[NFBMI-Talk] The Informant, 2024: v. 5

Wed May 15 13:47:59 UTC 2024

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan (NFBMI)

The Informant 2024

Vol. 5: Representing the Federation, Michigan Style

May 15, 2024

Affiliate Zoom Link:
<https://zoom.us/j/9612695221?pwd=dHlxZDNwcVVZbUVTYUM5cEU4cDlndz09>
https://zoom.us/j/9612695221?pwd=dHlxZDNwcVVZbUVTYUM5cEU4cDlndz09 

>From the President: Hello and welcome to a new edition of our monthly
newsletter Federation Family! This month’s version of “The Informant,” is so
important, as it follows such an important national holiday. We cannot start
without acknowledging the wonderful and effective blind mothers and mothers
of blind youth that are a part of the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan. The actions, efforts and opinions of these members are the
cornerstone of our movement and continue to help us build our programs,
fundraisers, conventions and so much more. As we move through Spring and
into Summer, our affiliate will continue to approach and take on new
projects, with these phenomenal women standing at the heart of these
endeavors. You are all appreciated. To speak candidly in my native tongue:
“Nous apprécions le travaille que vous faites pour la Fédération. Vous êtes
irremplaçable.”

The month of May can also be associated with other important days to
commemorate. Some of these include Star Wars Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial
Day, and Cinco de Mayo. With such a diverse affiliate, we welcome all of our
members to be open to embrace all of the reasons to enjoy and acknowledge
these important moments throughout the month. Whether you are a blind
veteran or a person that is inherently tied to the Force, know that the
Federation supports you in living the life you want. In this month’s issue,
our readers will be treated to learn of the exciting advocacy efforts our
members have been engaging in to promote our upcoming programming, how our
members have been preparing for national convention and some of the exciting
news our affiliate received after advocacy efforts at the local and state
level. Join us to learn more and May you all enjoy the content. 

Important National Updates

*	Hotel reservations for the 2024 NFB National Convention are filling
quickly. Though the Rosen Center is now booked, there are overflow hotels
available  . These overflow hotels can be accessed via shuttle from the
Rosen Center. The convention will take place July 3-8 in Orlando, FL. For
information about convention and to register online, visit
<http://www.nfb.org/convention> www.nfb.org/convention. 
*	The 2024 NFB of Michigan caucus will take place on July 3 at 9pm at
the Rosen Center Hotel in Orlando. Room location and additional information
will be made available shortly.

Important State Updates

*	Visitors and members of the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan can now view this issue and past issues of “The Informant” on the
NFBMI Webpage. You can access these issues by visiting
<http://www.nfbmi.org/informant> www.nfbmi.org/informant.
*	The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan congratulates its
2024 Kenneth Jernigan Award winners. These six individuals were selected
from our national office in a pool of applicants as first-time awardees for
this distinguished financial recognition in orlando: Beatrice Luckett
(Detroit Chapter), Sharon Sanders (Detroit Chapter), Damontae Scott (Flint
Genesee Chapter), Annette Holt (Detroit Chapter), Dalanie Holt (Detroit
Chapter), and Gina Rowell (Detroit Chapter). 
*	The 2024 NFB of Michigan state scholarship program will launch on
June 1, 2024. If you are a blind student in the state of Michigan that is a
high school senior or are attending a college/university, please  email
<mailto:scholarships at nfbmi.org> scholarships at nfbmi.org for more information
after the launch date. The state scholarship program is awarded at our state
convention each year and the application will be available on our webpage
after the launch date. 
*	Individuals interested in applying for state-funded assistance for
the NFB  national convention can do so by visiting nfbmi.org/forms.
Applicants are encouraged to review funding assistance program eligibility
requirements prior to applying and to provide their  convention registration
confirmation after applying. The deadline for applying for state-funded
assistance for national convention is May 30, 2024.
*	The 2024 NFBMI Raising Expectations Accessing Life (REAL) program is
a dual-track program for youth interested in learning about growing in
STEM-related fields. This year, our NFB STEM2U track is for ages 8-13,
intended for families and creates accessible, non-visual astronomy
experiments. Our NFB Scholars track, outlined for ages 14+, addresses
notable transferrable skills needed in these related fields for vocational
success. Interested applicants should visit nfbmi.org/real to apply for the
program prior to May 30, 2024. This program offers scholarship opportunities
for the STEM2U track and does offer sponsorship opportunities for eligible
BSBP customers. For questions about the program, please email
<mailto:President at nfbmi.org> President at nfbmi.org.
*	The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan represented and
promoted the Raising Expectation Accessing Life program at the 2024
Libraries Without Walls Conference in Lansing on May 9, 2024. It was a
refreshing experience where our membership connected with professionals and
potential instructors that had the ability to connect with students to
promote the program to increase applicant numbers.
*	The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan will have a vendor
table at the 2024 Visions Conference at the Ann Arbor District Library on
June 5, 2024. At this conference, the members will be promoting the REAL
program and our state scholarship program. The Vendor table will be cohosted
by volunteers from our New Wayne County, Detroit, and Flint-Genesee
chapters. Interested volunteers can sign up for shifts by contacting their
chapter presidents. 

Chapter/Division Updates

*	Detroit Chapter:  The members of the Detroit chapter launched the
promotion of a new multi-county Paratransit/ride-Share Proposal under the
leadership of Ather Jammoa,made preparations for a coming meeting/program
with the Offices of Detroit's City Clerk Janice Winfrey and Wayne County's
Clerk Cathy Garrett to address accessible voting and ongoing election
problems, advocated successfully on the behalf of blind renters in Detroit
and helped get Detroit City Council to pass a historic ordinance on May 7th
creating the city's first ever Tenants Rights' Commission which will promote
and protect the rights of renters, and work to resolve landlord/tenant
disputes outside of the courts, and, engaged in discussions with new
executives at the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind regarding efforts to
turn the agency around and improve relations with the NFB. 

*	New Wayne County Chapter: The New Wayne County chapter added an
exercise component to our last meeting, which was held at the  Environmental
Interpretive Center at the University of Michigan Dearborn. Our next meeting
will be on June 1, 2024, from 12-3pm at the Red Apple Restaurant, 32711
Michigan avenue. We invite all members and those who are interested to join
us for the meeting.

*	Michigan Blind Seniors Advocating for Seniors (MBSAS): Attention
Michigan Seniors! Our May meeting happens to fall on Memorial Day. Please
plan to attend at 8:00  PM, May 27th.

Important State Affiliate Dates

*	05/18/24 NFBMI Detroit Chapter Meeting (12pm) 
*	05/20/24: NFBMI Capital Region Chapter Meeting (7pm) 
*	05/21/24: NFBMI AT Large Philosophy Discussion (8pm)
*	05/22/24: NFBMI Youth and Family Planning Committee Meeting (8pm)
*	05/27/24: Michigan Blind Seniors Meeting (8pm)
*	05/31/24: NFBMI Soundboard (8pm)
*	06/01/24: NFBMI New Wayne County Chapter Meeting (12pm)
*	06/04/24: NFBMI At Large Chapter Meeting (8pm)
*	06/06/24: NFBMI Legislative Committee Meeting (7pm)
*	06/08/24: NFBMI Quarterly Board Meeting (12pm)

With Love, Hope and Determination

Robert Parsons, Jr., M. A., CRC, CVRT, LLPC

President, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan

(269) 216- 8640

www.nfbmi.org <http://www.nfbmi.org> 

“Without struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglas