Wheels of Change with Jenna Udenberg: From Seated Strength to Standing Impact

In this powerful episode of Wheels of Change, we sit down with author, accessibility advocate, and community leader Jenna Udenberg. A lifelong resident of Minnesota’s Northshore, Jenna has used a manual wheelchair since the age of 8 due to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis — and has been rolling through life with unstoppable determination ever since. Jenna spent 19 years as a music educator, inspiring students in and out of the classroom. Now, she uses her voice to uplift others through her deeply personal and thought-provoking column Local View from 4 foot 2 in the Lake County Press. Recognized as a 2017 Blandin Foundation Community Leader and a 2020 Bush Fellow, Jenna brings both insight and heart to every space she enters. From the challenges of accessibility to the joy of LEGO robotics, this conversation dives into what it means to live boldly, lead with purpose, and create a life that motivates change — no matter your perspective.

Jenna Udenberg is an author, accessibility advocate, and former music educator who calls Minnesota’s Northshore home. Diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at age 8, she has used a manual wheelchair for most of her life and continues to be a powerful voice for inclusion and representation. Jenna is the author of the Local View from 4 foot 2 column in the Lake County Press, where she shares raw, insightful reflections on life from a seated perspective. She was named a Blandin Foundation Community Leader in 2017 and received a prestigious Bush Fellowship in 2020 for her work in advocacy and community building. When she’s not writing or speaking, Jenna enjoys the outdoors, playing games with friends, fishing, and coaching the Robo Dweebs — a LEGO robotics team full of future innovators. Her mission is simple but impactful: to create space for every voice, every perspective, and every story.

https://www.aboveandbeyondwithu.org/


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