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Daphne Frias is a 26-year-old Latina Youth Activist and was born on January 13, 1998, in West Harlem, New York City. She had been born prematurely at just 27 weeks., leading to her being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just three 3 years old and actively uses a wheelchair for mobility to help her get around. During her childhood, she had to visit the hospital many times because of her diagnosis and had to do physical rehabilitation.  She grew up in a Spanish-speaking household with two of her other siblings who would always help her when she needed it. She attended public school, and in her High School year, she attended The Beacon School. Recently she was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2023, and later went into remission.

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She was a lot more focused on how minority communities are disproportionately affected by environmental issues. She took her advocacy as far as becoming the founder of the nonprofit organization called Box the Ballot which was established in 2018. Frias was accepted into a joint M.D. and M.P.H degree program in Maryland in 2020. and she Now works as a freelance organizer who advocates for disability justice, climate justice, and public health.

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During Frias' school years, she became acutely aware of the environmental injustices in her community, and after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, she decided to start her activism career in 2018. She even became a New York state director for ‘March for Our Lives’ which inspired her climate activism.

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Disability & Climate Justice: A Q&A with Daphne Frias (goodgoodgood.co)

Environmental Activism Confronting Climate Change Must Include Disabled (ssir.org)

Daphne Frias Celebrates Resilience of Disabled People as an Asset to Fighting Climate Change - Disability & Philanthropy Forum (disabilityphilanthropy.org)

About — Daphne Frias

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Fias would advocate for disability rights, highlighting the challenges of those with disabilities face every day. Her work, leadership, and dedication have helped bring greater visibility to the challenges faced by disabled people and the need for systemic change. Her voice has been able to push for individuals with disabilities to have the same opportunities as anybody else, being able to get them the chance to voice their thoughts and opinions. She inspires and mobilizes others, particularly young people, to fight for a more just and equitable world.

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She empowered and inspired many people, particularly those who might face barriers to voting, to participate in the democratic process. She effectively used a lot of her efforts to mobilize young people to take action against gun violence and demand safer communities.

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She was a prominent voice for climate change and was given the chance to speak out at many major climate change events, bringing visibility to the intersection of disability and environmental activism. Through her nonprofit organization, Box the Ballot, Daphne was able to work to increase voter turnouts by collecting absentee ballots, particularly during the 2018 midterm elections. This initiative helped ensure that more voices were heard in the democratic process.

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“My disability is not my hindrance; it’s my superpower. It gives me a unique perspective and drives my passion for justice.”

“We cannot wait for another tragedy to take action. Our lives depend on the policies we fight for today.”

“Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it’s a human rights issue. We must include disabled voices in the conversation to create truly inclusive solutions.”

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Climate Activist Daphne Frias discusses the crisis, what data we can trust + her hope for the future

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AMSA Activism Update: Social Justice is Public Health