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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind <IOF@nfb.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 15, 2024 11:04 AM<br><b>To:</b> Frank Loza <floza58@bellsouth.net><br><b>Subject:</b> Imagineering Our Future: Our Advocacy Empowers<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td style='background:#FEFFFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:#FEFFFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:18.75pt 18.75pt 18.75pt 18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33115&qid=9631614"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. National Federation of the Blind Logo - Go to NFB.org"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><h1><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>IMAGINEERING OUR FUTURE</span></strong><o:p></o:p></h1><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></div></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;border-color:initial'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=1 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><strong><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>President's Letter</span></strong><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Mark Riccobono speaking at a podium while reading Braille notes"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>An important part of advocacy is education about our movement. Sometimes education comes through interesting questions, which pushes both the questioner and me to think more deeply about what we do. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33116&qid=9631614"><span style='color:#002F6D'>More from President Riccobono</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><strong><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Self-Advocacy Toolkits Make a Difference</span></strong><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. A toolbox with various tools"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>“The toolkits provide resources all in one place. I used the employment toolkit and appreciated the examples of things like reasonable accommodations…” <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33117&qid=9631614"><span style='color:#002F6D'>More about how we empower blind people to advocate for themselves</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><strong><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Latest News at the NFB</span></strong><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Two girls practice reading Braille at NFB BELL Academy"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>National convention registration opens, American Action Fund announces winners in the 2023-2024 Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest, NFB BELL® Academy applications accepted, and more. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33118&qid=9631614"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Read the latest news</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><strong><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Take Action this Month</span></strong><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_6" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. 2023 award winners pose with their white canes and Braille plaques"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Visit our <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33119&qid=9631614"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Advocacy Resources Page</span></a>, submit a nomination for the Blind Educator of the Year or Distinguished Educator of Blind Students award, explore the March issue of the <em><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Braille Monitor</span></em>, and <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33120&qid=9631614"><span style='color:#002F6D'>contribute</span></a> to help us continue advocating and more. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33121&qid=9631614"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Get involved</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><strong><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Important Dates</span></strong><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_7" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Global Accessibility Awareness Day logo"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Apply for a NFB scholarship, attend the Where the Blind Work webinar, check out our IEP Advocacy Academy, submit a Bolotin Award nomination, and more. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33122&qid=9631614"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Check out the calendar of events</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><div><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33116&qid=9631614"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#002F6D'>Read the complete issue online</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines blind people or their future. Every day we raise the expectations of and for blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. We can live the lives we want; blindness is not what holds us back. Please join us in our work by becoming a member, attending an event, sharing this newsletter, or supporting our programs.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr><tr style='height:6.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:6.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;background:#002F6D'><tr style='height:45.0pt'><td width=135 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33123&qid=9631614"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_8" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Facebook Logo"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33124&qid=9631614"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_9" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Twitter Logo"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33125&qid=9631614"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_10" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Instagram Logo"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33126&qid=9631614"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_11" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. YouTube Logo"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33127&qid=9631614"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_12" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Email Icon Image"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33128&qid=9631614"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_13" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Donate to the NFB Icon."></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=135 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=22797&qid=9631614&h=7e5c74bef6589449" title=Unsubscribe><span style='color:white'>Unsubscribe from this mailing list</span></a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=22797&qid=9631614&h=7e5c74bef6589449" title="Opt Out"><span style='color:white'>Opt out of all mailing lists</span></a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33129&qid=9631614" title="Sign up for email newsletter"><span style='color:white'>Sign up for our newsletter</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=street-address><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><br><span class=locality>Baltimore</span><span class=adr>, </span><span class=region>MD</span><span class=adr> </span><span class=postal-code>21230</span><br><span class=country-name>United States</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>.. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=1 height=1 style='width:.0104in;height:.0104in' id="Picture_x0020_14" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender."><img border=0 width=1 height=1 style='width:.0104in;height:.0104in' id="Picture_x0020_15" src="cid:~WRD0001.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender."></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>