[NFBF-L] Fwd: Washington Seminar

Sun Mar 20 20:27:58 UTC 2022

Hi Marilyn, 

Thank you so much for your most informative letter pertaining to your part in the Washington Seminar and particularly with Congresswoman Val Deming. You are a gifted leader in our Florida Affiliate and I’m so thankful that we have you, a member of  incredible caliber, heading up two crucial committees as well as President of the Central Florida Chapter., I am so impressed about was all you have done over the years to further the lives of blind people and with great passion doing all you can to promote the awareness and involvement of diversity and Inclusion in the Federation but also throughout the Greater Orlando area.

I don’t understand why you were asked to write a letter of apology to the members of the Florida Affiliate. Obviously, you are highly qualified to address the Congresswoman or her Aid. Congresswoman Deming knows and respects you as a blind woman and a fellow African American who resides in her legislative district.  It seems to me that instead of some members of the Florida Affiliate being upset with your comments pertaining to race and gender, it is only logical that you be that pivotal person to promote our legislative issues. You did not try to run the show; you simply wanted to be a major player. It is only logical that you would lend an important degree of persuasiveness to the meeting. Am I missing something here? 

I hope that others among the leaders and the general membership will help me understand the problem as to why people are upset with Marilyn Baldwin about her comments prior to the meeting with Congresswoman’s Deming’s Legislative Aid. Marilyn deserves to hear back from you after so graciously responding to President Martinez’s request for a letter of apology.  Marilyn is puzzled and so am I. Please give Marilyn the curtesy of sharing your thoughts on this matter. It isn’t a good thing for Marilyn to be told that some members were upset with her. If this is the case, please be strong enough to discuss the matter with Marilyn directly. I know she will listen with an open mind. It’s very odd that not a single person has responded to Marilyn’s from-the-heart letter at this point.   

Sincerely,

Kathy Davis

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of MARILYN BALDWIN via NFBF-L
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2022 10:29 AM
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: MARILYN BALDWIN <commmdb at aol.com>
Subject: [NFBF-L] Fwd: Washington Seminar

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: MARILYN BALDWIN via NFBF-L <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> >
Date: March 18, 2022 at 9:27:16 AM EDT
To: NFBF-L at nfbnet.org <mailto:NFBF-L at nfbnet.org> 
Cc: MARILYN BALDWIN <commmdb at aol.com <mailto:commmdb at aol.com> >
Subject: [NFBF-L] Washington Seminar

Washington Seminar 

Dear Members and Friends,

It has come to my attention that during one of my first training meetings for our 2022 Virtual Washington Seminar, a statement that was made by me was misunderstood by some individuals who were present. I do not believe that my statement was inappropriate. As we were informally talking before the Aide to the Congresswoman entered the room, I stated that it would be good if there were someone that looked like me to speak on one of the issues to be discussed. I wanted to make a point of having a person who lived in the district of Representative Val Demings to be present. The Congresswoman and I are both African Americans. 

I worked as an Administrative Assistant with the City of Orlando for over 14 years before retiring on Medical Disability and that is how I came to know Congresswoman Demings. She spoke during one of our National Conventions in Orlando,I believe. After her presentation to the entire audience, she came down to where our Florida Delegation was seated and we visited for a short time. I was delighted that she remembered who I was. By no means was my statement ment to give the impression that only African American people could speak with our Congresswoman. My words were only to share with the host that the Congresswoman or her Aide see a member from her constituents that is a female, blind, an active member of our organization the NFB, and who is also blind. 

As I recall, there were other speakers who were not all African American and who did an outstanding job presenting the issues with the Congressional Aide during the meeting, as it should be. We had a good discussion of the 2022 NFB Legislative priorities. Second Vice President Camille Tate thought that the local connection might be helpful in reaching Representative Demings. Please understand that I am also like many of you are, blind and I have compassion and understand the desire of all blind people to live a productive, independent lifestyle,with the education and skills to do so. For some members racism makes this desire even. More difficult. 

A good comparison of my statement would be that we in the blind community would not want our local and state agency leaders to develop plans and procedures for blind people without blind people present , and providing meaningful input. Honestly I thought that I was being helpful to our Affiliate. If my statement made anyone feel uncomfortable , I am sorry. My words were and are ment for more diversity and Inclusion at all levels of this organization. Our African American members have often lived with discrimination during our entire lives. Being blind and Black is no exception to this hardship of life. It hurts me that I am having to defend my advocacy work for Diversity and Inclusion in the National Federation of the Blind of Florida. 

Diversity. and equal treatment of all persons is what my life in and outside of the Federation is all about. I am a 1982 graduate of Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Currently I Co Chair the League of Women Voters of Orange County DEIA Committee. I also serve on the Orange County League Board of Directors. I am a member of the Orange County Branch NAACP. I was a founding member of the Orange County ADA Advisory Board and served as Chairman for over five years. Our Florida Bar has an organization called the Fl. Bar Citizens Forum and I was a member and served one term as Vice Chairman. I have spent many years working for Civil Rights in the disability field . My Faith life includes active membership with Zion Lutheran Church in Orlando, Florida for the last 20 years now. I have served in various leadership roles in my congregation. I am by no means perfect, but wish good will to everyone. Our Affiliate Diversity Committee was and is my dream , allowing persons who are minorities, to have leadership roles and responsibilities in the Federation within the Florida Affiliate. God has blessed me to serve on many levels in this organization as I mentor leaders to come. 

The very thought that someone would think anything other than the desire and issues that I have mentioned here is a concern to me. I have discussed this matter with my colleagues and business associates, and no one has thought there was anything racist or inappropriate in my comments during the training workshop, only the desire to help the meeting to go well. It was a statement of reality. I continue to represent our local community of disabled riders who cannot drive and use our local Paratransit program in Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties. I have served in this capacity for over 20 years now. I credit membership in the Federation as one of the tools making all of this possible. Oh my Bachelor of Science Degree was in Elementary Education. 

Because I believe in the work of the Federation, I have supported this organization not only as a member, but with my finances in the PAC program and in our local and state fundraising activities. I encourage our local membership to consider doing the same, so that our work to help blind people will continue. This is what members who are truly committed to the NFB will want to do. 

These are all very difficult times that we live in. In talking about issues that like race relationships misunderstandings can arise easily. It can often be helpful to talk with the person or group that is directly involved and listen for greater understanding on both sides of issues and concerns. Again, if someone was hurt or did not understand what or why I said this I am truly sorry. Please come to our Diversity Committee meetings and help us to work on bringing many blind blind people to National Federation of the Blind of Florida. I truly hope that our Diversity Committee can be the safe space for open and honest discussions about race and culture for the members of our Affiliate. Let us not allow divisions to undermine the important work of inclusion in the blind community. 

Marilyn Baldwin 

Chairman 

Diversity Committee 

NFBF 

(407)810-0554 

If there are any typing errors in my document, please forgive them, and charge them to my hands and not my heart or mind. 

Sent from my iPad

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