[NFBSF] Leaving the national Federation of the blind

Mon Dec 14 22:10:59 UTC 2020

Jeanette,

I hope you will reconsider.  We need people who have experiences like yours to stay engaged and share their perspective.  We cannot expect change to occur if those who are most impacted don't remain in the conversation.  My feelings are reflected in the below statement.

Dear Friends,

Some have recently been discussing the history of sexual harassment and disrespectful behavior within the activities of our organization.  I welcome a loving and considerate discussion.  We should validate those in our family who have been hurt in the past by their blind colleagues.  For those who raised concerns, I hear you and understand your frustration.  We must affirmatively work to improve so that this inappropriate behavior is absolutely eliminated.  

Every blind person, regardless of background, wherever they might be on their journey in life, deserves to benefit from the unique life-changing experiences of the National Federation of the Blind and the remarkable training it provides.  We cannot succeed in our struggle for equality if we injure our fellows and exploit our peers.  Racism, sexual harassment, discrimination, elitism, exploitation, apathy, and corrupt motivation are unfortunate flaws of our society.  Without exception, our Federation has been vulnerable to these dangerous diseases of selfish behavior that distract from our collective impact.  

We are a people's movement.  The individuality of the people are simultaneously our greatest strength and greatest struggle.  But I believe in the capacity of humans to grow smarter, become better, and advance for good on the whole.  

As President of our California affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, I reaffirm my commitment and our organization's commitment to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment that is safe for everyone.  I will do everything within my power to act upon the concerns that have been raised and support the leaders of our movement in response.  

If you have been the victim of such harmful mistreatment, my heart breaks for the injustice and injury that you experienced.  you have my sympathy, apology, and devotion to earn your trust back.

We can and will do more.  As a leader, I promise not just to react, but to affirmatively prevent.  I will work to see the "culture of consent" that we discussed at our most recent state convention become the norm.  I will help educate our long-standing leaders in California to ensure that our leadership structure understands the relevance of this moment in our evolving movement.  I will affirmatively seek diverse leaders and role models to ensure that blind people from all cross sections have a voice in the solution.  I will take time to further understand the nature of these problems and how other organizations have made progress.  I will work as an ally with those who want to support our national leaders' effort to advance positive change.

We need to have this conversation to figure out what more needs to be done.  And we need to have it without disenfranchising or further harming blind people.  The Federation is ours to build.  Please help me and the many other leaders and members who want to be a part of the solution and commit to change and healing.

Tim Elder

President

National Federation of the Blind of California 

president at nfbcal.org <mailto:president at nfbcal.org>  

(916) 382-0372 

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBSF <nfbsf-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jeanette Torres via NFBSF
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2020 10:23 AM
To: NFB of San Francisco, California List <nfbsf at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jeanette Torres <jtorres3263 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBSF] Leaving the national Federation of the blind

One more thing before I unsubscribe. LCB is the most freeing experience I have ever had in my life so besides the student and the fact that LCB did nothing to remove the student I had a good experience at LCB.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 14, 2020, at 9:51 AM, Lisa Irving via NFBSF <nfbsf at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Jeanette,
> 
> My name is Lisa Irving. I care about you and what you experienced. I 
> would like you to know that I am available to listen should you want 
> to vent or talk about your experiences at LCB. I am an LCB graduate. I 
> don't know what it's like to talk in your shoes and I did not go 
> through your exact experiences. I had my owne experiences at lcb. I'm 
> not sharing them in this email because I don't want to trigger you. My 
> point is, I'm hear for you and I definitely empathize. Also I would 
> like to invite you to consider speaking to a mental health 
> professional who is herself is visually impaired. She is not apart of 
> this organization. Should you want her contact information please feel free to contact me off list.
> 
> With healing compassion,
> 
> Lisa Irving
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBSF <nfbsf-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jeanette Torres 
> via NFBSF
> Sent: Monday, December 14, 2020 2:44 AM
> To: nfbsf at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Jeanette Torres <jtorres3263 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NFBSF] Leaving the national Federation of the blind
> 
> Due to reading the stories of what has happened in the national 
> Federation of the blind and being triggered by something that happened 
> to me at LCB my first week there where my solution was for me to avoid 
> this student which I did for my entire training of nine months because 
> LCB did not do anything to remove the student and also because I was 
> treated like an outcast because of my NFb training inwhile I  was in 
> the national Federation of the blind in Florida, I have decided to leave the national Federation of the blind.
> Sent from my iPhone
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