[NFBNJ] Fwd: SAVE THE DATE - GREATER ALEXANDRIA CHAPTER & NFBV PRESENT DIVERSITY THROUGH MY LENS

Sun Aug 21 13:27:16 UTC 2022

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Evelyn <evelyn.valdez212 at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Aug 21, 2022 at 8:53 AM
Subject: SAVE THE DATE - GREATER ALEXANDRIA CHAPTER & NFBV PRESENT
DIVERSITY THROUGH MY LENS

In the tradition of all that is unique and FANTABULOUS—

The Greater Alexandria Chapter Presents…

An extraordinary evening of caring and sharing; smiles, and perhaps a few
tears.

On this evening that will challenge your mind and your heart, we ask you to
experience—

DIVERSITY THROUGH MY LENS

On Thursday, August 25, 2022, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., we will begin
with presentations that will provide useful, and even crucial information
for all people who are blind.

Then, the Greater Alexandria Chapter, in collaboration with the NFBV
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, will introduce you to three
extraordinary and phenomenal women:

o   Jeanetta Price, Contributing Author, “The Write 2 Heal: It’s not about
the sight lost, but vision gained”

o   Krystle Allen, Contributing Author, “The Write 2 Heal: It’s not about
the sight lost, but vision gained”

o   Goddest Johnson, Founder/Owner of F.I.G.H.T LLC., an organization
dedicated to building up communities through divine connections and
community projects.

*A biography of each guest is included at the end of this announcement.

We will be challenged, seduced, entertained, cajoled by the power of their
words.  Through their prose and poetry, they will grab our emotions and run
with them over and under and through a web of their own creation…and we
will be mesmerized.

Following our journey through the glorious thicket of their written word,
the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee will lead us further into the
analysis and exploration of the meanings, both blatant and subtle, behind
those words just shared.  And more importantly, through a Fireside
Diversity Chat, we will reach deep inside ourselves to explore how the
words of the women poets affected our minds and hearts and psyche…

You might have guessed…this night will be like no other before it.  This
one is a unique offering that you will not want to miss!

Did I mention we will have several door prizes for the winning, from
autographed copies of the book, “The Write 2 Heal”, to T-Shirts, to a
weekend pass to the Blind Diva Pageant in New Jersey in September…and more!

We have only one request of you.

Please bring your favorite pair of sunglasses or a mirror (just trust us on
this one), and, of course, bring an open mind, an open heart, and the
promise to fully engage in the events of the evening.

Here is your Zoom link to this magical evening:

 https://zoom.us/j/8297256345?pwd=SFAyamlQNU44ZTJ6dUZNMTV4RmhCQT09

Meeting ID: 829 725 6345 Passcode: 20201940

One tap mobile +13017158592, 8297256345#
PLEASE PLAN TO ARRIVE BY 6:50 P.M. TO RECEIVE YOUR NUMBER FOR THE DOOR
PRIZES!

For more information, contact Renee Valdez at reneerome at yahoo.com or
703-966-0836

BIOS

*Jeanetta Price, Featured Author*
Jeanetta Mary Alice Price is the Visionary behind the anthology, “The WRITE
2 Heal.”  Jeanetta’s mission in life is to help others tap into their
vision by utilizing writing as an instrument of healing. Often, she
reflects on the life of the virtuous woman, Essie Andrus, her biological
and spiritual mother who leads by example with her unwavering faith. God
blessed Jeanetta with the gift to write in order to save her life, and she
wrote herself “Beautifully Healed.”

Jeanetta is from the little big city in Southeast Texas called Beaumont.
She is a graduate of Lamar University with a bachelor’s degree in Social
Work and master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In addition,
she is the Founder and CEO of Blind Girl Magic and a License Mortgage Loan
Originator known as the “OUTTA SIGHT MORTGAGE LOAN LADY.”

