ARISE - EFR Podcast - Inside Advocacy: How Change Happens from the Ground Up

The ARISE - EFR podcast comes to WCNY Community FM from ARISE in Syracuse. Hosted by CEO Bruce Drake, each episode introduces listeners to someone in our community supporting access and independence for those with disabilities. Join host Bruce Drake of ARISE – EFR as he sits down with statewide systems advocate Phil Phren to unpack how meaningful systems-change happens in the world of disability rights and independent living. In this episode, we explore: What it really means to be a systems advocate and how that role differs from direct service. Phil’s roots in community organizing, his own connection to disability via his sister, and how that experience shaped his work. The function of independent living centers—what sets them apart and how they empower people with disabilities. Real wins in advocacy: from improvements to accessible voting equipment to protections around source-of-income discrimination. The balance between policy-wonk detail and person-centered organizing, and why trust and credibility matter in this work. Whether you’re a disability-rights advocate, policy-enthused citizen, or simply curious about how grassroots effort connects to institutional change, this episode offers a powerful look at how lasting impact is built—one relationship, one system, one community at a time. Tune in to discover how empowerment, organizing, and policy intersect to move the needle on justice and inclusion.