As the national REV UP movement marks a decade of advocacy, community power, and civic engagement, it is looking back at its origins and forward to its future by spotlighting the diverse leaders who shape its impact. Founded in 2016 by grassroots activists in Texas with the straightforward mission to build the power of the disability vote, REV UP—an acronym for "Register, Educate, Vote, Use your Power!"—has blossomed over the past ten years into an influential nationwide movement. While the initiative is united by a shared vision of a fully accessible democracy, one of its greatest strengths has always been that there is no single, prescribed way to advocate. Every REV UP coalition and every individual member brings a unique perspective, a distinct voice, and creative approaches to engaging the disability community.
Among these creative changemakers is Derek Heard, a community advocate, artist, and leader with REV UP Georgia. Heard demonstrates how art can serve as a potent, emotional vehicle for civic engagement, turning colorful illustrations into tools that demystify the voting process and inspire action.
Based in Georgia, Heard has long been affiliated with REV UP Georgia and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). His leadership journey includes graduating as a member of the AAPD’s 2022 Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program, a prestigious initiative designed to cultivate disability advocates. In addition to his work with REV UP, Heard has lent his voice and talents to organizations such as Uniting for Change, Synergies Works, and the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice. For Heard, whose primary mode of understanding and communicating with the world involves drawings and graphics, art is far more than a hobby; it is a vital medium for conveying why voting matters and touching the hearts and minds of voters.
Through his vibrant creations, Heard transforms complex civic concepts into approachable imagery. As he explains, art possesses a unique capacity to help people understand the core pillars of the movement—what REV UP stands for, why voting is crucial, and how supported decision-making and advocacy intersect with personal passion. His artwork often features bold, expressive figures, conceptual representations of justice, and vibrant colors that challenge viewers to see the disability community in all its diversity. One of his signature graphics depicts a galaxy of multi-part circular characters in varying skin tones, surrounded by handwritten phrases like "Makes me feel free," "Show more than 1 person with disabilities," "Everybody can do art," and "Show voting important."
The disability vote is a matter of profound personal significance for Heard. Reflecting on his own journey, he recalls a time when he felt marginalized by the political system, describing the sensation of feeling "like a puppet" when learning about lawmakers enacting policies designed to make voting more difficult for him and others with disabilities. Discovering REV UP changed that dynamic entirely, offering him a platform to reclaim his agency and make a tangible difference. Through his work, he aims to project a message that resonates globally, empowering individuals with disabilities to recognize their own strength and political power.
That transition from feeling disenfranchised to becoming a prominent community leader was catalyzed, in part, by Stacey Ramirez of REV UP Georgia. Ramirez was the first person to encourage Heard to transform his passion for drawing into a professional business and a platform for voting rights advocacy.
Recounting the origins of his enterprise, Heard notes that it all began when he was struggling to find conventional employment that suited his aspirations. Recognizing his deep dedication and creative spark, Ramirez suggested a different path. "Why not try making your own?" she asked, encouraging him to start a business and follow his heart. With that pivotal encouragement, Derek’s Doodles was born.
Today, Heard’s business allows him to share his art with a broad audience while actively contributing to the movement for an accessible democracy. His illustrations function as practical educational tools, helping individuals with disabilities navigate the intricacies of voter registration and ballot casting. By injecting bright colors and whimsical concepts into a political landscape that can frequently feel intimidating, heavy, or exclusionary, his art sparks joy and fosters a sense of authentic representation. Through his work, community members see themselves reflected in the civic process, reinforcing their connection to the broader struggle for accessible elections.
The profound impact of this mentorship and community support is echoed by Heard’s mother, Teresa Heard. She emphasizes that REV UP Georgia played a transformative role in helping her son recognize the true value of his artistic talents. REV UP Georgia was the first organization to officially recognize Derek’s graphics as a professional asset and compensate him for his creative labor. She credits the vision of Stacey Ramirez and the broader Georgia coalition for looking past conventional limitations, seeing Derek as a capable individual, and providing a welcoming space where he could exercise his creativity and conduct civic work on his own terms. Moved by this inclusion, Derek Heard affirms his ongoing commitment to the cause, stating simply, "That’s why I’m gonna try to work hard until the end."
Derek’s Doodles now occupies a prominent place on the REV UP Georgia website, where his distinctive visual style greets visitors. Among his most imaginative contributions are pieces that incorporate imagery from classic fairy tales, such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears or the Three Little Pigs. In one whimsical depiction of the Three Bears, Papa Bear points urgently at a calendar highlighting Election Day. In another, a bewildered wolf stares at a home belonging to the Three Little Pigs, who have posted a front-yard sign reading, "Gone to vote."
When asked why he chose fairy tales as a central theme for his REV UP Georgia artwork, Heard offers a straightforward and heartwarming explanation: "Because fairy tales always brought happy endings."
True to that philosophy, Heard’s artistic ambitions continue to expand in both creativity and reach. He is currently directing his own film project, titled Doodling for Democracy. The movie encapsulates his core message, focusing on the concept of art as a form of advocacy, the vital importance of the disability voice, and the collective strength found in the ballot box. Promotional graphics for the project depict Heard in a director’s chair alongside film equipment, voting iconography, and an easel bearing the words "Art to Advocate."
Heard’s vision for the movement also extends to how different factions of advocates connect with one another. Illustrating the interconnected nature of the REV UP coalitions, he created a conceptual artwork known as the "REV UP Galaxy." Depicting a solar system where the sun and planets are represented by various community members, Heard places himself at the absolute center, featuring a self-portrait atop the sun, surrounded by concentric rings of advocates and words like "Powered up," "Leader," "All people," "Artist," "Vote," and "Important."
Describing his conceptual role in this celestial metaphor, Heard explains that he views himself as the sun at the center of the solar system, with fellow advocates relying on him to do his best to make the planet a better place. By radiating warmth and support to all the other planets, he feels a deep sense of purpose and importance. Consequently, he views it as his fundamental duty to use his talents to assist people, strengthen the REV UP network, and support collaborative decision-making among advocates.
As the REV UP movement reflects on its first decade of grassroots impact, leaders like Derek Heard are already looking toward the horizon. Through his drawings, his upcoming film, and his unwavering dedication to community organizing, Heard continues to prove that art can bridge divides, amplify marginalized voices, and make civic participation accessible to all. With a vision that stretches as far as his imagination can reach, he remains steadfast in his commitment to helping people get out and vote, carrying forward his creative advocacy "until the end of the galaxy."
