<div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Welcome to our next Member to Member! Today, we will get to know Kyra Sweeney, our affiliate legislative director, chair of the scholarship committee, and first Vice President on the board.</p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:14px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Kyra grew up in Santa Monica, California in Southern California. She grew up a mile from the beach and enjoyed outdoor activities. Kyra was born with Leber\u2019s, a genetic eye condition. All throughout school, she attended public school. When describing her experience as the only blind person, she explained while it was challenging, it was a great experience because it taught her how to make others comfortable with her blindness and helped in college and work.</p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:14px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Kyra knew she was different from the others when she was six and told by a director in musical theater that she could not be in the production because she can\u2019t see and might fall off the stage. She soon found another program and in addition to musical theater, she was in band throughout grade school. After graduating high school, she attended Pomona college an hour from her in Claremont, California receiving a bachelors degree in public policy then she attended the Colorado Center for the Blind. After graduating from the center, she was a screen reader tester for two years then she was accepted into Boston University law school, bringing her to Massachusetts in 2019. She graduated in 2022, completing the Bar in 2024, worked at the disability law center for a year, now currently works for Health Law Advocates, a private law firm as a staff attorney.</p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:14px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Kyra was involved in the NFB from a young age. Her parents always had high expectations, found a lot of different organizations\u2019 philosophies limiting, but aligned with the NFB, becoming involved. Kyra attended national convention every year from the age of four. When reflecting on that, she said, \u201cWhen I was ten, my mom made me attend meetings. She said no more time at the pool. It\u2019s time to learn, and I\u2019m very grateful. When I was in high school, I grew to like the sessions. NFB has always been a big part of my life.\u201d When asked if she had any advice for people who recently lost their vision or joined the NFB, she said, \u201cBe patient with yourself. Adjusting to losing vision is a difficult process. Connect with other blind people especially those with similar interests. You have a bright future ahead of you.\u201d</p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:14px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Kyra currently lives independently in Boston and runs in Achilles, enjoys hiking, reading, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. It has been great getting to know you, Kyra! Stay tuned for our next Member to Member!</p><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><br></p><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Have a great week!</p><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><br></p><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Sincerely,</p><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Bronwen</p><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><br></p>
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