<div dir="ltr">Six hours to go for Colorado Gives Day! <br><div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Dan Burke</b> <span dir="auto"><dburke@cocenter.or</span></div><br>
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<div id="m_3597150206668964091one"><img src="http://cocenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Colorado-Center-for-the-Blind-logo.jpg"></div>
<div id="m_3597150206668964091two"><b>Colorado Center for the Blind</b>
<p><i>Take Charge with Confidence and Self-Reliance</i></p></div></div>
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<p>At every graduation, Director Julie Deden presents the graduate with their Freedom Bell. And to each one she says, "This is our Bell of Freedom. It represents your freedom as a blind person, the freedom you've earned with all of your hard work. But it also stands for the freedom of all blind people because, when one of us becomes free, we all become more free as blind people."</p>
<p>This year, 2024, marks 25 years that Julie Deden has been the Director of the Colorado Center for the Blind, and in that quarter of a century, she has awarded hundreds of Freedom Bells to blind people from every state in the US, and more than a dozen countries.</p>
<p>That adds up to an enormous impact on the lives of blind people. It is so impressive that the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado gave tribute to Julie at its annual convention in October, including a 26-minute audio tribute from dozens of former students, friends, family, colleagues and fellow members of the National Federation of the Blind.</p>
<p><img alt="Julie stands and smiles while holding her white cane near the CCB logo in the Center Lobby." src="https://cocenter.org/wp-content/uploads/civicrm/persist/contribute/images/Julie%20stands%20and%20smiles%20while%20holding%20her%20white%20cane%20near%20the%20CCB%20logo%20in%20the%20Center%20Lobby.jpeg" style="display:block;max-width:100%;max-height:100%;padding:10px;margin:auto"></p>
<p>Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind and a CCB graduate, commented: “… 25 years planting seeds, branching out, being shaped by the community, and reaching even higher—these are Julie's influence, leadership and the roots she has sent throughout this country to grow new leaders and empower blind people with new skills and wisdom ...”</p>
<p>For Julie, directing the Center is an act of love—love for blind people. Dr. Marc Maurer, past president of the National Federation of the Blind, made this observation in his tribute: “It takes someone with certain characteristics to run a center for the blind in a competent way. You've got to have a good mind and a great heart. You've got to have imagination and extraordinary energy. And it's no doubt which is more important--a great heart is essential! And as you have shown, it doesn't hurt to have a good mind, too! You have a way of expressing love for all your family and friends, and especially your students and your staff.”</p>
<p>Past CCB Board member Kevan Worley remarked: “It starts with love ... and when you add that love to her business savvy, her skill as a CEO … Julie knows when to build the Center and when to move us forward and to develop further infrastructure, and she does that because she loves blind people.”</p>
<p>In Julie's 25 years as Director, these are some highlighted achievements:</p>
<ul>
<li>Implemented marketing nights at the annual NFB convention and produced our first marketing video (on VHS).</li>
<li>Diversified our funding to include grants and broader fundraising, like Colorado Gives Day.</li>
<li>Developed a first-of-its-kind tactile art program with artist Ann Cunningham.</li>
<li>Bought the former Littleton YMCA and moved in in August 2000. Since that time, various grants have helped refit this facility to provide more and better programming.</li>
<li>Brought Duncan Larsen back to work at the Center to start our Senior Services Program.</li>
<li>Purchased our 24-unit apartment building in 2012 at 5781-3 S. Lowell Blvd., where our students live while in training. We named the property the McGeorge Mountain Terrace Apartments in honor of our founder Diane McGeorge and her late husband Ray.</li>
</ul>
<p>But Julie’s impact is also personal to the many blind people she has met, worked with, and mentored over the decades.</p>
<p>Ana Fuller lives in Kansas and works as a contract interpreter of Russian and Ukrainian for health and financial organizations: “It's impossible to overstate just how much impact you have had on me, my independence, and my self-perception as a blind person.”</p>
<p>Long-time CCB staff member and grad Robert Dyson said of first meeting Julie when he was newly blind, “I was a broken kid. I’ve always told Julie that I feel like she saved my life.”</p>
<p>Artist Ann Cunningham, who taught tactile art at the Center for more than two decades and is a leader in the field, said, “Because of you, I have my entire career. You gave me and your students the space, the support, and the encouragement to explore the limits of tactile art for the blind.”</p>
<p>Director of Student Services Maureen Nietfeld works side-by-side with Julie every day: “You believe in every single blind person, and you believe in us long before we believe in ourselves. I’ve worked alongside you for 15 years and I cannot thank you enough for your leadership and mentorship. Thank you for all of your work to change the lives of blind people all over the world.”</p>
<p>Diane McGeorge, now 92, founded the Center in 1988 and handed the reins off to Julie in 1999: “I knew very well that when you became Director, you would be the star, and you are the star! I'm so proud of you!”</p>
<p>We believe that blind people can do anything. Every day, we follow the lead of our Director to encourage our students so that they, too, come to believe in their potential and the potential of all blind people to live the lives they want. Because when you believe in yourself and experience a thriving community of positive blind people, nothing can hold you back from pursuing your dreams.</p>
<p>There is so much more to come!</p>
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<p>Daniel J. Burke, M.S.<br>
Public Relations Specialist</p>
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<div><br>
The Colorado Center for the Blind is a training center and
community of blind and low vision people, proudly affiliated
with the National Federation of the Blind.
<br>
<br>
We believe blind people can do anything. Every day, we
encourage and challenge each student—and they come to
understand their potential as they build the skills and
confidence to live the life they want. Because when you
believe in yourself and experience a thriving community of
positive blind people, nothing can hold you back from
pursuing your dreams.
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<br>
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<b>Phone: </b>(303) 778 1130<br>
<div><span><span>2233 West Shepperd Ave</span><br><span>Littleton</span>, <span>Colorado</span> <span>80120</span><br><span>United States</span></span></div><br>
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<br><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://cocenter.org/civicrm/?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/open&qid=295036" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/open?upn=u001.fhIxURA-2BX3JnxVNeCLu9SuFF0l3NbF3HGrmf-2FizequXc8FkBxynAWFUb8CBxHka7TdhgQ8XJ4SbZH-2FSKw-2FWkVBHij9HOo1vH7RYk1IR6a8rIvqwJhoNatRTJU-2BaD8Og8RiZ7HcljK79DXZ09HBM8VeIHlBiKCnIGe9gznHZIxaHu02etQxxChOwBxdFU6Rv3WgxNESgryvq9NlhvTUgf2ioOkIIJ2J43fTRlx0XZa5-2FqL7F654EmKiCxaGHbbfEHvXgRgEa7TgzjoAY2Qsq5orKppqsLcIQnkOMlU5NwhfA-3D" /></div><div><br clear="all"></div><br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Dan Burke<br><br>National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair <br><br>"Blindness is not what holds you back. You can live the life you want!"<br><br>My Cell: 406.546.8546<br><br></div></div></div></div>