2023 Plenary Speaker

Lachi

AHEAD is thrilled to welcome Lachi as the 2023 Plenary Speaker to kick off our conference on Wednesday morning. Lachi is an award winning creative artist and prolific Dance Music vocalist whose works have debuted on national Dance charts, amassing millions of streams, and finding placements on TV, radio and film. Born legally blind, Lachi advocates for Disability Culture and inclusion in the music industry and is widely known for partnering with the Recording Academy (through her organization RAMPD) to bring accessibility to the GRAMMYs.

A leader in disability inclusion, Lachi is Founder and President of RAMPD, a UN-recognized global network of established music creators and professionals advocating for disability representation in music, finding national recognition in Billboard, NYTimes, Hollywood Reporter and more for its work bringing disability inclusion to the GRAMMYs telecast. Lachi splits her time serving on the GRAMMY Board as NY Chapter Governor and DEI Ambassador, and advising on the National Independent Venue Association and Songwriters of North America DEI Committees. Lachi is a 2022 D30 Disability Impact List Honoree, has received a Social Justice Award from Nightlife Culture, and was named Supporter of the Year for her role on the Nora Project’s Leadership Council. Outside of this, Lachi consults and collaborates with major music firms, production houses, and non-profits--including the White House, Amazon, Google, Target, Adweek, The National Endowment of the Arts and more–to promote inclusion in the intersectional space.
 
From hosting a PBS' American Masters segment to performing at the Kennedy and Lincoln Centers, to appearing in national ads promoting accessibility to voicing the Audio Description on Netflix’s Kanye West documentary, Lachi uses her creative talents and storytelling to amplify intersectionality and Disability Culture.

Named a “dedicated foot soldier for disability pride” by Forbes and a “new champion in advocacy” by Billboard, Lachi has also been featured in Essence, BBC, LA Times, and American Songwriter among others for her work bringing Disability Culture into mainstream discussion, and for her brand of fashionable, upbeat and unapologetic disability pride.

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