Abilities Expo has appointed Ambassadors—members of the local community of people with disabilities—to spearhead community outreach initiatives. These individuals will meet face-to-face with rehab institutions, independent living centers, local manufacturers, service providers and local associations to generate excitement and increase attendance at each event.

Meet the impressive individuals who have chosen to represent Abilities Expo to the Community.

Marquetta Bell Johnson
Marquetta Bell Johnson was born into a family of tailors and quilters, providing a rich environment which fostered her creativity as a youth. She is a self-taught artist and creates hand-dyed textiles, quilts and collectibles.

Marquetta is also a teaching artist who enjoys affiliations with such organizations as VSAarts of Georgia, the Atlanta Partnership for the Arts in Learning and The Names Project Foundation / The AIDS Memorial Quilt.

In 2004, she was one of 12 artists selected to represent the United States as an International Arts Fellow by VSAarts. She has received the Phoenix Award from the City of Atlanta for making a significant cultural contribution to the community and a grant form the Georgia Council for the Arts proclaiming her a master artist practicing a traditional Georgia art form.

Marquetta’s work has been published extensively and featured on HGTV’s “Crafters Coast to Coast.” She is also the author of Hand-Dyed Quilts, a “how-to” book about quilting and dyeing. Most notable among her commissions is a Textile Mural for the Department of the Interior in our nation’s capital.

Marquetta considers herself a community-based artist who uses her creativity to impact the world in a positive way. According to her, “Every stitch I make is an act of love with the potential to foster harmony, well-being and peace.”

Mark Johnson, M.Ed.
After receiving his M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mark went on to fight passionately for people with disabilities as the Director of Advocacy at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Nevertheless, his impressive resume of accomplishments does not stop there.

Mark is also a graduate of the Leadership Denver Program and ARC’s Regional Leadership Institute, a past president of Fund for Southern Communities—a progressive fund that supports social change in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia—and a founder of American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation/American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today.

His awards include:

• SCI Hall of Fame Inductee (2007)
• Betts Award (2007)
• Georgia Self Advocate of the Year (2006)
• Pathfinder Award, GA Brain & Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission (2005)
• Advocate of the Year Award, Georgia Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (2003)
• Justin Dart Jr. Spirit of ADA (2001)
• New Mobility Person of the Year (2001)
• Justin Dart Freedom Award (2000)
• James E. Skittkamp Award (1999)
• The Americans with Disabilities Act Award (1991)
• Distinguished Service, National Council on Independent Living (1990)
• Jefferson Award for Outstanding Community Service, North Carolina

Kristina Rhoades

Kristina Rhoades resides north of Atlanta with her husband and childhood best friend, Jacob. They own a home and spend a lot of time outdoors with their two great dogs.  Kristina endured a T-5 spinal cord injury at ten-months old and has used a manual wheelchair for as long as she can remember.

Kristina is the General Manager of Brenau University's radio station, 89.1 WBCX. She hosts two weekly radio shows. "The Ocean Breeze," is a music show featuring a mix of traditional and modern beach music. "Above and Beyond" is an informative interview talk show, highlighting uplifting and inspirational people. Kristina also enjoys producing several other live and pre-recorded shows weekly.

In 2008, Kristina graduated from Brenau University with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication, with a concentration in Public Relations. Coming from a family with a professional background in broadcasting, she loves working in both radio and television. In 2010, she received her Master’s of Science degree from Brenau in Organizational Leadership.

As Ms. Wheelchair California 2005, Kristina was proud to have the opportunity to travel from her home state as an advocate for women and people with disabilities. Since 2005, Kristina has worked with Colours Wheelchair as a member of Team Colours. She also works with LegaWear—a a company that makes custom-tailored professional attire for people of all abilities and body types. 

Modeling is one of Kristina’s passions and she hopes to increase the visibility of women with disabilities in print and motion media. In her spare time, Kristina enjoys motivational speaking, any kind of sports, and being involved with a marketing committee for a non-profit organization that serves adults with disabilities. She also offers social media and voiceover services to individuals and organizations.

Kristina’s closes every radio show with her motto: “Happiness is yours to choose or reject, so embrace it. Sing out loud, give somebody a hug, smile for me and don’t forget to dance to the music.”