<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Lauren Altman<div>President </div><div>National Association of Blind Students</div><div>Pronouns: she/her</div><div>Email: nabs.president@gmail.com</div><div>Phone: (973) 930-7473</div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Qualik Ford <qford@bism.org><br><b>Date:</b> September 28, 2024 at 1:36:40 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> nabs.president@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Ascend program</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<div dir="ltr">This is the program I am directing over the fall and winter. Would love it if you could send it out to students as I think it would be a wonderful opportunity.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">The ASCEND Cohort of the Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program offers comprehensive leadership and advocacy training to Black identified disabled
student leaders from across the country while supporting student leaders to create a project that directly benefits their local community. The ASCEND Cohort, the Alliance of Students Creating Educational Networks for Disability Rights, will be connected to
a community of other leaders and the technical expertise of the Department of Education to actualize their projects. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">As disabled youth, we recognize academia’s profound impact on students with disabilities. While academia can enrich, empower, educate, and motivate,
disabled students often encounter barriers, dissuasion, and a lack of empathy. By collaborating with the Department of Education, the ASCEND Cohort of the FLH Program aims to expand the department’s initiatives by placing disabled student leaders at the forefront
of advocacy and change.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">About Fannie Lou Hamer:</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">This cohort is a branch of the Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program, created by Keri Gray. The Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program’s typical focus
on voting rights has shifted to education through the ASCEND Cohort in collaboration with the Department of Education through the White House Youth Policy Summit Fund. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">The namesake of the program, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a formidable civil rights leader known for her tireless work in advocating for the rights
of Black Americans and individuals with disabilities. Her efforts to challenge educational inequalities and promote accessible opportunities laid the foundation for integrating disability rights into the broader civil rights movement. Hamer’s legacy continues
to inspire new generations of leaders dedicated to ensuring equitable access to education for all.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22px; text-decoration: underline; font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(17, 85, 204); color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewWd6jr1850Nd78qJEeya3-URMo31r3H6H3ABen9112MsDrg/viewform?usp=sf_link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apply
for the program</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none"> by October 14, 2024!. Please contact
<a href="mailto:ohenry@aapd.com" rel="noreferrer noopener" id="ms-outlook-mobile-sharing-link-anchor-a25bff29-d052-4357-a8c4-c610cfbfc6b6">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22px; text-decoration: underline; font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(17, 85, 204); color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">ohenry@aapd.com</span></a>
or <a href="mailto:qford@aapd.com" rel="noreferrer noopener" id="ms-outlook-mobile-sharing-link-anchor-7c655e38-2812-4e14-ad8f-18cf9ef881fa">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22px; text-decoration: underline; font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(17, 85, 204); color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">qford@aapd.com</span></a>
with any questions or accommodations. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Application link: https://forms.gle/Upv42HVmTPL6NFjZ9</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Program Timeline and Key Dates:</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">September 23: Applications are live</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 22.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">October 14: Applications close.</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 22.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">October 28: Acceptances go live.</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 22.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">November 4: Weekly virtual training meetings begin, focusing on leadership development, community engagement, and project implementation.</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 22.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">February 19-23: Participants will travel to Washington, D.C., for direct engagement with the Department of Education and a graduation celebration.</span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Commitment and Requirements:</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Completion of the online application is required.</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 22.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Attendance of at least 80% of all ASCEND modules is mandatory.</span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Participants must be available for weekly virtual calls and the D.C. trip scheduled for February 19-23.</span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Stipend and Technology Options:</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Participants will receive a total stipend of $1,500: $500 at the beginning of the program, $500 midway through, and $500 towards the end.</span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Alternatively, participants may opt to receive $500 worth of technology (such as a laptop) to assist with their participation in the program.
Any remaining funds after purchasing technology will be provided as a stipend.</span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Eligibility Criteria:</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Applicants must self-identify as an individual with any type of disability.</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 22.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">In line with the inception of the FLH program, we prioritize Black identified individuals in this application.</span></li><li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 22.0px Arial; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 22.00px; font-kerning: none">Applicants must be between the ages of 16-25.</span></li></ul>
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