geared towards people with disabilities. Marital status Single Landline number (202) 398-1658 Gender Female Occupation ads view occupation Born March 1, 1972 Email address ads view email addresses More about Claudia L Gordon Contact Info They got married in November 2009. She married Byron Smith who also preceded her in death after 35 years . After eventually losing her hearing, she was taken out of school for almost two years because there were no institutions in St. Mary or surrounding parishes that could accommodate deaf students. Racism allegations at Gallaudet U pushed two officials to resign, they say. I want to contribute to a better society where there is more understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and where the same opportunities are provided for all she added. Claudia has discussed it before to TMZ, albeit briefly. She was born to a mother, Teresa, and a father Larry Jordan. People tried to talk her out of it. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. She didnt receive any treatment. He expressed confidence in the president and said the schools anti-racism plan addresses concerns raised by members of the community. . Today she works in a senior role at Sprint, a company with many accessibility features that enable people who are deaf to communicate. Fax: 301-625-9777 She then won a Skadden Fellowship (which has been described as the legal Peace Corps) for 2000-2002, and worked as a staff attorney at the NAD Law and Advocacy Center and a consulting attorney with the National Council on Disability. Is Adam Hagenbuch gay? Claudia Gordon is a Director of Government and Compliance with Sprint Accessibility. She is the second African-American woman to win the Miss Rhode Island USA title. She is also a judge on MasterChef Latino. Her mother at the time had immigrated to the South Bronx, in New York, to make a better living for herself and her family. All Rights Reserved. When I do take up classes, I feel discrimination.. Upon graduating, she was offered several positions in various government agencies. It is uplifting when you are able to empower another and help someone discover a sense of self worth and confidence in his or her abilities,. They were married in Port Alberni in a beautiful ceremony on June 30, 1962. Our focus on equity, belonging and anti-racism is now a collective commitment.. Claudia Sandoval was a contestant on Season 6 of MasterChef. More About Claudia Gordon: Sign Up. When she lost her hearing at age 8 by getting an ear infection or otitis media, she moved to the South Bronx to live with her aunt Mildred Taylor. Claudia L. Gordon she/her Inclusion and equity champion. Born in Jamaica, Gordon became deaf at the 8 years old after having sharp pains in her ears. Claudia Jordan is one of the successful radio and television personalities. It is to be noted though, that both Gordon and Girma are immigrants from Jamaica and Eritrea respectively. She subsequently became the first deaf student to graduate in 2000, from the American University (AU) Washington College of Law, in Washington, DC, where she specialized in disability rights law and policy. She was born January 17, 1963 in Greenville, MI, the daughter of Paul and Emma Jane King, who preceded her in death. She does not have kids. Claudia Gordon Net Worth Claudia Gordon Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Relationships, Married, Dating, Family, Wiki Biography. The majorities of them do not have high school diplomas, are functionally illiterate and are people of color. She represented Rhode Island in the 1990 Miss Teen USA, which she won as well. She also lost her friends gradually and experienced discrimination in a country where deaf and disabled persons are usually stigmatized. From July 2013 to March 2014 Claudia conducted a temporary assignment with the White House Office of Public Engagement where she was an Associate Director of Public Engagement.