As a spoken word artist, she hosts, “The WRITE 2 Heal” seminars that
include poets, partner artists, and even audience members who will
participate in an open mic section. The seminars provide a safe poetic
space for all participants to begin their journey of healing while writing.

Jeanetta’s freedom of expression, boldness, vulnerability and confidence
set her aside from other authors, artist, and advocates.  Unapologetically,
her writing is a reflection of her unique personality, life’s experiences,
social injustice, disability and social awareness, complimented by God
given creativity. The fire that resides in her bones spread wildly around
the atmosphere and set others on fire to stand fearless in their truth as
they too write to heal.  Yes, Jeanetta was given the vision but could not
deliver the birth of this book without the visionaries.
*Krystle Allen, Featured Author*
Krystle Allen, a Newark, NJ native, and a contributing author to the newly
released book, “The Write 2 Heal: It’s not about the sight lost, but vision
gained”, is no stranger to work that involves community development, social
change, and grassroots efforts. Krystle served two terms as an AmeriCorps
Vista member with a nonprofit organization: Girls Scouts Heart of New
Jersey. Here she worked to develop volunteer programming, reuniting
daughters with their incarcerated mothers, and build up troops within the
Juliette’s House transitional housing program.  In 2017, she served as the
marketing planning/development coordinator for the Jewish Renaissance
Medical Center.

During the pandemic she transitioned Eyes Like Mine, Inc. from in-person
programming to interactive virtual experiences that have led to providing
delivered food packages to visually impaired residents and over $700 in
Amazon gift cards to blind households all over the country. She also
introduced over 150 influential speakers globally to a peer support group
within her organization to participating attendees. In addition, her
community influence inspired the current mayor of the largest municipality
in NJ to recognize with a proclamation, the ADA’s 30th anniversary, for the
first time in Newark’s history. In spite of her vision loss, she has a
vision gained to impact one community at a time, with dedication to
serve.  Some
of her current work includes becoming a newly published author in an
anthology written by eight women from around the country, who happen to be
blind or visually impaired, entitled The Write 2 Heal. Additionally,
Krystle completed the American Foundation for the Blind Leaders through the
Blind Leaders Centennial Professional Development Program, where she
graduated during the summer of 2022. Krystle is a community connector
sharing her vision one person at a time.
*Goddest Johnson, Special Guest, Founder/Owner of F.I.G.H.T LLC*
Rising above expectations is something that comes as no obstacle to Goddest
Johnson. In the early part of her childhood she resided in Chicago,
Illinois with her mother; a single parent who suffered from mental illness
and a severe drug addiction. Goddest was the oldest of her four siblings.  Her
childhood took a major change when she was seven years old and her mother
went to prison for life. At this most trying time in her life, she began
her journey as a child of the foster care system. At sixteen, Goddest
became emancipated.  Later she became the sole guardian of her sister and
was determined to show her what could be possible with determination and
staying focused. When she was twenty-one, her younger brother went to
prison and was given a 44-year sentence.

Despite the devastation, she went on to obtain her Bachelor’s degree from
Nova Southeastern University and became a nurse.  In 2009, her life took a
new turn. She was involved in a tragic car accident which left her legally
blind. After 4 years of rehabilitation therapy where she learned how to
walk, talk and function again, she moved to Orlando, Florida where she then
underwent countless eye surgeries in attempt to regain her sight.

This steered Goddest to a new calling. She obtained her Master’s degree in
visual rehabilitation at University of Massachusetts while being legally
blind. Goddest wants you to be the light that shines bright in someone’s
life each day.

*Ren*é*e F. Valdez, M.A.*
*Secretary/Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind, *
*Greater Alexandria Chapter*
*Chair, NFB of Virginia,*
*Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee*
*Co-Chair, NFB of Virginia, *
*Fundraising Committee*

*Vice President, Northern VA Regional Local Human Rights Committee*

*(703) 966-0836*

-- 

Warmly,
Linda Melendez, President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
732-421-7063
president at nfbnj.org
www.nfbnj.org
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238
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