<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail-tVu25" style="min-height:100%;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-family:&quot;Google Sans&quot;,Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:medium"><div class="gmail-nH" style="width:1280px"><div class="gmail-nH" style=""><div class="gmail-nH gmail-aqk gmail-aql gmail-bkL" style="display:flex;background-color:transparent"><div class="gmail-nH gmail-bkK" style="overflow:hidden;margin-left:72px"><div class="gmail-nH" style="border-radius:16px;margin-bottom:16px;overflow-y:hidden"><div class="gmail-nH gmail-ar4 gmail-B"><div class="gmail-"><div class="gmail-AO" style=""><div id="gmail-:3" class="gmail-Tm gmail-aeJ gmail-cgjhk" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;overflow-y:scroll;padding-right:0px;height:457px"><div id="gmail-:1" class="gmail-aeF" style="padding:0px;vertical-align:bottom;min-height:267.333px"><div class="gmail-nH"><div class="gmail-nH" role="main"><div class="gmail-nH gmail-g"><div class="gmail-nH gmail-a98 gmail-iY" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;min-height:64ex;min-width:502px;margin:0px;padding-right:16px"><div class="gmail-nH"><div class="gmail-aHU gmail-hx" style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(34,34,34);min-width:502px;padding:0px"><div role="list"><div class="gmail-h7 gmail-ie" role="listitem" aria-expanded="true" tabindex="-1" style="padding-bottom:0px;max-width:100000px;clear:both;outline:none"><div class="gmail-Bk" style="margin-bottom:0px;border-width:0px;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgb(239,239,239) currentcolor currentcolor;border-radius:0px;float:left;width:1160px"><div class="gmail-G3 gmail-G2" style="border-width:medium 0px 0px;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor currentcolor rgba(100,121,143,0.12);padding-top:0px;background-color:transparent;border-radius:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px"><div id="gmail-avWBGd-2"><div id="gmail-avWBGd-3"><div class="gmail-adn gmail-ads" style="border-left-width:medium;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:currentcolor;padding:0px;display:flex"><div class="gmail-gs" style="margin:0px;min-width:0px;padding:0px 0px 20px;width:auto"><div class="gmail-"><div class="gmail-ii gmail-gt" id="gmail-:wh" style="direction:ltr;margin:8px 0px 0px;padding:0px;font-size:0.875rem;overflow-x:hidden"><div class="gmail-a3s gmail-aiL" id="gmail-:wg" style="direction:ltr;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:small;line-height:1.5;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;overflow:auto hidden"><div id="gmail-avWBGd-19"><div dir="ltr"><div><p>Hello everyone,</p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">Just reminding  you all of an opportunity to get involved with the </span><strong style="background-color:transparent">National Federation of the Blind (NFB) <span class="gmail-il">Youth Slam</span> 2027!</strong><span style="background-color:transparent"> As the </span><span class="gmail-il" style="background-color:transparent">Youth Slam</span><span style="background-color:transparent"> Representative for Florida, I am helping recruit enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers from across the state to support this incredible experience for blind and low-vision high school students.</span></p><p><strong>What is NFB <span class="gmail-il">Youth Slam</span>?</strong></p><p>NFB <span class="gmail-il">Youth Slam</span> is a nationwide, weeklong residential program that brings together blind and low-vision high school students ages 14\u201318 from across the country. The 2027 program will take place <strong>July 25\u201331, 2027, at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland.</strong> Students will stay in a university residence hall and experience what it is like to live and learn on a college campus.</p><p>Throughout the week, students explore their interests through specialized tracks in areas such as science, technology, creative disciplines, and career pathways. They also participate in hands-on workshops, leadership development, recreational activities, social events, and opportunities to strengthen their independence, problem-solving, and confidence.</p><p><span class="gmail-il">Youth Slam</span> is about much more than attending activities. It gives students the opportunity to challenge themselves, discover new possibilities, build friendships, connect with blind mentors, and learn firsthand that blindness does not have to limit their opportunities or ambitions.</p><p><strong>We Need Florida Volunteers!</strong></p><p>I am looking for confident, capable, upbeat, energetic, and dependable individuals who want to help make this experience meaningful for our students.</p><p>Ideal volunteers should:</p><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><p>Have a positive attitude and demonstrate a willingness to work as part of a team.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p>Understand and support the philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p>Enjoy working with high school students ages 14\u201318 and be comfortable encouraging them to learn, grow, and challenge themselves.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p>Be flexible, patient, calm under pressure, and ready to adapt when plans or activities change.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p>Be comfortable staying active and moving throughout the day, as <span class="gmail-il">Youth Slam</span> involves a busy schedule with activities requiring different levels of physical energy.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p>Be committed to helping create a safe, supportive, inclusive, and empowering environment for every student.</p></li></ul><p>You do not need to be an expert in blindness skills to volunteer. Training will be provided, and volunteers from a variety of backgrounds are welcome. What matters most is your attitude, commitment, flexibility, and willingness to learn.</p><p><strong>Important Volunteer Information</strong></p><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><strong>Volunteer dates:</strong> July 23\u201331, 2027. Volunteers must be available for the full period, including training, preparation, and student arrival and departure.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><strong>Minimum age:</strong> 18 years old.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><strong>Cost:</strong> There is no cost to volunteer. Travel, lodging, and meals are provided for accepted volunteers.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><strong>Application period:</strong> Applications open November 1, 2026, and close in January 2027.</p></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><p><strong>Screening:</strong> All volunteers must complete the application and selection process, required background screening, and training before participating.</p></li></ul><p>Volunteer responsibilities may include student supervision, assisting with educational tracks and enrichment activities, supporting recreation and evening events, helping with meals, and assisting with general program logistics. This is an active, hands-on commitment, and volunteers must be prepared to put the students&#39; needs and safety first.</p><p><strong>How Do You Apply?</strong></p><p>The volunteer application opens November 1, 2026, and closes in January 2027. Interested individuals will need to complete the official application and be selected through the volunteer review process. Additional instructions and application information will be available through the NFB <span class="gmail-il">Youth Slam</span> website.</p><p>If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to me! I would love to connect with individuals across Florida who are excited about supporting the next generation of blind leaders.</p><p><span class="gmail-il">Youth Slam</span> is an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people while connecting with an incredible community of students, mentors, and volunteers from across the country.</p><p>Please consider applying and sharing this opportunity with others within your chapters, divisions, or groups who might be interested. Let&#39;s help make sure Florida is well represented at <span class="gmail-il">Youth Slam</span> 2027!</p><p>Thank you,</p><font color="#888888"><p></p></font></div><font color="#888888"><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">--</span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:17.12px;font-family:&quot;Arial Black&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,71,91)">Z\u2019Leah Liburd (She/her)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:17.12px;font-family:&quot;Arial Black&quot;,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,71,91)">National Federation of the Blind of Florida</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p></div></div></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>