Access Press is excited to announce the appointment of two disability community leaders to its Board of Directors. Their addition brings a wealth of experience, vision, and dedicated advocacy to the organization, and will further our mission to inform, amplify the voices of, and unite Minnesotans with disabilities.
Mai Thor
Mai Thor joins the board as a prominent disability justice advocate. A Hmong woman, and refugee from Laos, Thor is a recipient of the 2026 “Champion of Change” award from the Governor’s Council on Disability. She is also the Chief Program Officer at The Arc Minnesota, a nonprofit that promotes and protects the human rights of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Her past roles include working with the Minnesota Disability Law Center, the Metropolitan Council, and various State of Minnesota agencies, including the Department of Human Rights and the Department of Transportation. She focused on the overlap of racial equality and disability rights during her tenure as a Bush Fellow from 2021 to 2023. Additionally, Mai helped establish Amplify MN, a Disability Justice collective consisting of multi-marginalized disabled people, including those belonging to queer, trans, and BIPOC communities.
“I have been a reader and writer at Access Press for decades, and am happy now to join the Access Press Board at a time when the organization is needed more than ever to keep the disability community both informed and visible.”
Joani Werner
Bringing deep expertise in disability rights law and public services, Joani Werner is re-joining the Access Press board after serving from 2001-2004. Werner worked with and solved problems for people with disabilities for over 35 years as an Area Work Experience Coordinator with the Social Security Administration in St. Paul and Mankato.
Werner’s knowledge of Access Press, as well as her unique perspective on the needs of disabled adults for social programs that protect their independence and full participation in society will be instrumental in guiding Access Press’s future outreach and operational strategies. She has represented the interests of disabled workers on several significant boards and councils, including the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Disability, the Minnesota Business Leadership Network, and the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living.
“Since the paper’s founding by Charlie Smith and my work with former executive director and editor Tim Benjamin, I have believed deeply in the work of Access Press. I would like to do anything I can to help at this moment of challenge for people with disabilities and for community journalism,” said Werner.
Looking Forward
“We are thrilled to welcome Mai and welcome Joani back to our leadership team,” said John Tschida, Vice President of the Board. “Their combined expertise and passion for our mission will be invaluable as we expand our reach, deepen our impact, and navigate the future of our publication.”
Membership
The Access Press Board of Directors plays a critical role in overseeing the organization’s strategic direction, ensuring financial health, and advocating for its core mission of providing vital news and information by and for people with disabilities.
Learn more about the Board of Directors and Access Press team leaders on our website, https://accesspress.org/about/staff-board/. Applications to the Board are currently welcome from individuals with experience in fundraising for nonprofit organizations and knowledge of the community of 650,000 disabled Minnesotans.
Lynda Milne is the president of the Access Press Board of Directors.
