From Internship to Award-Winning Advocacy

When Easterseals Southern California received national recognition for its “Disability Is Not a Dirty Word” campaign, Dordt alumna Kelly (Zatlin) Lapadula (’13) felt grateful to help lead the project’s digital strategy—amplifying the voices of people with disabilities and encouraging a better understanding of ability. “This project reminded me why I do what I do,” she says. “Everyone is born with inherent worth, regardless of ability. As Christians, we’re called to advocate alongside people with disabilities and celebrate that each person is deliberately created with purpose and value.”

The recognition also carried personal significance: more than a decade earlier, Lapadula had discovered her passion for disability advocacy through a Chicago Semester internship with Easterseals.

Growing up in a Dutch Reformed community near San Diego, Lapadula expected Dordt to feel familiar—but her campus visit changed that. “It was so different from what I imagined, and it intrigued me,” she says. “I loved the smaller classes, the camaraderie, and the Christian worldview. I felt like on a smaller campus I could make a bigger impact.”

Lapadula arrived with a passion for journalism. Her adviser, Dr. Charles Veenstra, encouraged her to think broadly about the changing media landscape. “I really enjoyed writing and had ‘Rory Gilmore’ ambitions,” she jokes. “But Dr. Veenstra helped me see that communication and public relations could combine my love for storytelling with a more stable career path.”

She found a mentor in Veenstra, who made her feel seen and supported. “He made me feel like I was one of his most valued students,” she says. “I’m sure many others felt the same way—he had a gift for helping each of us see our potential.”

Learning from professors and guest journalists helped her build a strong foundation for storytelling—“and not burying the lede,” she adds.

Some of Lapadula’s most formative lessons came outside the classroom. “Touring public relations firms in Minneapolis gave me a glimpse of what a communications career could look like,” she says. She also served as editor-in-chief of Dordt’s student newspaper, The Diamond, an experience that stretched her in unexpected ways. “I didn’t see myself as a leader then, but the role pushed me to grow—motivating a volunteer staff, managing deadlines, and overseeing layout,” she recalls. “It taught me ownership and the value of hard work.”

During her semester in Chicago, Lapadula interned in the marketing department at Easterseals, a national nonprofit supporting people with disabilities. The experience gave her hands-on exposure to public relations, social media, blogging, and advertising—and opened her eyes to a new calling. “The internship introduced me to the world of disability services, igniting my passion for advocating for people with disabilities,” she says. “After my internship, I remember thinking that someday I would love to return to the organization. Nine years later, in 2022, I saw a job opening in Southern California—and I knew I had to apply.”

“It’s surreal to now work for the organization that helped launch my career,” she says. “Without studying in Chicago, I might never have discovered Easterseals and the incredible work they do.”

Today, Lapadula leads digital marketing efforts for Easterseals Southern California, which serves more than 25,000 children and adults with disabilities. Her work involves creating and sharing online content—from success stories and educational resources to social media campaigns that raise awareness.

One of her most meaningful projects was the “Disability Is Not a Dirty Word” public-service campaign, which worked with social media influencers to challenge stigma and encourage greater understanding and respect for people with disabilities. “We worked with 11 influencers representing different disabilities—from Love on the Spectrum cast members to beauty creators and community activists,” Lapadula says. “Each brought a unique perspective, and together they helped amplify our message.”

The campaign garnered more than 1.6 million views and received the 2025 PR Daily Nonprofit Communications Award in the “Influencer Communications” category—recognizing innovative, mission-driven storytelling across the nonprofit sector.

For Lapadula, the recognition is about more than numbers. “This campaign broke barriers and fostered dialogue about what it means to honor disability rather than hide it,” she says. “It’s been incredible to see how a message like this can shift perceptions and celebrate the dignity of every person.”

Beyond her professional achievements, Lapadula credits Dordt with shaping her sense of community and purpose. “Dordt was probably the first place where I experienced a true sense of community outside of family,” she says. “Even now, 12 years after graduating and living 1,700 miles away, I still feel like I’m part of that community. I made friends for life, met my husband, built connections, learned important life lessons, gained valuable career skills, and became part of a global body of believers tasked with doing good work for His glory.”

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.