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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>This is fantastic! Thank you<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Shara Winton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.nfbma.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbma.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:sharawinton@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>sharawinton@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>617-304-0347<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Bronwen Tedesco via Massachusetts-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, December 7, 2025 9:08 AM<br><b>To:</b> massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Bronwen Tedesco <bronwen.tedesco@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Massachusetts-NFB] Member to Member Getting to Know Each Other<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Welcome to our next Member to Member! Today we will get to know Christopher Supplece. Christopher was born and raised in Haiti where he lived with his parents and cousins. He was born blind but did not receive a proper diagnosis until later when he went to the US. When he realized something stood out about him, it was when he was in Haiti. He went to basketball tryouts without his mother knowing, and he was hit in the face by a basketball. When recalling that experience, he said, \u201cWe were all lined up and the coach was passing the ball. When it came my turn, the ball hit me in the face. When the coach asked me why I did not catch the ball, I told him that I couldn\u2019t see it. That was the day I realized I needed to find something else to do.\u201d Then when he was a senior, he came to the US.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>When Christopher was sixteen, he and his family came to the US. He needed a proper diagnosis and wanted more opportunities. He went on to attend Northeastern University receiving a bachelors degree in business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship in hopes to eventually start his own business, graduating this year. When he was a senior in high school, his TVI introduced him to the NFB and scholarship program. He applied toward the end of college receiving a scholarship and attending the state convention in 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Christopher currently lives in Mattapan with his mother, uncle, and cousins. He is currently looking for a job. He enjoys long walks, the beach, fencing, and is working with Stephanie Valdez on making blind fencing national. He also speaks three languages: Haitian Creole, French, and English, describing English as his third language. When asked if he had any advice for anyone who has lost their vision or recently joined the NFB, he said, \u201cBe patient with yourself. It is important to give yourself grace. Eventually it gets easier. Just be patient with yourself and believe that you can do anything.\u201d It has been fun getting to know you, Christopher, and stay tuned for our next Member to Member!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Have a great week and happy holidays!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Bronwen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>