A Face of Change

Stacey Park Milbern dedicated her life to advocating for people with mobility impairments or physical disabilities. Now her powerful legacy is being recognized witha U.S. quarter.

The U.S. Mint—the government agency that produces coins—is honoring Milbern this year as part of its American Women Quarters Program. She will be the first Korean American to appear on U.S. currency.

“Stacey Park Milbern’s story is one of courage, empathy, and conviction,” says artist Elana Hagler, who designed the quarter.

Milbern was born on May 19, 1987, in South Korea with a type of muscular dystrophy. That genetic disorder weakens muscles over time. As a result, Milbern used a wheelchair for most of her life.

As a child, Milbern moved with her family to North Carolina. By age 20, she had become a community leader for disability rights. Her advocacy helped pass a law in North Carolina in 2007 that requires high schools to teach disability history.

Milbern later moved to California, where she continued to speak out for the disabled community and advised national leaders on related policies. She died in 2020 at age 33.

The new quarter will help ensure that her work is recognized. “It is such a painful experience to be left behind or disregarded,” Milbern once said. “If I can use my skills ... to keep someone a little more safe, it was all worth it.”

–Lisa M. Herrington