Editor’s Note: REV UP was founded in 2016 by grassroots activists in Texas to build the power of the disability vote—and over the past decade, it has grown into a powerful national movement. REV UP stands for “Register, Educate, Vote, Use your Power!” As we celebrate 10 years of impact, we are spotlighting leaders from across the country whose work reflects the strength and influence of the REV UP movement.
One of the greatest strengths of a grassroots movement is that there is no one way to advocate. While united in our vision of an accessible democracy, each REV UP coalition and each member brings their own unique approach to the work of engaging the disability community and advocating for more accessible elections. Derek Heard, a leader with REV UP Georgia, shows us how art can be a powerful tool for civic engagement.
Derek Heard is a community advocate and artist from Georgia who has long been affiliated with REV UP Georgia and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). He is a 2022 alum of AAPD’s Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program. Heard has also been part of organizations like Uniting for Change, Synergies Works, and the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice. Heard uses drawings and graphics to help communicate with and understand the world.
ID: Graphic of people with various disabilities drawn as multi-part circular characters in many colors with varying skin colors. Above them are words and phrases written in colors. “Makes me feel free. Show more than 1 person with disabilities. Everybody can do art. Don’t need words. History. Show Voting important. Understand. Justice.” The final words are underlined. On the right is a fist on fire, on the left is an easel with the word “art” written on it in all caps, and the hand holding the brush can be seen above it.
For Heard, art is the ultimate way to show people why voting matters, in a way that touches their emotions and hearts. Artwork creates an accessible and approachable way to engage with voting rights efforts, as Heard’s creativity demonstrates.
“Art can grow stronger to help people understand what REV UP, and vote, and supported decision making, and advocacy are, so important to your heart and your passion,” he explained.
The disability vote matters deeply to Heard. He explained through his artwork and in his words why voting is so important for people with disabilities.
“It can be heard around the world and make them stronger and more powerful,” he said. Heard described feeling “like a puppet” when learning about people in power making laws intended to make it harder for him and people like him to vote. But getting involved with REV UP has allowed Heard to make a difference.
ID: Art of how Derek got his start on his business Derek’s Doodles. This includes a drawing of Stacey Ramirez, Derek, and a family member. Additionally features a laptop and phone with REV UP art on it, and an easel that shows a drawing of a person mailing in a ballot with the words “voting is priceless”
Stacey Ramirez, also of REV UP Georgia, was the first person to encourage Heard to turn his art into a business and use that art to advocate for voting rights. Because of Ramirez’s belief in him, Heard is now able to share his art with many more people and use it for the accessible democracy movement.
“It all started when I couldn’t find a job that I liked, and she was like, ‘Why not try making your own?’ She saw my passion in my heart, and she suggested I should start my own business and follow my heart,” Heard said.
Because of Ramirez’s belief in him, Heard is now able to share his art with many more people. His art has been used as an educational tool to help people with disabilities understand the voting process. His colorful illustrations also spark joy and add a lightness to a process that can often be complicated and heavy. Heard’s art creates representation, helping people feel seen and connected to the important work of building an accessible democracy.
Derek Heard’s mother, Teresa Heard, elaborated on how REV UP Georgia helped her son believe in his power as an artist and voting advocate.
“[REV UP Georgia members] were the first ones that actually saw Derek’s artwork as an asset. They were the first organization that paid Derek for his graphics. So where we are now, we credit a lot from the vision of Stacey and REV UP Georgia to see Derek, his work, really looking at him as an individual, having a space for him to be creative in REV UP, and to be able to do civic work in his own unique way,” she said.
‘That’s why I’m gonna try to work hard until the end,” Derek Heard added.
ID: In clockwise order: A drawing of an iPad with a person on the screen with their mouth taped saying “don’t let your voice be silent, get out and vote”. A depiction of the three little bears in which papa bear is pointing at a calendar that has election day highlighted. A depiction of the three little pigs but the wolf is confused because the pigs have a sign in their yard saying “gone to vote”
Heard named his business Derek’s Doodles. His artwork is now featured prominently on the REV UP Georgia website. Some of this art features imagery from fairy tales, like Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood.
Heard explained why he chose fairy tales as the theme for his artwork for REV UP Georgia’s website.
“Because fairy tales always brought happy endings,” he said.
ID: A graphic of Derek directing his movie, featuring him in a director’s chair, a film camera, the movie poster, voting iconography, and an easel with a hand coming out of it holding a paintbrush with the words “Art to Advocate” on it.
The artwork Heard has created is only continuing to expand in its creativity and its reach. He is now working on a movie called Doodling for Democracy.
“’It is all about art of advocate, disability voice matters, and how we are strong with our vote,” he said.
ID: A drawing of the “REV UP Galaxy”, a depiction of the solar system with the Sun and planets being represented by different types of people in the community. Derek is in the middle, with a self-portrait on top of the Sun, and out from there are the words “Powered up”, “leader”, “All people”, “Artist”, “Vote”, and “Important”, all represented by different colors and icons.
Heard believes strongly in the importance of the interconnectedness of the REV UP coalitions. He created artwork of the galaxy to explain his role in the REV UP movement. Heard put himself at the center of this galaxy with various advocates surrounding him.
“I’m the solar system of the sun, and they all count on me to do the best to make the planet a better place, because I give the warm rays to all planets, and it makes me feel like I’m important, so it’s my duty to do my best to help people and help REV UP, and all our decision making of advocates,” he said.
In Heard’s vision of a REV UP galaxy, everyone has a role to play. Through his artwork and advocacy, he has made an impact on communities far and wide. REV UP may only be celebrating its first decade, but leaders like Heard are thinking of the future. As Heard put it, he plans to keep helping people “get out and vote until the end of the galaxy.”