[Nfb-editors] NFB Youth March for Independence

[Riccobono, Mark]

Come join the National Federation of the Blind 
for a historic gathering to celebrate the next generation of blind innovators!

On Friday, July 31, the blind students and their 
mentors from the 2009 NFB Youth Slam will gather 
in our nation’s capitol for an inspirational 
rally at the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool 
followed by the NFB Youth March for Independence 
on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. After 
the march, blind students, blind mentors, and 
friends will gather for a celebratory program of 
the past week’s achievements in the United States 
Capitol Visitor Center.  Members of congress will 
be in attendance, and speakers will include Dr. 
Marc Maurer (President of the NFB), NFB Youth 
Slam students, members of the United States 
Congress, and officials from NASA including one 
of the astronauts from the STS 125 shuttle 
mission--the same mission that carried two Louis 
Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars to space.



We encourage Federationists and friends to come 
be part of these historic events­you will not want to miss it!



Schedule of Events:

The rally at the Lincoln Memorial will kick off 
at 2:45 p.m. just in front of the reflecting pool 
and at the foot of the steps where so many other 
revolutionary historic gatherings have taken place.



The NFB Youth March is expected to leave the 
rally site at the Lincoln Memorial at 
approximately 3:20 p.m. proceeding down the 
National Mall to the National Air and Space 
Museum.  Please note that the distance from the 
memorial to the museum is approximately 1.5 miles.



The closing ceremonies at the Capitol Visitors 
Center will begin at 5:30 pm. (doors open) with 
the program beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Congressional Auditorium.



The Capitol Visitor Center is closed to the 
public, so please let security know that you are 
attending the NFB event.  We encourage you to get 
there early as there is a security screening 
before the entrance to the Capitol Visitor 
Center; the link to items that are not permitted 
is 
<http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/Visit/Visitor%20Safety%20and%20Policies/>http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/Visit/Visitor%20Safety%20and%20Policies/. 




The Capitol Visitors Center entrance is on the 
East side of the Capitol near the intersection of First and Maryland streets.



If you are coming to the concluding ceremony 
only, the easiest way to get there is by metro.  The three closest stops are:
    * Union Station – Located at First Street, NW, and Massachusetts Avenue
    * Capitol South – Located at First Street between C and D Streets, SE
    * Federal Center, SW – Located at the 
Southwest corner of Third and D streets, SW

For more information about the metro, visit 
<http://www.wmata.com/>http://www.wmata.com/.



Please join us for this historic event where the 
next generation of the blind is helping to change 
what it means to be blind!  The NFB Youth Slam is 
one of the ways that the National Federation of 
the Blind Jernigan Institute is providing more 
opportunities for blind youth to pursue careers 
that were once falsely perceived as impossible 
and empowering the next generation to interject 
their voice into the leadership of this country.



Let us celebrate the accomplishments of these 
youth and their mentors while looking forward to 
their future full of opportunities!



If you have any questions, please call Mark 
Riccobono at 410-659-9314 ext. 2368 or e-mail 
<mailto:mriccobono at nfb.org>mriccobono at nfb.org