[NFBV-Announce] Urging Your Support of Federation SAFE at 2021 NFB Convention

Mon Jun 28 02:19:52 UTC 2021

Dear Virginia Federationists,

I am reaching out to you to express my support of the Federation SAFE initiative outlined in the Board Resolution included below.

I ask you to read the resolution along with the introduction from President Riccobono. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions and I will attempt to answer your questions. During the convention, we will be asked to vote on this resolution and I urge you to support this new and bold initiative that shows our commitment to our members and everyone involved in our work together.

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com <mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> 

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

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

National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

>From President Riccobono

Dear Federation Family,

Now is the time for Federation leaders to come together to support a bold new program of support within our movement. In 2021, I have urged us to use “forward Federation” as our motto. This comes partly from my roots as a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin—the state which proudly uses “forward” as its charge. A university where I learned that big bold ideas need the power of people to spread and make a difference. It also comes from my training as a graduate of the Colorado Center for the Blind where I learned the confidence and skills to live our philosophy in an ever expanding way every day. It also comes from the imagination and energy I receive from members of the Federation on a daily basis.

In our organization, we have been working on how we ensure that we meet the highest standards. As leaders, we have long valued and taken seriously our responsibility to keep the Federation safe even if we haven’t always known all of the right ways to do that. Providing support has always been a value I have heard promoted within the leadership conversations of the organization. Today I am asking you to take a bold step forward with me. 

A number of months ago I began talking with our survivor led task force about a program I wanted to initiate. In May I first pitched the idea to our national board and we have had extensive discussion on the topic. Earlier this week, the board endorsed the idea by adopting the proposed resolution which it will recommend to the 2021 national convention. I now share it with you and urge your support of the proposal. I further urge you to encourage support among your delegation. Among all the policies we will consider at the convention, I firmly believe the below is the most important for our future.

Forward is a future where all blind people can have confidence that not only will our organization respond to incidents through a clear, fair, and equitable code of conduct process, but that we will go even further to ensure that those who are harmed are offered the support they need to heal. Forward is a time when every blind person knows that they are safe in the Federation. Safe means challenged to be their best and most powerful self in a loving and supportive environment. Safe also means having confidence that inappropriate behavior is not permitted. Safe means we have a space where we can learn, grow, and build resilience. Safe means that this movement breaks down the barriers that might prevent each and every member from pursuing their dreams and fully participating in our movement. Federation safe is an extension of the bond of faith we have always held in marching together to transform our dreams into reality. We are stronger together and SAFE is our commitment to stick together.   

Study the below, think about it, ask questions about it, and do what you feel is right for the Federation. I already know that my heart and mind tells me the below policy is needed. This is why I am supporting it. This is why I spent the time to vet it through our survivor led task force. This is why I rallied unanimous support from our national board for it. This is why I intend to ask every member I can between now and our convention to vote in favor of this new fund. I trust the heartbeat of our movement and the will of the convention. I invite you to trust me in supporting this proposal. 

With love,

Mark Riccobono

National Federation of the Blind
Board Resolution

Adopted June 10, 2021

The Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind supports and recommends the below policy for consideration and adoption by the 2021 national Convention.

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind was established in 1940 as this nation’s civil rights membership organization of blind people; and

WHEREAS, our organization places a high value on welcoming in all blind people to membership and creating a safe space for the exchange of information and ideas in order to work collectively toward our common interests as blind people; and

WHEREAS, on January 26, 2018, the Board of Directors reviewed existing Federation policies and established a national integrated Code of Conduct to more clearly communicate consistent expectations for appropriate behavior throughout the membership and to detail processes for receiving, investigating, and addressing violations of those standards; and

WHEREAS, the organization’s board of directors has committed to at least annual review and updating of the code and the processes supporting the code including incorporating feedback from members to ensure the Federation community is as safe and supportive as possible; and

WHEREAS, the organization acknowledges the courage of survivors in bringing forward their stories and the pressures that may make it difficult for survivors to feel safe in utilizing the code of conduct process; and

WHEREAS, individuals who are harmed by those who violate the Federation’s Code of Conduct may require additional support in order to heal from those incidents and fully participate in the organized blind movement: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the organization establish the Survivor Assistance to Facilitate Empowerment (SAFE) fund in an initial amount of $250,000 as a dedicated financial resource for providing therapy support to survivors of incidents where the Federation’s Code of Conduct is known to have been violated; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board of directors will have responsibility for overseeing the fund including but not limited to reserving financial resources for the fund, maintaining adequacy of the fund, reporting the fund financial status to the convention, assuring confidentiality of individuals who receive support, establishing and communicating eligibility criteria, engaging stakeholders in the fund planning, selecting and overseeing a third party claims administrator who will maintain the confidentiality of eligible survivors, and taking such other actions as may be necessary to develop and advance the fund program over time; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, consistent with the organization’s Code of Conduct, all steps will be taken in administering the fund to ensure that survivors are protected from retaliation based upon their use of the resources of the fund.

Mark A. Riccobono, President

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314 | Officeofthepresident at nfb.org <mailto:Officeofthepresident at nfb.org> 

Twitter: @Riccobono

Pronouns: he, him, his

 <https://nfb.org/> 

                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>      <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>      <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. 

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