At Exceptional Minds, the strength of our community is reflected in the generosity and vision of our supporters. Among them, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) stands out as a long-standing partner in our mission to empower artists on the autism spectrum. Since EM’s early days, MEAF has championed the potential of young people with disabilities, investing in programs that open doors to opportunity and challenge outdated perceptions. We recently had the privilege of speaking with Kevin Webb, MEAF’s Executive Director, to learn more about the foundation’s incredible impact—and the values that drive its work.
MEAF invests in “innovative strategies to empower youth with disabilities to lead productive lives.” How was that determined to be the place it wanted to have impact? How long has MEAF existed?
Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) was established in 1990, by the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan and Mitsubishi Electric Group companies in the U.S. As the Board of Directors considered what MEAF’s mission should be “disability” kept rising to the top as an area where we could make a difference:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990,
- Mitsubishi Electric employees indicated an interest in helping kids with disabilities,
- Board members had a personal connection to disability, and
- Other foundations were not supporting disability, so it was seen as a unique niche for our new foundation.
All these ideas combined into MEAF’s mission to help youth with disabilities maximize their potential and participation in society. For 35 years, MEAF has worked toward this mission by making grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. focused on empowering youth with disabilities so they can successfully transition to employment and independence.
What is the most gratifying aspect of the work you do?
The most gratifying thing is when we hear the stories of the impact our grant funding helped make, like when an Exceptional Minds graduate lands a job at Nickelodeon or Disney. Every job an individual obtains is a fantastic outcome. However, there is one thing that is even more gratifying. We call it “attitudinal change.” It’s when an employer hires someone with a disability, and they realize the contributions and talents that individual brings to the workforce. When the myths about disability employment are busted and barriers to employment are removed. When an employer’s attitude shifts, and the company starts hiring people with disabilities as part of their corporate culture. This is how we truly measure success as a foundation.
What is the most challenging?
Achieving that attitudinal change is the most challenging. As a foundation, we fund several training programs to prepare youth with disabilities for the workforce; however, we have discovered that training by itself is not enough. The organizations we support also need to work with employers to prepare hiring managers and develop appropriate adaptations and accommodations so people with disabilities are successfully hired and retained.
You mentioned impact earlier. How do you measure impact and how does MEAF’s mission align with Mitsubishi Electric’s corporate values and goals?
When measuring impact and success of a project, MEAF looks at the number of young people served and the number of jobs secured, but we also measure how many parents, educators and employers are exposed to the program, the number of publications produced and disseminated, as well as the number of news stories shared. It is what we call the reach of the project because our goal is to include people with disabilities in society. When people hear success stories, they are more likely to recognize the skills and talents people with disabilities have and provide opportunities for them to succeed.
As a company, Mitsubishi Electric makes things like elevators and escalators, all-climate heat pumps, power products, and factory automation robots. Our customers need a skilled workforce, so the foundation invests in projects that help develop the workforce of the future. MEAF aligns with Mitsubishi Electric’s purpose to help “realize a vibrant and sustainable society” with a commitment to making changes for the better in society where everyone is fully included.
Supporting innovative organizations like Exceptional Minds helps us realize our purpose and contribute to that attitudinal change with the power of storytelling.
How can our audience learn more about the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation and its initiatives?
To learn more about MEAF, visit our website at www.meaf.org. I would also encourage folks to follow us on LinkedIn to learn about the incredible work our grant recipients do every day to empower youth with disabilities.
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Our conversation with Kevin is a reminder that lasting change begins with belief—belief in the abilities of young people with disabilities, and in the power of inclusive storytelling to reshape our world. Exceptional Minds is proud to be part of MEAF’s inspiring legacy of attitudinal change and opportunity. We are deeply grateful for their continued support, and we look forward to the future we’re building together—one graduate, one job, one story at a time.
