Meet Lucas DeLuca, Director of Community Engagement
We are excited to have Lucas DeLuca come on board as Director of Community Engagement. Lucas has worked in higher education and healthcare to advance disability inclusion and accessibility outcomes. From 2020-2022 Lucas served as the Director of Disability Support Services at Columbia Basin College. While there, he developed ways to reduce barriers to access by implementing universal design practices and spotlighting exciting assistive technology solutions. During the pandemic, Lucas worked with disability directors in the Washington Community and Technical College system to help create long covid protocols helping to ensure access to much-needed supports. Lucas has a Master’s degree in Critical Disability Studies from York University. His research focused on improving security and safeguards for people with disabilities online.
As the Director of Community Engagement, Lucas oversees and implements programs and services pertaining to 106 Hospital Partnerships, 400 Support Groups, and 1,000 Active Peer Visitors.
He is thrilled to be joining the Amputee Coalition staff. In 2018, Lucas started work as a Peer Visitor and has since supported Hill Days and various other AC initiatives. This opportunity bridges disability, education, and legislation to improve the health and lives of people with limb loss and limb difference.
When he isn’t working, you can find Lucas in the kitchen perfecting a recipe, creating pottery on the wheel, or walking with his partner and their cat.
Meet Damita Frye, Event Specialist
We are pleased to welcome Damita Frye to the Amputee Coalition. Damita has over 20 years of experience in the event planning industry, working with federal and city governments and non-profit organizations. She is a certified government meeting professional and a member of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals. Frye currently sits on the Board of Directors for Historic Manassas Inc and serves as a committee member on the advisory board for the City of Manassas Department of Social Services. She is the founder of Hope and Grace Transitional Home for Women. This non-profit organization assists women released from incarceration with affordable housing and needed services to achieve a positive and prosperous future.
Damita is excited to work with the events team to plan and execute formal events for our members. She is looking forward to working to advance the Amputee Coalition to be the leading and guiding voice for the amputee, limb loss, and limb difference community.
Meet Zaira Becerra, Social Media Specialist
The Amputee Coalition is delighted to introduce our new Social Media Specialist, Zaira Becerra. She joins the communications team with an extensive social media marketing strategy background and a successful track record in brand engagement and awareness, working across various industries.
Zaira is honored for the opportunity to join an organization with such a meaningful mission. She will be working to increase organizational brand awareness and diverse representation through social media engagement and developing relationships with influencers and partners. She is excited to create and nurture social spaces for our members to share their knowledge and personal stories.
Zaira shared that she absolutely loves her unique name. As a creative, Becerra says that she even creatively got her name. Her mother named her after a license plate. While pregnant, her mom enjoyed reading license plates, and from there came the name Zaira. She also shared that it is essential to know that she is a Beyoncé superfan!