<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from My IPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Stacie Leap via Community-Service <community-service@nfbnet.org><br><b>Date:</b> October 19, 2021 at 10:10:04 AM EDT<br><b>To:</b> community-service@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Stacie Leap <stacie.leap@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[Community-Service] Meet Two Community Achievers: Frank Russo & Alexis Jacobs - Blind Equality Achievement Month! Day 19</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> Community Service Discussion List <community-service@nfbnet.org><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Welcome to Blind Equality Achievement Month! </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Our 19<sup>th</sup> Community Achievers are from the areas of the world’s smallest park. and they’ve got the power to move mountains! Meet Frank Russo & Alexis Jacobs from Portland, Oregon!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">My state ID shows that my name is Frank, but most call me the Big Guy on Campus! Everyone does a double take when they meet me in person. That’s because my deep, booming voice doesn’t quite match the vertical size of their mental image of me. Despite only being five foot tall, I handle my own, and let the kids I work with know that I’m there to challenge their minds and not there to get caught up in what we don’t have. I’ve been volunteering for our local urban recreational center for about four years now and these kids, are my kids! I hope and pray every day that when they see a totally blind man doing what he needs to do to live his best life, it shows them, you can achieve everything that you want and more. I tell my kids all the time. Don’t let these streets define you, build a character of knowledge, strength and peace. Then, top it off with your own aspirations.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“Changing the streets with the Biggest Heart on Campus!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">And…</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I’m Alexis and I’ve been blind since birth. I also have Cerebral Palsy too, which can make it challenging getting around sometimes. But I don’t let that ever get me down. I have a heart for people and love being able to help wherever I can. About three years ago, I wanted to find a way to give back to my town since so many people have poured so much into me. My love of books and reading to my nieces and nephews, gave me the idea to be a reader at our local library. For the last three years, I’ve been reading Braille books to anyone that’s willing to listen. I wanted to be a blessing to these kids and seeing them every week, is an even bigger blessing to me!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:15.6933px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“A gentle spirit, going Beyond The Six Dots!”</p></div></div>
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