TUCSON, AZ, October 13, 2023 - Keith R. Murfee-DeConcini has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

As a result of his lived experiences as a disabled person since birth, disability rights have been at the forefront of Mr. Murfee-DeConcini's mission in life. As an adult, he learned to use his speech impediment as a tool for uncovering social injustice and discrimination, which prompted his life's work: raising awareness and advocating for disability rights through public speaking, writing, and other creative mediums. While attending Landmark College, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini was selected for the Student Ambassador Leadership Award through People to People Programs, now Ambassadors Group. After earning an associate's degree at Landmark, he attended College of Santa Fe (later known as Santa Fe University of Art and Design), where he served as the cultural diversity officer on the student board and earned a bachelor's degree in creative writing with a minor in music.

Leading up to his pursuit of a graduate certificate in disability studies from CUNY School of Professional Studies and a master's degree in public administration and disability policy from the University of Arizona, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini devoted himself to advocacy work through public speaking and creating content for unique organizations, such as the Young Adult Institute of New York (YAI), the City of Santa Fe's bus transit system Santa Fe Trails, and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). At YAI, he wrote weekly articles for their blog, "Voices", three of which later appeared in Huffington Post. Additionally, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini has authored several long-form publications, such as "A Second Chance for Hope: The Story of Nyumbani", which was inspired by a service trip he took to the Nyumbani Orphanage, an orphanage for HIV-positive children in Nairobi, Kenya. Alongside all his creative contributions, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini continued with his education. He was selected as a Fellow for the University of Arizona's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program; thereafter, in 2019, he pursued another master's degree in disability studies through the CUNY School of Professional Studies.

Building on his studies, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini continues to address topics such as social inclusion, employment, accessibility versus inaccessibility, and voting rights through not only public speaking and writing but acting as well. He is involved with Theater Breaking Through Barriers, the only professional off-Broadway theater organization dedicated to advancing artists with disabilities in order to alter the misperceptions surrounding disability. After attending one of their performances, where he saw an actress with cerebral palsy on stage, he was further inspired to expand his professional efforts to advocate for disability rights through other performance mediums. Theater Breaking Through Barriers adapted their long standing Playmakers' Intensive to a virtual format in response to COVID, which is how Mr. Murfee-DeConcini works with them.

In all his pursuits, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini attributes his success to the network of people around him who support him and the projects he undertakes. The love and tireless support of his family, particularly that of his parents, and the team that assists him in the creation of his podcast, "Disability Empowerment Now", allows him to work towards his mission: to leave a legacy of love and service to his fellow humans. While his career has encompassed numerous positions and authentic partnerships with various organizations, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini sees this diversity as a notable achievement. Moreover, the work he is accomplishing through his podcast is not only enriching his life but the lives of others. Having a platform through which he can give individuals with disabilities an opportunity to tell their stories fills him with gratitude and an immense sense of purpose and pride.

For his service and contributions, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini holds membership with The National Society of Leadership and Success and has received numerous awards, such as the 40 Under 40 Award, given by the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Moreover, the mayor of Tucson appointed Mr. Murfee-DeConcini to the Commission on Disability Issues (CODI), where he was elected vice chair in 2013 before rising to elected chair in 2015; he eventually left the Commission in 2018. He also served on the board of the Arizona Theatre Company. Currently, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini serves on the boards of Handi-Dogs, the Arizona Center for Disability Law, and Theater Breaking Through Barriers. Over the next five to 10 years, Mr. Murfee-DeConcini's focus is on continuing to highlight others via his podcast, interviewing noted individuals in his community as well as national leaders in disability rights. Moreover, he continues to write and create as a means to educate and advocate, championing disability rights as civil rights and human rights for all.

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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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