shopper approved
    2942.7
    31.27
    32.63
    0.26
    1013.92
    11.37
    1029.78
    28.88

    The Stacey Milbern Quarter

    Stacey Milbern (1987 – 2020) was a disability advocate who fought tirelessly on behalf of those with physical and intellectual disabilities. She was one of the co-founders of the Disability Justice movement and made significant strides within the sphere of disabled rights during her lifetime.

    Milbern is a unique honoree in the scope of the women commemorated by the US Mint’s American Women Quarters Program. She is the youngest of the entire group and the only Millennial to make the list.

    In fact, all the events of her short and meaningful life occurred after the deaths of most of the honorees. So, it’s important to examine how such a modern figure is remembered in the same breath as the other historical titans the program recognizes.

    Biography

    Stacey Park Milbern was born on May 19, 1987 in Seoul, South Korea. Her mother was from South Korea, but her father was a white American.

    Unsurprisingly, her father’s presence in Seoul was due to a military career. Thus, the family did not stay in South Korea, and Milbern spent most of her childhood years at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

    What set her apart was her complications at birth. Stacey Milbern was born with congenital muscular dystrophy, a condition which causes muscles to atrophy or become unstable, and brings with it many difficulties for its sufferers.

    Milbern never considered herself disabled as she grew up. Instead, she simply stated to her peers that she had “challenges.”

    However, as her condition evolved, she found herself reliant on a tracheal tube and ventilator to breathe. Thus, she began to identify as disabled, and quickly found her voice within the disabled community at her school and within North Carolina.

    Part of her efforts focused on adding disabled history elements to her school’s curriculum. She also began her first blog, which explored some of the challenges surrounding disabled people and their rights within the community.

    At 16, she began taking on various leadership roles. She served on the leadership team for the National Youth Leadership Network and was the co-founder of the North Carolina Youth Leadership Forum.

    Her activities drew the attention of North Carolina Governor Michael Easley. He appointed her to the North Carolina Statewide Independent Living Council, which serves as an advocacy group for disabled people to live with a minimum of external assistance from others.

    When Milbern was 18, she and other advocates created the term “disability justice.” The term refers to ensuring that within the disability community, marginalized groups can have their voices heard.

    Milbern graduated from Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 2009. During her time, she worked extensively with the American Association of People with Disabilities.

    Move to California

    After working two more years in her home state of North Carolina, Stacey Milbern decided that a change was in order. She moved to Oakland at age 24, marking the first time she’d attempted to live independently from her parents, who’d served as her caregivers up to that point.

    Shortly after moving to California, she founded the Disability Justice Culture Club to gather individuals interested in promoting her ideals about disability justice. Her choice to found the club there was no accident, as the Bay Area had been a hotbed for disability activism since the 1960s.

    Milbern also went back to school during this period. She acquired a masters in business administration from Davis College in 2015.

    Part of what made Milbern so successful in the Bay Area was her securing of Medicaid and her ability to use it for the robust social services in California. The in-home nursing that the government program allowed her to get made it possible for Milbern to live independently and avoid a nursing home.

    Because she had benefited so greatly from these services, Stacey Milbern fought ardently to protect them and preserve their eligibility for other disabled people. In particular, she argued and campaigned against any proposed reductions to the Affordable Care Act.

    Her efforts did not go unnoticed. She also served the Obama administration for two years after her appointment to the President’s Committee for People With Intellectual Disabilities.

    Milbern also worked with the Power to Live group, which served disabled communities in California – particularly those who are older or identify as LGBT. She and other members leapt into action prominently during the 2019 wildfire season. After the power company cut the power to thousands of households, the PtL offered generators, medicine, and other key supplies to those affected.

    Final years

    Milbern’s final achievement of note was her involvement as an impact producer on the set of a documentary entitled Crip Camp. The documentary, which was nominated for an Academy Award, told the story about the birth of disability justice at a 1970s-era summer camp in New York.

    Sadly, Stacey Milbern was never able to escape her health problems. Her health began declining around age 30, and she passed away due to surgical complications on May 19, 2020 – her 33rd birthday.

    Legacy

    Stacey Milbern’s story continues to be an inspiration for those who struggle with disabilities. Within the community, she is known as a “crip ancestor” – voices from the past that help to guide the path for others in similar situations.

    However, her short life and the fact that her lifetime is extremely recent have not made for an incredible outpouring of public support and acclaim just yet. In a sense, her elevation to a quarter may serve as the catalyst for her wider recognition, rather than serving as an exclamation mark – like it does for many of the other honorees.

    So, let’s discuss what the quarter looks like, and how it captures the essence of Stacey Park Milbern.

    The 2025 quarter

    The Stacey Milbern quarter is the 4th release of 2025 and is the fourteenth coin of the series. It is also the penultimate coin in the American Women Quarters Program – only the Althea Gibson quarter comes later.

    The quarter itself is another Washington quarter. That is, it features the country’s first president on its obverse, as have all quarters since 1932.

    The reverse of the quarter features the tribute to Stacey Milbern. She is portrayed as she often appeared in life – cleareyed, forward-looking, and in her motorized wheelchair.

    While the image of Milbern dominates the right side of the coin, her name and trademark phrase populate the left side. She is identified simply as Stacey Park Milbern, and the phrase “Disability Justice” appears beneath it.

    With any hope, the quarter can help bring awareness both to Stacey Park Milbern and her important advocacy.

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