The prestigious Pride Award went to Jamie Bolling, Director of the Independent Living Institute in Stockholm, during Stolt NATT (Proud NIGHT) at SALT in Oslo, Saturday 8th June.
Jamie receives the Pride Award for her tireless devotion, hard work and dedication, over many years, to our common fight for equality and human rights for disabled.
She has worked tirelessly throughout her long career to raise awareness of the Independent Living movement and has been a strong promoter of our shared ideology and values. She is a worthy winner of this year’s Pride Award.
- Very well deserved! Jamie has had a huge impact on our fight for equality, both in Norway and in Europe! I have had the pleasure of getting to know Jamie after many years of cooperation and by serving together on the boards of ENIL (European network on Independent Living) and Bente Skansgård’s Independent Living fund,” says Uloba’s Secretary General Vibeke Marøy Melstrøm.
Jamie has contributed to the development of personal assistance as a key tool in the quest for equality by people with disabilities.
Active on several fronts
The recipient of the Pride Award has a background in social anthropology and disability research. She is co – President of the board of ENIL, the European Network on Independent Living, and Director of the Independent Living Institute in Stockholm. She has worked with hate crimes and other policy areas which affect disabled, and is currently Vice President of MyRight, where she focusses on international development work for disabled people. Furthermore, she heads up the project “Disabled Refugees Welcome” which is administered by the Independent Living Institute.
Vibeke Marøy Melstrøm, Secretary General of Uloba, says that she is incredibly proud of, and happy that this year’s Pride Award has gone to Jamie.
Vibeke says that Jamie has a unique ability to build relationships and to create networks, to motivate and engage.
- She has been a driving force within ENIL during good times and bad.
Vibeke goes on to say that Jamie embraces and cares about individuals and is an inspirational role model for our strategy and values as we continue our common fight for equality.
- A very worthy award winner! she concludes.
Important role model
Jamie Bolling has contributed personal assistance becoming a real tool for equality and for the liberation of disabled people. She is an important role model for many, not only in Sweden, but throughout Europe.
We congratulate Jamie Bolling on the Pride Award 2024!
About the candidate for the Pride Award and the reason for the choice:
- Jamie has been Executive Director of ENIL (European network on Independent Living) for many years. Today she is Co – President of the board.
- In addition, Jamie is Director of ILI (Independent Living Institute).
- She is also Vice President of “MyRight” and project lead for “Disabled Refugees Welcome”.
- She was a member of the European Fundamental Rights Platform’s Advisory Panel from 2010 – 2014.
- Jamie has worked tirelessly in our common fight for our human rights. Her efforts in the struggle for equality for disabled people, our right to participate in society, and in raising awareness of the Independent Living ideology have been formidable.
- In particular, she has contributed to the development of personal assistance as a real tool for equality – the most important tool for people who need assistance in their daily lives.
- Her ability to build relationships and bonds between people and across borders has been of great importance in maintaining and developing ENIL as a strong network for disabled people.
- She has been a driving force within ENIL for many years and her tireless efforts have been crucial to ENIL’s continued existence.
- Jamie has always been interested in the exchange of experiences between disabled people and has an inherent belief in the human spirit, the importance of the individual and the strength of standing together in a common struggle.
- Jamie is an important role model for many, not only in Sweden, but throughout Europe.
