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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3><b>From Tracy Soforenko, President<o:p></o:p></b></h3><h3><b><o:p> </o:p></b></h3><h3><b>Self-Employment Opportunities—From Getting Started to Securing the Funds:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind works to bridge the gaps leading to unemployment and underemployment among the nation’s blind through our Center for Employment Opportunities initiative. And this year, we were a founding ambassador in the global launch of SmartJob, LLC. As part of that partnership, we are excited to share the following August business opportunities through Include, LLC. There are two upcoming learning tracks. Track 1: <i>From Idea to Business</i> is a webinar series to focus on the process of how to evaluate whether your idea is ready to become a business and how to make it happen. Track 2: Raising Venture Capital is a one-on-one coaching program regarding the process of fundraising. The registration and application deadline is approaching. Learn more at </span><a href="https://www.includellc.org/"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>https://www.includellc.org/</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tracy Soforenko<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>202 285-4595<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com">Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org">www.nfbv.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>